82 summits
In the Alps, there are 82 summits above 4000m that are officially listed, since 1994, by the Union Internationale des Associations d’Alpinisme (IUAA). “In the Alps the morphology of the peaks and summits above 4,000m is quite varied. There are single massive mountains with a well-defined morphology, but also more ‘ragged’ mountains, with several tips, small peaks, shoulders and small reliefs which are above 4,000m and often bear an altitude mark but no name on the maps.”
How is a summit defined ?
There are three criterias that are accounted for to classify a summit as one of the 4000 meters peaks from the UIAA.
- Topographic criterium: for each summit, the level difference between it and the highest adjacent pass or notch should be at least 30 m.
- Morphological criterium: takes into account the overall morphology and aspect of a summit. Each summit needs to have its own “autonomy” to belong to the list, discarding some 4000m shoulders, rock outcrops or secondary summits.
- Mountaineering criterium: there is a more subjective criterium that considers a summit from the qualities of the routes reaching it, the historical significance, and how frequently it is climbed.
In the Alps the 4000m summit hold a symbolic significance and debate still exists between countries in the way these summits are counted and included in this list. Le Dôme de neige Ecrins was for example often contested by the Swiss whereas the French have contested the many secondary summits on the Mont-Rose.
Where are they located ?
These symbolic peaks of the Alps are distributed between three countries – France (26), Italy (38) and Switzerland (48) – many of them sharing their peak between two countries.
They are distributed in 8 mountain ranges:
Mont-Blanc Group (FR-IT)
Mont-Rose Group (IT-CH)
Mischabel Group (CH)
Pelvoux (FR)
Bernese Alps (CH)
Wallis Alps (CH-IT)
Bernina Group(CH)
Graian Alps (IT)
The Northernmost peak is the Schreckhorn (4078 m) in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland. The Southernmost and Westernmost summit is la Barre des Ecrins (4102 m) et son Dôme de Neige in the French Hautes-Alpes. The Piz Bernina is both the Easternmost a most remote 4000m peak.
Mont-Blanc Group (FR-IT)
Mont-Rose Group (IT-CH)
Mischabel Group (CH)
Pelvoux (FR)
Bernese Alps (CH)
Wallis Alps (CH-IT)
Bernina Group(CH)
Graian Alps (IT)
The Northernmost peak is the Schreckhorn (4078 m) in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland. The Southernmost and Westernmost summit is la Barre des Ecrins (4102 m) et son Dôme de Neige in the French Hautes-Alpes. The Piz Bernina is both the Easternmost a most remote 4000m peak.
How challenging are these peaks?
Depending on the route that is taken to reach the summit the level of difficulty to attain it vary greatly. In general, the so called “normal route” is the easiest route to reach the top of a mountain. During this journey the choice of the route will depend on the aptitudes of the team and on the conditions. There are nevertheless some peaks that are generally harder, for example:
- Grandes Jorasse traverse (D)
- Aiguille Blanche de Peuterey (D)
- Arrêtes du diable (D+)
- Aiguille Verte (AD+)
Some normal routes are easier and well tailored to enjoy a first alpine experience. Amongst those a few peaks are often named :
- Bishorn (F)
- Grand Paradis (F)
- Dôme de Neige des Ecrins (F-)
- Weissmies (PD-)
Which are the 82 peaks?
In the list below you will find all the 82 peaks above 4000m officially selected by the UIAA. They are arranged by range/massif.
Peak
Altitude
Range/Massif
Country
Aletschhorn
4,193 m
Bernese Alps
Switzerland
Jungfrau
4,158 m
Bernese Alps
Switzerland
Mönch
4,107 m
Bernese Alps
Switzerland
Schreckhorn
4,078 m
Bernese Alps
Switzerland
Gross Fiescherhorn
4,049 m
Bernese Alps
Switzerland
Grünhorn
4,044 m
Bernese Alps
Switzerland
Lauteraarhorn
4,042 m
Bernese Alps
Switzerland
Hinter Fiescherhorn
4,025 m
Bernese Alps
Switzerland
Piz Bernina
4,049 m
Bernina Group
Switzerland
