The massive Grande Mèsule is the dominating mountain in the main ridge of the Zillertal Alps
With its 3,480 m a.s.l., the Grande Mèsule (Großer Möseler in German) is the second-highest mountain of the Zillertal Alps after the Gran Pilastro mountain. Like this mountain, also the Grande Mèsule was climbed first in 1865 and forms one boundary point between North and South Tyrol.
The mountain is surrounded by glaciers and accessible both from South Tyrol (Italy) and from North Tyrol (Austria). The route from the Zillertal valley is considered as the normal way. Starting at the Schlegeis Basin, the route proceeds to the Furtschaglhaus mountain hut, which offers overnight accommodation, and from there in four hours up on the peak. In South Tyrol, Lake Neves in the Valli di Tures e Aurina valley is starting point, on this route, the Rif. Porro mountain hut (Chemnitzer Hütte) is the rest point.
Until the 19th century, the Sasso Nero in the Valli di Tures e Aurina was believed to be the highest mountain of the Zillertal Alps. After the first ascent in 1858, it was clear, that the Grande Mèsule was the higher one. A few years later, when also this mountain was climbed for the first time, finally the Gran Pilastro could be fixed as the highest mountain of the Zillertal Alps.
