How to get there:
This nice looking peak is rising directly from Lago Garda on its north-west side,
above the small town of Maderno.
A narrow, but paved road heads steeply uphill. There is parking just beyond
a road fork at location N45.65515, E010.57950, elevation near 760 meter.
The road that forks sharply right at the above location,
continues 1.7 kilometer, steeply uphill, mostly paved or with concrete surface.
In particular, all steep hills have a paved surface. Thus, one may drive
to a higher trailhead at location 45.66336, 10.59212, elevation near 1050 meter,
there is parking for a few cars here
and a road sign saying that this is the
end of the public road. This higher trailhead saves about 30 minutes on the
uphill hike and about 20 minutes on the descent.
Route::
Continue up the steep, rough road. A few signs points right to a small trail,
ignore this and walk straight uphill. When this path becomes more horizontal, higher up,
look for a trail that forks right.
Turn right, you will pass two old summer-farm buildings,
before this trail reaches the main crest
with a big trail coming from your left.
All that remains is to turn right and stroll the last part of the route on a wide, almost
horizontal path. Near the summit, there is a small shelter as well as a small
religious bulding. The summit is marked by an Italian (metal) flag.
There is also a cross nearby. A small trail leads slightly downhill to another spot with good views
of Lago Garda as well as the town Maderno (directly down).
Comments:
We stayed a week at the hotel Cape of Senses
overlooking Lago Garda. This peak
was prominently in direct view across the lake. I told Heidi, that if there was
an extra day at the end of our stay, I should likely go climb this one.
A rather short drive, but with a ferry
across the lake. The road to the trailhead
was steep and narrow. I had noted the trailhead used by another peakbagger and
parked there, thinking that this was indeed the trailhead.
I left at 1050,
after hiking up the road for a few minutes, I realized that I could have driven
quite a bit higher and this hike would have been at least 45 minutes shorter.
Too late for any change, I continued up the steepish road and finally came to
the end of the public road at 1135. There were signs here pointing to a small, but clear trail
going right. I first followed this, but soon realized that this could not be
the best route to the summit. backtracking, I was soon on the better route uphill.
The first people I met this day were the 2 people next to the old mountain farm buildings.
I arrived at the summit in 1:40. A very nice spot with good views.
Two people were having lunch at the picnic table next to the small shelter just below
the summit. I decided to make a longer break and walked the entire summit ridge, down
to the viewing area overlooking the town on the shoreline of the lake.
Leaving at 1310, it took me about 40 minutes to get back to the upper trailhead,
then another 20 along the road, back to my car.
