Stecknadelhorn
The Stecknadelhorn is a small elevation on the Nadelgrat ridge, but because of its altitude of 4,241 m it is considered a 4,000-metre peak in its own right. An ascent can be incorporated in a crossing of the Nadelgrat ridge, depending on climbers’ physical condition.
Height
4,241 m
First ascent
8 August 1887
First climbed by
Oscar Eckenstein, Matthias Zurbriggen
Tips for visitors
- St. Niklaus - Jungen cable car
Tips for hikers
- Hike: Randa - Rötiboden - Weisshorn hut
Stecknadelhorn: tips for mountaineers
- Mountain guide necessary
- 2-day trip
- Ideal option for ridge climb in mixed, high-altitude terrain
- Difficult
Part of one of the finest ridge climbs
The Stecknadelhorn is the most inconspicuous of the four summits above 4,000 m that make up the Nadelgrat ridge (in sequence: Nadelhorn, Stecknadelhorn, Hohbärghorn and Dirruhorn). The Stecknadelhorn stands immediately north-west of the Nadelhorn, and like the Hohbärghorn is glaciated on its north side. The Nadelgrat lies somewhat hidden, north-west of the Mischabel group. Its traverse is considered one of the most beautiful ridge climbs in the Alps.
The Nadelgrat links the Lenzspitze, Nadelhorn, Stecknadelhorn, Hohbärghorn and Dirruhorn.
Origin of name
The Stecknadelhorn has a very similar name to the neighbouring Nadelhorn (“Stecknadel” means “pin”, and “Nadel” translates as “needle”). The fact that the two summits also look very similar suggests that the name derives from the expression “looking for a needle in a haystack”. This etymology reflects the inconspicuousness and insignificance of this peak among the summits of the Nadelgrat ridge.