| | Apuane Alps   | 
| Page Type: Area/Range Location: Massa Carrara/Lucca, Italy, Europe Lat/Lon: 44.11323°N / 10.20149°E Activities: Hiking, Mountaineering, Canyoneering, Skiing Season: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter Elevation: 6388 ft / 1947 m | Page By: alpinerunner Created/Edited: Aug 28, 2007 / Oct 16, 2007 Object ID: 329897 Hits: 2159  Loading... Page Score: 87.48% - 6 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
OverviewThe Apuane Alps are one of the most original relief areas in Italy, for the variety of landscape, environments and location. Located in the north of Tuscany between Magra River (NW) and Serchio River (SE) cannot be considered as a part of the Appennini range but a distinguished range located very near the Tirreno sea. In fact within a few kilometers, starting from the coastal plain in Versilia (W), Lunigiana (N) and Garfagnana (E) the Apuane rise to reach almost 2.000 mt. of altitude with the Mount Pisanino (m 1947).
This orographic complex is called "Alps" because of its massive mountains, steep morphology, imposing and very inclined slopes, great walls and deep valleys which make the range more similar to the Alps then to the Appennini: for example the Pizzo d'Uccello north wall (1781m), with his 800m of difference in height, can be compared with Dolomitic or Western Alps walls. However from a geographic point of view this range doesn't belong to the Alps.
The Apuane are also known all over the world for the precious marbles (Marmo Bianco di Carrara) and other decorative and building stones and for the impressive carsick phenomenons (deep abysses, great cavities of the subsoil) which characterize the range.
Monte Pisanino 1947 m. the main elevation of the rangeMain Areas of the Range
The Apuane Alps stretches for 65 km beside the Tirreno sea coastline from NW to SE, the range sets the limits of three different geographical areas: Lunigiana north with Magra and Aulella river, Versilia west and south, and Garfagnana east with Serchio river.
Despite the elevation of these mountains isn't impressive, the steepness of the faces, the sharp edges made them interesting from a mountaineering point of view.
For an easier explanation the range can be divided into four areas (from a geographical point of view):
- North west sector: Pisanino Group, Vinca and Carrara Apuane
- West sector: Massa and Arni Apuane
- East sector: Panie Group
- South East sector: Stazzema Apuane
Apuane North west - sectorThe most important and interesting sector of the Range: here we can find the major concentration of peaks, walls, huts and paths.
- The main summit of the Range: Monte Pisanino Group (1947m)
- The most important wall: North face of Pizzo d'Uccello (1781m)
The main summits
Main peaks of the area are:
PISANINO (1947m) wich stands north of the main ridge which links from NW to SE the PIZZO d'UCCELLO (1781m), the GARNERONE RIDGE, GRONDILICE (1805m), MONTE CONTRARIO (1790m), CAVALLO (1889m) ending with TAMBURA (1895m).
Main ridge is visible with Pisanino partially back
The other peaks of the area are SAGRO (1748m), ROCCANDAGIA (1710m), BORLA (1469m), MAGGIORE (1396m), TORRE DI MONZONE (1251m), CIMA d'UOMO (968m)
The Huts
Refuges are numerous and provide logistic support to the main summits:
RIFUGIO CAPANNA GARNERONE
Fonte della Vacchereccia m.1260, C.A.I. Carrara, 18 beds, tel: 0585.776782. Located in the Vinca valley under the ridge of Monte Garnerone, a starting point for the south wall of Pizzo d'Uccello.
Access:
-from Vinca (h 1,20 - sign. 175 from Vinca to Capanne del Giovo, sign. 37 from Capanne del Giovo to the Refuge)
-from Rifugio Carrara - Campo Cecina (h 2,20 sign. 173 to Foce di Navola, 37 from Foce di Navola to the Refuge)
Main ascensions:
- Foce di Giovo
- Pizzo d'Uccello
- Guglie di Vacchereccia
- Colle Nattapiana
- Garnerone
RIFUGIO CARRARA
Campo Cecina m.1320, C.A.I. Carrara, 36 beds, open the whole year, tel: 0585.841972. Located at the end of the road from Castelpoggio/ Fosdinovo to Campo Cecina,
RIFUGIO ORTO DI DONNA
Val Serenaia m.1500, 30 beds, tel. 347 3663542
BIVACCO ARONTE
Passo della Focolaccia m. 1620, C.A.I. Massa, 6 beds, open in winter tel: 0585.488081
RIFUGIO DONEGANI
Orto di Donna m. 1150, C.A.I. Lucca, 50 beds, tel: 340.1509327
BIVACCO K2
Under the slopes of Monte Contrario m. 1500, C.A.I. Carrara, 6 beds, tel: 0585.776782
Carsick phenomenons Getting There External links Images
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