Piz Scerscen ( Romansh, it, Monte Scerscen, formerly ''Monte Rosso di Scerscen''), culminating at 3,971 m above sea level, is one of the highest peaks in the

Bernina Range The Bernina Range is a mountain range in the Alps of eastern Switzerland and northern Italy. It is considered to be part of the Rhaetian Alps within the Central Eastern Alps. It is one of the highest ranges of the Alps, covered with many glaciers ...

, straddling the border between

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

and

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

. It is a satellite peak of

Piz Bernina Piz Bernina ( Romansh, it, Pizzo Bernina, ) is the highest mountain in the Eastern Alps, the highest point of the Bernina Range, and the highest peak in the Rhaetian Alps. It rises and is located south of Pontresina and near the major Alpine ...

, joining it by its north-east ridge via a 3,882 m pass. Its name means 'the circular mountain' ('Scerscen' is pronounced ''cherchen''). The mountain has a prominent secondary summit called the ''Schneehaube'' (3,875 m). The first ascent of Piz Scerscen was by

Paul Güssfeldt Dr Paul Güssfeldt (spelled Güßfeldt in German) (14 October 1840 – 18 January 1920) was a German geologist, mountaineer and explorer. Biography Güssfeldt was born in Berlin, where he also died almost 80 years later. After attending the C ...

, Hans Grass and Caspar Capat on 13 September 1877 via the north-west spur, descending the same way. This is the well-known ''Eisnase'' route, involving a 100-metre ice pitch of between 60 and 70°,Collomb, Robin, ''Bernina Alps'', Goring: West Col Productions, 1988, p. 77–8 although its precise length and steepness are debate

This was the route followed by Walter Risch on the first solo ascent of the mountain in 1924. The first ascent of the north-west face was by

Christian Klucker Christian Klucker (28 September 1853 – 21 December 1928) was a Swiss mountain guide who made many first ascents in the Alps, particularly in the Bernina Range, the Bregaglia and the Pennine Alps. Amongst his first ascents were: :*''Gurgel'' ...

and L. Norman-Neruda on 9 July 1890.

References

External links

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Piz Scerscen on SummitPost

PiZ Scerscen on Hikr
Bernina Range Engadin Samedan Mountains of Graubünden Mountains of Italy Mountains of the Alps Alpine three-thousanders Italy–Switzerland border International mountains of Europe Mountains of Switzerland Three-thousanders of Switzerland {{graubünden-mountain-stub