| What it is | Low point on a ridge between peaks |
| Also called | Pass, saddle, gap, notch |
| Role | Crossing point, route waypoint |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
From the French col, meaning 'neck' (of the mountain).
A col is the lowest point on a ridge between two peaks — a mountain pass or saddle. Cols are natural crossing points and route waypoints in mountaineering, often marking the gateway between two valleys or the start of a summit ridge. The term is especially common in alpine climbing.
It comes from the French col, ‘neck’.
Col, saddle, or pass
In hiking the same feature is often called a saddle; ‘pass’ stresses a crossing route. All sit low on a ridge between two summits.
Why it matters
Cols are the natural places to cross a ridge, so they anchor route descriptions and often begin summit ridges.
Frequently asked questions
What is a col?
A col is the lowest point on a ridge between two summits — effectively a mountain pass. Cols are key features in mountaineering, serving as crossing points between valleys, route junctions, and often the spot where a summit ridge begins.
What's the difference between a col, a saddle, and a pass?
They largely overlap. 'Col' (from French for 'neck') and 'saddle' both describe the low point between two peaks, with 'col' more common in alpine and European usage. 'Pass' emphasizes a route used to cross a range. In practice the terms are interchangeable.
Why are cols important in mountaineering?
Because they're the lowest, most logical places to cross a ridge, cols become natural waypoints on a route — gateways between valleys, junctions on a traverse, and the base of summit ridges. Many classic routes are described relative to their cols.
Sources
- Mountain terrain — American Alpine Club