The Wildhorn is a

mountain A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited Summit (topography), summit area, and ...

of the

Alps The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Sw ...

, straddling the border between the Swiss cantons of

Bern german: Berner(in)french: Bernois(e) it, bernese , neighboring_municipalities = Bremgarten bei Bern, Frauenkappelen, Ittigen, Kirchlindach, Köniz, Mühleberg, Muri bei Bern, Neuenegg, Ostermundigen, Wohlen bei Bern, Zollikofen , website ...

and

Valais Valais ( , , ; frp, Valês; german: Wallis ), more formally the Canton of Valais,; german: Kanton Wallis; in other official Swiss languages outside Valais: it, (Canton) Vallese ; rm, (Chantun) Vallais. is one of the cantons of Switzerland, 26 ...

. At above sea level, it is the highest summit of the

Bernese Alps , topo_map= Swiss Federal Office of Topography swisstopo , photo=BerneseAlps.jpg , photo_caption=The Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau , country= Switzerland , subdivision1_type=Cantons , subdivision1= , parent= Western Alps , borders_on= , l ...

west of the

Gemmi Pass Gemmi Pass is a high mountain pass across the Bernese Alps connecting Leukerbad (on the south) in the canton of Valais with Kandersteg (on the north) in the canton of Bern. The pass itself lies within the canton of Valais, at a height of above ...

. It forms a large glaciated massif, about 10 km wide, extending between the

Sanetsch Pass Sanetsch Pass (French: ''Col du Sanetsch'' or ''Col de Sénin'') (el. 2242 m) is a high mountain pass in Switzerland across the western Bernese Alps, connecting Gsteig in the canton of Berne and Sion in the canton of Valais. Although a road le ...

and the

Rawil Pass The Rawil Pass (el. 2429 m.) (German: ''Rawilpass'') is a high mountain pass across the western Bernese Alps, connecting Lenk in the canton of Berne in Switzerland and Anzère or Crans Montana in the canton of Valais. The pass lies between the Wi ...

. Along with the Muverans, the

Diablerets The Diablerets (french: Les Diablerets; lit. "the abode of devils") are a huge ice-covered mountain massif of the Alps, culminating at the Sommet des Diablerets (VD, VS) at above sea level and straddling the border between the Swiss cantons of ...

and the

Wildstrubel The Wildstrubel () is a mountain of the Alps, straddling the border between the Swiss cantons of Canton of Bern, Bern and Valais. It forms a large glaciated massif, about 15 km wide, extending between the Rawil Pass and the Gemmi Pass. Along w ...

, the Wildhorn is one of the four distinct mountain massifs of the Bernese Alps that lie west of the Gemmi Pass. The massif of the Wildhorn is at the centre between the valleys of the

Saane The Sarine (; frp, Sarena ) or Saane () is a major river of Switzerland.6th longest, 7th largest basin, see List of rivers of Switzerland It is long and has a drainage area of . It is a tributary of the Aare. The Sarine rises in the Bernese Al ...

Simme The river Simme is a tributary of the river Kander in the Bernese Oberland in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is approximately long and has a catchment area of . The river Simme begins at the Alpine lake of ''Flueseeli'' (lit.: "Little L ...

(both canton of Bern) and the Rhone (Valais). It comprises several distinct summits, including (from west to east) the

Arpelistock The Arpelistock is a mountain of the Bernese Alps, located on the border between the Swiss cantons of Canton of Bern, Bern and Valais. It belongs to the massif of the Wildhorn and lies approximately halfway between the Sanetsch Pass and the sum ...

, Le Sérac, the Geltenhorn, the

Sex Noir The Sex Noir (2,731 m) is a mountain of the Bernese Alps, located north of Anzère in the canton of Valais. It belongs to the massif of the Wildhorn and lies approximately halfway between the summit of the Wildhorn and the Prabé The Prabé ...

, the Sex Rouge, the Schnidehorn and the Six des Eaux Froides. The main crest is between the glaciers named ''Tungelgletscher'' and ''Glacier du Wildhorn''. South of the main summit is the almost equally high summit of Mont Pucel (3,177 m). The Wildhorn is surrounded by several large mountain lakes: the Lac de Sénin, the

Lauenensee Lauenensee (or Lake Lauenen) are two lakes near Lauenen in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institut ...

, the

Iffigsee Iffigsee is a lake near Lenk, in the canton of Berne, Switzerland. The lake is located in the Iffigtal, near Rawil Pass. To the south of the lake is the Wildhorn (3,248 metres). See also *List of mountain lakes of Switzerland This is a list ...

