Signalkuppe

Infobox Mountain
Name = Signalkuppe / Punta Gnifetti
Photo = Zumsteinspitze_von_der_Dufourspitze.jpg
Caption = The Signalkuppe lying behind the Zumsteinspitze. The Margherita hut is just visible on the summit.
Elevation = convert|4554|m|ft|0|lk=on
Location = Piedmont, ITA /
Valais, CHE
Range = Pennine Alps
Prominence = convert|102|m|ft|0|abbr=on
latd= 45|latm=55 |lats=38 |latNS=N
longd=7 |longm=52 |longs=37 |longEW=E
pushpin_

Coordinates = coor at dms|45|55|38|N|7|52|37|E|type:mountain_region:CH
First ascent = 9 August 1842 by Giovanni Gnifetti and party
Easiest route = Glacier tour via west flank, south-west ridge (F)

The Signalkuppe (also known as Punta Gnifetti) (4,554 m) is a peak of the Monte Rosa massif in the Pennine Alps in Italy and Switzerland. The mountain is named after 'the Signal', a prominent gendarme atop the east ridge.

The first ascent was by Giovanni Gnifetti, a parish priest from Alagna Valsesia, together with J. Farinetti, C. Ferraris, C. Grober, J. and G. Giordiano and porters on 9 August 1842.

The highest hut in Europe, the Margherita hut (named after Italy's Queen consort Margherita of Savoy) lies on the summit of the mountain. Work started in 1890, supported by the Italian crown, and Queen Margherita opened it in 1893. The new hut, a high-altitude Faraday Cage, is clad in sheet copper to shield against unwanted electrical fields.

References

*Dumler, Helmut and Willi P. Burkhardt, "The High Mountains of the Alps", London: Diadem, 1994
*Collomb, Robin G., (ed.), "Pennine Alps Central", London: Alpine Club, 1975

External links

* [http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/150348/signalkuppe-punta-gnifetti.html The Signalkuppe on SummitPost]
* [http://www.forum.planetmountain.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=29784 Photographic account of an ascent of the Signal ridge (in Italian)]