How to get there:
This mountain has a foot in the tourist town of Cortina.
One can take 3 cable cars that will bring you within a 15 minute
walk of the summit. This was (2025) Euro 40 for a round-trip ticket.
Other options are to drive a bit ut of town, then do a fairly short (road)
hike to the top station of the first gondola. This location is called
Col Druscie, 1778 meter.
There are trails, one may climb the mountain entirely under own power.
The lower (first) gondola runs cntinuously, taking 6-8 people in each car.
The second gondola carries more people, but typically only runs every 10 or 15 minutes.
This gondola normally corresponds well with the third and highest gondola that will
bring people almost, but not quite to the summit.
Route description:
From the upper viewing deck, turn right as you exit from the gondola. A set of
metal staircaes will lead to the beginning of a very big and nice trail. The summit
trail forks left almost immediately. This trail (easy YDS class 1) leads to a view point
on the far side of the summit. Before you get to this, leave the trail (right) and walk
up among stable rocks (some loose gravel) to the summit. You will see many alternative
zig-zag paths made by the large number of visitors that have been up here. This last
section is also essentially (YDS) class 1. However, there is no "official" trail here,
but it is all very obvious.
Note that in June, there may be snow and even signs down by the metal staircase proclaiming
that the summit route/access "is closed".
Comments:
I drove up to Cortina, my main memory of this area was my climb of
Antelao, many years ago. Time did not permit anything more than an ascent
by gondola. The gondola had a posted sign inside advising that any hiking beyond
the platforms would be at "your own risk" (a pretty stupid statement, but that
is a different story.) As soon as I reached the top station, I hurried out
and immediately climbed the metal staircase, In doing so, I stepped across
a barrier at the beginning of the stairs proclaiming "gesperrt". Hmm, I decided
my German was rusty and that this word was unknown to me.
On top of the staircase, the terrain was covered by snow. Somehow, I failed to see
the trail going left and instead crossed the snow to connect with a trail running
on the right side of the first small top. Climbing it, I immediately realized that
the summit was across a col on the next "hump".
The terrain was fairly easy and I quickly descended to the correct trail and followed
it to the area from where people climb to the summit. There were nobody around, but
many tracks from people having ascended and descended the last several years.
Up in a couple oof minutes, lucky with good views. When I was still in the gondola, a big
cloud could be seen on the summit, nice that it disappeared before mmy arrival.
Returning back to the platform, I noticed a man at the base of the stairs, obviously
waiting for me. He started complaining as soon as I stepped back across the closure.
I just briefly asked "what is the meaning of "gesperrt", then left. Later, when waiting
for the return gondola, I did notice that he had an argument with 2 Dutch tourists. They
wanted to go up the stairs, but he prevented them, telling that they would need
a guide. Most likely, the access policy changes somewhat later in the summer when
the snow has melted, however, to visit this peak from the top station of the gondola
may get you into some unpleasant arguments.