Gran Paradiso
4,061 m
Graian Alps
Italy
Dom
4,545 m
Mischabel Group
Switzerland
Täschhorn
4,491 m
Mischabel Group
Switzerland
Nadelhorn
4,327 m
Mischabel Group
Switzerland
Stecknadelhorn
4,241 m
Mischabel Group
Switzerland
Hohberghorn
4,219 m
Mischabel Group
Switzerland
Alphubel
4,206 m
Mischabel Group
Switzerland
Rimpfischhorn
4,199 m
Mischabel Group
Switzerland
Strahlhorn
4,190 m
Mischabel Group
Switzerland
Dürrenhorn
4,035 m
Mischabel Group
Switzerland
Mont Blanc
4,808.73 m
Mont Blanc Group
France/Italy
Mont Blanc de Courmayeur
4,748 m
Mont Blanc Group
France/Italy
Picco Luigi Amedeo
4,469 m
Mont Blanc Group
Italy
Dôme du Goûter
4,304 m
Mont Blanc Group
France
Grandes Jorasses (Pointe Walker)
4,208 m
Mont Blanc Group
France/Italy
Grandes Jorasses (Pointe Whymper)
4,184 m
Mont Blanc Group
France/Italy
Aiguille Verte
4,122 m
Mont Blanc Group
France
Aiguilles du Diable (L’Isolée)
4,114 m
Mont Blanc Group
France
Aiguille Blanche de Peuterey
4,112 m
Mont Blanc Group
Italy
Grandes Jorasses (Pointe Croz)
4,110 m
Mont Blanc Group
France/Italy
Aiguilles du Diable (Pointe Carmen)
4,109 m
Mont Blanc Group
France
Grande Rocheuse
4,102 m
Mont Blanc Group
France
Aiguilles du Diable (Pointe Médiane)
4,097 m
Mont Blanc Group
France
Aiguilles du Diable (Pointe Chaubert)
4,074 m
Mont Blanc Group
France
Mont Brouillard
4,069 m
Mont Blanc Group
France
Grandes Jorasses (Pointe Marguerite)
4,065 m
Mont Blanc Group
France/Italy
Aiguilles du Diable (Corne du Diable)
4,064 m
Mont Blanc Group
France
Aiguille de Bionnassay
4,052 m
Mont Blanc Group
France/Italy
Grandes Jorasses (Pointe Elena)
4,045 m
Mont Blanc Group
France/Italy
Aiguille du Jardin
4,035 m
Mont Blanc Group
France
Dôme de Rochefort
4,015 m
Mont Blanc Group
France/Italy
Dent du Géant
4,013 m
Mont Blanc Group
France/Italy
Punta Baretti
4,013 m
Mont Blanc Group
Italy
Aiguille de Rochefort
4,001 m
Mont Blanc Group
France/Italy
Les Droites
4,000 m
Mont Blanc Group
France
Mont Maudit
4,465 m
Mont Blanc Group
France/Italy
Lenzspitze
4,294 m
Mont Blanc Group
Switzerland
Dufourspitze
4,634 m
Monte Rosa Massif
Switzerland
Nordend
4,609 m
Monte Rosa Massif
Italy/Switzerland
Zumsteinspitze
4,563 m
Monte Rosa Massif
Italy/Switzerland
Signalkuppe
4,554 m
Monte Rosa Massif
Italy/Switzerland
Parrotspitze
4,432 m
Monte Rosa Massif
Italy/Switzerland
Ludwigshöhe
4,341 m
Monte Rosa Massif
Italy/Switzerland
Schwarzhorn (Corno Nero)
4,322 m
Monte Rosa Massif
Italy
Finsteraarhorn
4,274 m
Monte Rosa Massif
Switzerland
Grand Pilier d’Angle
4,243 m
Monte Rosa Massif
Italy
Castor
4,223 m
Monte Rosa Massif
Italy/Switzerland
Vincent Pyramid
4,215 m
Monte Rosa Massif
Italy
Vincent Pyramid (Punta Giordani/Giordanispetz)
4,046 m
Monte Rosa Massif
Italy
Barre des Écrins
4,102 m
Pelvoux
France
Barre des Écrins (Dôme de Neige)
4,015 m
Pelvoux
France
Liskamm (Eastern Summit)
4,527 m
Wallis Alps
Italy/Switzerland
Weisshorn
4,505 m
Wallis Alps
Switzerland
Liskamm (Western Summit)
4,479 m
Wallis Alps
Italy/Switzerland
Matterhorn
4,478 m
Wallis Alps
Italy/Switzerland
Dent Blanche
4,357 m
Wallis Alps
Switzerland
Grand Combin (Grafeneire)
4,314 m
Wallis Alps
Switzerland
Mont Blanc du Tacul
4,248 m
Wallis Alps
France
Zinalrothorn
4,221 m
Wallis Alps
Switzerland
Grand Combin (Valsorey)
4,184 m
Wallis Alps
Switzerland
Dent d’Hérens
4,171 m
Wallis Alps
Italy/Switzerland
Breithorn (Western Summit)
4,164 m
Wallis Alps
Italy/Switzerland
Breithorn (Central Summit)
4,159 m
Wallis Alps
Italy/Switzerland
Bishorn
4,153 m
Wallis Alps
Switzerland
Breithorn (Eastern Summit/ western Twin Peak)
4,139 m
Wallis Alps
Italy/Switzerland
Grand Combin (Tsessette)
4,135 m
Wallis Alps
Switzerland
Breithorn (Gendarm/ eastern Twin Peak)
4,106 m
Wallis Alps
Italy/Switzerland
Pollux
4,092 m
Wallis Alps
Italy/Switzerland
Breithorn (Roccia Nera)
4,075 m
Wallis Alps
Italy/Switzerland
Ober Gabelhorn
4,063 m
Wallis Alps
Switzerland
Allalinhorn
4,027 m
Wallis Alps
Switzerland
Weissmies
4,017 m
Wallis Alps
Switzerland
Lagginhorn
4,010 m
Wallis Alps
Switzerland
