| Carnic Alps Main Ridge (West) Area/Range |
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| Carnic Alps Main Ridge (West)   | 
| Page Type: Area/Range Location: Carnic Alps, Austria/Italy, Europe Lat/Lon: 46.65100°N / 12.64660°E Elevation: 9121 ft / 2780 m | Page By: Gangolf Haub Created/Edited: Oct 14, 2004 / Feb 28, 2006 Object ID: 153219 Hits: 9092 Loading... Page Score: 91.02% - 36 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
OverviewGeographical Classification : Eastern Alps > Carnic Alps > Carnic Alps Main Ridge (West)
The best known of the subgroups of the Carnic Alps is the Main Ridge, especially its western part between Kreuzbergpass / Passo di Monte Croce and Plöckenpass / Passo di Monte Croce Carnico. The popularity can partly be explained by the proximity of the Sexten Dolomites / Dolomiti di Sesto, probably the most beautiful of the Dolomite Groups, drawing the attention of thousands of hikers and climbers each year. Many of them take the cablecar to Helm / Monte Elmo, the westernmost mountain of the Carnic Alps, to get an overview of the many subgroups of the Sexten Dolomites.
It would be unfair, however, to see the Carnic Alps Main Ridge only in the light of its views towards Sexten. It is a very impressive hiking and climbing destination in itself. For the hikers a long trekking trail has been established in the 70s of the last century. "Karnischer Höhenweg" runs along to the north of the Main ridge, often (rather mostly) using trails, which had been established during World War I. In that war, 90 years ago, the main ridge was a fiercely contested battleground between the Austrian Kaiserjäger and the Italian Alpini. Many caves, buildings and trenches still document this part of history.
The geology of the area is very complex. For an overview, see the relevant section on the Carnic Alps Page. For a short abstract let it be said that to the north of the ridge the peradriatic fault between the North-African and European tectonic plates runs through Lesachtal Valley and that the region was at the centre of the action during the formation of the Alps. So smooth mountains formed out of eruptive rocks (mostly black lava) abruptly change into white limestone formations of almost Dolomite like quality. It is these latter vertical rocks, which are well known climbing destinations. Since they are not as crowded as similar mountains in the Dolomites you can find relaxed climbing of good quality.
The area covered in this page not only deals with the main ridge. To the north there are a number of side ridges which offer good hiking onto great lookout summits. In most cases it is possible to start from one northern valley towards the main ridge, hike or climb along that ridge and return through the next valley, all in one day. To the south there are three large subgroups which could be dealt with separately but which usually are considered to belong to the Main Ridge. These are Crode dei Longerin, Monte Peralba and Monte Rinaldo. A similar isolated group exists to the north - Mooskofel Group.
The subdivision closely follows the system proposed by the German Alpine Club - see the book by P. Holl (in the "Maps 'n' Books" Section below). Only the first subgroup has been "created" by me to prevent a group getting too large. Also there is a distinctive change of character of the main ridge between Pfannspitze and Kleine Kinigat which justifies the division in my eyes.
The western part of the Carnic Alps Main Ridge will be divided into:- Western Main Ridge – Helm through Pfannspitze
- West Central Main Ridge – Kleine Kinigat through Weißsteinspitze
- Crode dei Longerin Group
- Peralba – Chiadenis – Avanza Group
- East Central Main Ridge – Raudenspitze through Kreuzleithöhe
- Biegengebirge
- Kellerwand - Hohe Warte Group
- Mooskofel Group
- Rinaldo Group
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