March: Lyskamm

The Lyskamm is a mountain in the Pennine Alps (Valais Alps), east of the Matterhorn and west of the Monte Rosa Group, on the border between Switzerland and Italy. The Lyskamm is a huge massif, consisting of a long ridge and two summits: the Eastern Lyskamm (4,527 m asl) and the lower Western Lyskamm (4,479 m asl). The Lyskamm ridgeline is notorious for large cornices, due to strong winds. Its north face drops over 1,000 m down to the Grenz Glacier (Grenzgletscher). The northern ice sheets feed into the Gorner Glacier through the Zwilling and Grenz Glaciers, while the Lys Glacier on the southern side stands out as a remarkable feature. Until recently, its tongue extended down to an altitude of 2,300 m asl at Alp Soalze, a surprising feat for a glacier flowing southward. 

The Gorner Glacier, the second largest glacier in the Alps, has been retreating since the end of the 19th century, more dramatically in recent years.

Glaciers naturally release stored water over time, providing a steady supply to rivers, lakes, and groundwater. However, the effects of climate change are interfering with these vital processes, as evidenced by the glaciers in the Valais Alps. Without action to reduce CO2 emissions, it is predicted that Switzerland’s glaciers will almost entirely vanish by the end of this century.