Piz Buin

Large (left) and Little Piz Buin, view from Silvretta reservoir

The Piz Buin [ ˌ pits bui ː n], also Big Piz Buin, is on the border between Austria and Switzerland 3312 m above sea level. A. the highest mountain in the Silvretta main ridge and the Austrian province of Vorarlberg.

Location

The mountain marks as part of the Silvretta main ridge of the border between Austria and the Swiss canton of Grisons, which runs in an east-west direction over the top. To the west is separated by the transition Buinlücke, the Small Piz Buin ( 3255 m). In the north and west of the Great Piz Buin extends Ochsentaler glacier, located in the northeast, separated from Ochsentaler glacier by the Wiesbadner Grätle, the Vermuntgletscher. These two located on Austrian territory glaciers are the source of the Ill, the flows in Vermunt at the Bielerhoehe north through the Ochsental the Silvretta reservoir. In the south of the 2797 m high Vermuntgletschers Vermunt forms the transition into the Swiss Val Tuoi, a tributary of the Lower Engadine, which extends to the south of Piz Buin, and belongs to the municipality Lavin.

The Piz Buin is in the Silvretta in height only by the huge pyramid of Piz Linard ( 3410 m) and from the vanishing Horn ( 3399 m) exceeded.

Geology and flora

The Piz Buin is like its neighboring mountains of crystalline rocks of the Silvretta nappe, which is composed mainly of gneisses. In contrast to the higher peaks of Piz Linard and escape horn, which consist mainly of hornblende, the Piz Buin is made of lighter granite and augen gneiss.

The vegetation is sparse, as is generally in the higher regions of the Silvretta and consists of rock and schuttbewohnenden plants of Nivalstufe. In addition to lichens and mosses in particular the glacier buttercup is to say, even the flowers at the summit of Piz Buin.

Bases and routes

On the Austrian side is next to the Bielerhoehe Wiesbaden's hut ( 2443 m) on the east side of the Ochsentals. From there, the traditional normal route leads south through the Vermuntgletscher and further west to the Wiesbaden Grätle from where you cross over the Ochsentaler glacier to Buinlücke. On the climb to Wiesbadner Grätle points are in difficulty II ( UIAA ) to overcome. After the glacier is ever melted under the Wiesbaden Grätle about the year 2000, this route is becoming increasingly difficult and risky. In particular, the risk of rock falls under the exposed brittle rock has meant that is already considered to block this route. The entrance is through the lower Eisniveau more difficult, so it is often the difficulty level IV reach or may be entirely impassable even in high summer.

An alternative to this path leads from the Wiesbaden lodge or directly from the Bielerhoehe on the Ochsentaler glaciers and through this to Buinlücke. This increase is in a very popular winter ski tour dar. Furthermore, the Buinlücke with skis from the city, in the Val Tuoi Tuoihütte (2250 m) can be achieved, and ascended mostly on the west of the Little Piz Buin located Fuorcia dal Cunfin and then the ox glacier will. In avalanche-safe conditions, a direct exit is through the Buinlücke direction Tuoihütte for very good skiers possible ( in the upper part narrow and about 40 ° steep). The way over the Fuorcia dal Cunfin is further from the Swiss Silvretta Hütte ( 2341 m).

Common to all these because of the increase of the peak Buinlücke: He leads on the western flank of northwest ridge and through this by the so-called chimney on the scree-covered western flank and this not difficult to the summit. The key point in the fireplace is rated I to III.

Name and history

Piz Buin is a Romansch name meaning, Ox Lace ', the " Buin " is stressed on the second syllable. The Romansh original name is Piz Buin Grond ( Big Piz Buin ), in contrast to the small Piz Buin, Piz Buin Pitschen.

The first ascent of the mountain succeeded July 14, 1865 Joseph Anton Specht and Johann Jakob Weilenmann with the leaders of Jacob Pfitscher and Franz Poell. They reached the summit via the normal route via traditional Vermuntgletscher, Wiesbadner Grätle and Buinlücke.