Pizzo Tambò
3,279 m
Italy, Switzerland
Also known as Pizzo TamboAlso known as
Pizzo Tambo
- Elevation
- 3,279 m
- Prominence
- 1,166 m
- Difficulty
- 4/10
- Alpine hike
- Best Season
- Aug–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: T4–T5 when snow-free (SAC Tourenportal)
The easiest and most frequented route up the highest peak of the Splügen area: an unmarked but cairned line from the Italian customs house on the Splügenpass (2,114 m) along the frontier ridge, past Lattenhorn and the small lakes at P. 2751, across the upper edge of a vanishing glacier remnant and up the east ridge (I). About 1,160 m and 3½–4 hours up.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 4.7 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,246 m
- −79 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 3,279 m
- Time Up
- 4h 54m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 3h 20m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Start just behind the Italian customs house on the Splügenpass (2,114 m), where the summer PostBus stops ('Splügenpass, ital. Zoll'). A good path heads west along the national border for a long stretch, then traverses south below Piz Tamborello and Lattenhorn over increasingly rubbly ground to a flattening at P. 2751 with a few small lakes. From there climb close to the ridge. At about 3,000 m, avoid a steep step briefly on the south-west side, where there is a viewpoint with a cross. Between P. 3095 and the shrinking Vedretta della Spianata (unnamed on Swiss maps) a trail traverses along the upper edge of the ice remnant to the steep summit block, then follows the east ridge with easy scrambling on glacier-polished slabs to the north-east summit (3,279 m). The slightly lower south-west summit is easy to reach and looks down into the Val Curciusa. Descend the same way; Lattenhorn and Piz Tamborello can be added as short detours. The route is not officially waymarked, but trails and many cairns are clear in summer. Late in the season it is often free of snow and ice; earlier, or after autumn snow, crampons and an ice axe are needed for the traverse and the summit slope.
Start
Splügenpass, Ital. Zoll2,112 m
- PostBus Splügen – Splügenpass in summer (stop 'Splügenpass, ital. Zoll')
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Splügenpass, Ital. Zoll → Pizzo Tambò | 4.7 | 1,246 | 79 | 4h 54m |
Waypoints
- Station: Splügenpass, Ital. Zoll2,112 m
- Feature: Lattenhorn2,851 m
the path traverses below it on the south side
- Summit: Pizzo Tambò3,279 m
Key Passages
- Rubbly traverse below Lattenhorn
- Steep step at about 3,000 m bypassed on the south-west
- Traverse along the edge of the Vedretta della Spianata remnant
- Steep summit block and east ridge (I, glacier-polished slabs)
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 85%Overview
The highest peak around the Splügen Pass (3,279 m), a broad rocky pyramid on the Swiss–Italian border between the Rheinwald and the Valle Spluga. Thanks to the high start at the pass, its normal route is a short-day alpine scramble of about 1,160 m.
Pizzo Tambò (Tambohorn in German) stands on the main Alpine watershed west of the Splügen Pass, between Splügen in the Swiss Rheinwald, the Val Curciusa to the west and the Italian Valle Spluga with Montespluga to the south. It is the highest summit of the Mesolcina chain at the eastern edge of the Lepontine Alps, and with about 1,160 m of prominence it dominates the pass.
The normal route starts at 2,114 m on the Splügenpass and follows the frontier ridge west past Lattenhorn and small lakes, then the east ridge to the top. It is unmarked but well cairned, technically easy (F, I; T4–T5 when snow-free) and short for a 3,000 m peak: 3½–4 hours up. A small, shrinking glacier remnant, the Vedretta della Spianata, lies in the hollow south-east of the summit and the route skirts its upper edge.
In winter and spring Pizzo Tambò is a well-known ski tour from the Swiss side of the pass and from Montespluga, with steeper lines on the north-east face for experienced skiers.
Climbing Notes
Suitable for experienced mountain walkers comfortable on rough, steep scree and easy rock: the summit block needs hands and a steady head, but there is no sustained exposure. Allow 6–7 hours return from the pass. In midsummer, after the snow has gone, crampons are often unnecessary; in early summer and autumn, or after fresh snow, carry crampons and an ice axe for the glacier remnant traverse and the summit slope.
The route is not waymarked, so take a map or GPS track and avoid it in fog. Start early: the ridge is exposed to afternoon thunderstorms. The pass road is closed in winter; check opening and the PostBus timetable before planning. Ski tourers usually start from the Splügenpass road at Berghaus or from Montespluga (Camptocamp AD, S3); the final ridge needs crampons and an axe.
History
The first ascent is unknown, probably before 1826. The first dated tourist ascent was made on 11 July 1859 by Johann Jakob Weilenmann, by the east ridge (Camptocamp says alone; the SAC portal says with a guide). Albert Hoffmann-Burckhardt with the guides Christian Jann and Niklaus Trepp first traversed the WNW ridge (in descent) on 26 July 1871, and W. A. B. Coolidge with Christian Almer junior descended the north side of the east ridge on 16 August 1893.
Season
Best Aug–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Possible
- March: Good
- April: Good
- May: Possible
- June: Possible
- July: Good
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Pass road closed; ski tours from Splügen only for experienced parties
- Feb
- Ski-touring; avalanche risk
- Mar
- Ski-touring season
- Apr
- Spring ski tours
- May
- Late ski tours; pass road may still be closed
- Jun
- Snow on the upper route; crampons needed
- Jul
- Snow patches may remain early in the month
- Aug
- Usually snow-free; afternoon thunderstorms
- Sep
- Often the best conditions
- Oct
- Early snow possible; short days
- Nov
- Winter conditions
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Getting There
Splügen (Switzerland); Montespluga and Madesimo (Italy)
Zurich (ZRH) or Milan Malpensa (MXP)
- PostBus from Splügen up to the Splügenpass in summer (stops 'Splügenpass, Berghaus' and 'Splügenpass, ital. Zoll')
- Car: A13 to Splügen, then the Splügenpass road; or from Chiavenna via Campodolcino and Montespluga (SS36). The pass road is closed in winter
Hazards
- Glacier
- Rockfall
- Weather
- Exposure
- Avalanche