, the

Lac de Tseuzier __NOTOC__ Lac de Tseuzier is an artificial lake in the canton of Valais, Switzerland. It is located in the municipalities of Ayent and Icogne. The reservoir has a volume of 51 mio m³ and a surface area of . It was formed by the dams of Zeuzier ...

and the Lac des Audannes. The Tungelgletscher, on the north-east face, was measured as 1.9 km in length in 1973. Wildhorn 2

The Wildhorn lies approximately halfway between

Gstaad Gstaad ( ; ) is a town in the German-speaking section of the Canton of Bern in southwestern Switzerland. It is part of the municipality of Saanen and is known as a major ski resort and a popular destination amongst high society and the internatio ...

(BE; 14 km away),

Sion Sion may refer to * an alternative transliteration of Zion People * Sion (name) or Siôn, a Welsh and other given name and surname, including a list of people and fictional characters with the name * Shion or Sion, a Japanese given name Pl ...

(VS; 14 km) and

Lenk Lenk im Simmental (or simply Lenk) is a Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in the Obersimmental-Saanen (administrative district), Obersimmental-Saanen administrative district in the Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Bern (canton), Bern i ...

(BE; 13 km), its summit being in the municipalities of

Lauenen Lauenen ( French: ''Lauvine'', Romansh: ''Lavina'') is a municipality in the Obersimmental-Saanen administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. History Lauenen is first mentioned in 1296 as ''an der Lowinon''. Lauenen is know ...

(BE),

Savièse Savièse is a municipality in the district of Sion in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. History Savièse is first mentioned in 1200 as ''Saviesi''. In 1224 it was mentioned as ''Savisia''. The municipality was formerly known by its German n ...

(VS) and

Ayent Ayent is a municipality in the district of Hérens in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. History The Ayent area is first mentioned in 1052 as ''Agent''. In 1250 it was mentioned as ''Argenta''. Geography Ayent has an area, , of . Of this ...

(VS). The nearest settlements are Lauenen,

Anzère Anzère is a small village in the canton of Valais, Switzerland, located in the municipality of Ayent and close to Sion Sion may refer to * an alternative transliteration of Zion People * Sion (name) or Siôn, a Welsh and other given name a ...

(Ayent) and

Gsteig bei Gstaad Gsteig bei Gstaad is a municipality in the Obersimmental-Saanen administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. Gsteig was formerly known by the French name of ''Châtelet''. History Gsteig is first mentioned in 1312 as ''Ch ...

. The highest place in the massif that can be easily reached is the Pas de Maimbré station (2,362 m), which is connected to Anzère by a gondola lift. As for the other mountains on the crest of the Bernese Alps, the slopes of the Wildhorn experience different types of climate depending on their location:This results in different colors of the vegetation, which can be seen on satellite images such as those available on

Google Earth Google Earth is a computer program that renders a 3D computer graphics, 3D representation of Earth based primarily on satellite imagery. The program maps the Earth by superimposition, superimposing satellite images, aerial photography, and geog ...

(2015 imagery) the northern slopes are cooler and wetter while the southern slopes are drier and warmer. Forests are found up to 1,800 metres on the north side and up to 2,100 metres on the south side. Glaciers also reach significantly lower locations on the north side. Vineyards are also very common on the Valais side, especially below 1000 metres, but completely absent on the Bernese side, where alpine pastures dominate the landscape, as in many other areas of the

Bernese Oberland The Bernese Oberland ( en, Bernese Highlands, german: Berner Oberland; gsw, Bärner Oberland; french: Oberland bernois), the highest and southernmost part of the canton of Bern, is one of the canton's five administrative regions (in which context ...

. The ascent of the Wildhorn involves either glacier crossings or technical climbs. The

Swiss Alpine Club The Swiss Alpine Club (german: Schweizer Alpen-Club, french: Club Alpin Suisse, it, Club Alpino Svizzero, rm, Club Alpin Svizzer) is the largest mountaineering club in Switzerland. It was founded in 1863 in Olten and it is now composed of 111 s ...

maintains the '' Wildhornhütte'' shelter (2,303 m) in the Iffigtal, above the

, on the northern slopes of the mountain. The easiest ascent (a glacier tour) starts from there. Another hut, the '' Cabane des Audannes'' (2,505 m) is located near the Lac des Audannes on the south side. More challenging ascents commence from the '' Geltenhütte'' (2,759 m), above the Col du Brochet. The first ascent was made by

Gottlieb Samuel Studer Gottlieb Samuel Studer (5 August 1804, Langnau im Emmental – 22 December 1890, Vienna) was a Swiss mountaineer, notary public and draughtsman. Studer was the son of Sigmund Gottlieb Studer. After the death of his father, the Studer family mo ...

in September 1843.

References

External links

*
The Wildhorn on SummitPost

Wildhorn

''Tour du Wildhorn'' website
{{Authority control Mountains of the Alps Alpine three-thousanders Mountains of Valais Bernese Alps Mountains of Switzerland Mountains of the canton of Bern Bern–Valais border