Monte Ortigara

Overview

The eastern part of Asiago high plateau - M. Ortigara is in sunshine

The WW1 monument

In a mountaineering sense Monte Ortigara is a completely unimportant mountain, rising only a little above the high plateau of Sette Comuni. And yet, virtually every Italian knows it due to tragical events during the World War I, when one of the most fierce battles was fought on its slopes. Today due to an easy and short ascent its summit is an object of pilgrimage, so many people visit it.

The grassy and rocky summit of Monte Ortigara is a bit indented from the main crest of mountains, rising on the north of the plateau. Its prominence towards the neighbouring Monte Castelnovo is only some 50 meters, the southern slopes are lowering a bit more down to the meadows. Only the slopes north of Cippo Austriaco, 2008 m, are falling high down into Valsugana. Those slopes are offering you a longer and more strenuous tour, if you choose so.

Also the panorama from the summit is nothing very special. The highest summits of the northern chain around Cima Dodici are obscuring that part of the horizom, right of them you can see some summits of Lagorai and Dolomites mountains, on the west, some higher summits of Prealpi Venete e Trentine are already quite distant. And towards the south lies the big plateau and other forehills. Geologically, as most of the central part of higher Asiago Tableland, also Monte Ortigara is built of limestone from the Jurassic period (eastern side), and of Triassic dolomite (western side).

World War I on Monte Ortigara

Monte Campigoletti cemetery

gabriele - WW1 positions

Monte Ortigara is known as "The Calvary of Alpini", but not only Italians have reasons to have nightmares of this barren, rocky plateau. The casualties on the Austro-Hungarian side were also enormous.

After the successful "Strafexpedition" in 1916, Austro-Hungarian army had to retreat, because many troops were sent to the Russian frontline. They fortified positions across the upper part of Sette Comuni plateau, holding strategic summits below the main ridge. Position war lasted almost one year, until Italians decided to attack the sector of Monte Ortigara.

With heavy shelling the attack started in the night from June 9^th on June 10^th. Next day infantry attacked and fierce fightings began. Italians took a few nearby elevations. Next day poor weather prevented successful continuation of attacks and when it cleared, on June 15^th, Austrians counter attacked, regaining some strategic points. And that story went on and on. One side advanced, the other side pushed them back and so on. On the 19^th of June Italians succeeded to capture the highest point of Monte Ortigara, but already 3 days later Austrians counter attaccked with heavy shelling and then on June 25^th with elite infantry attack. In those days casualties on both sides were the highest. Italians withrew to original positions from before June 9^th. The battle of Ortigara was over, nothing had changed, except that tenths of thousands were dead and crippled on both sides. The majority of bodies were burried only in 1920, when also today's monument was erected - "not to forget", as it is written on it.

Getting There

gabriele - Monte Ortigara panorama

The closest parking place is at Piazzale Lozze, 1750 m, SE of the summit. It can be reached by two roads: 1. From the main road Asiago - Gallio - Foza you deter left just after Gallio and drive through the valley of Campomulo, continuing through Ortigara to Piazzale Lozze. This access road is in winter arranged as a cross country ski track. 2. From the main road Enego - Foza you deter right and drive over the plateau of Marcesina to Piazzale Lozze. The second trailhead could be Malga di Galmarara, 1611 m, but this one is much more remote, used for the ascent on Cima Dodici. But you can do a round hike (or bike & hike) combining ascents on Cima Dodici and Monte Ortigara (description: here). The alpine meadow of Galmarara can be reached by the mountain road from Val d'Assa. The third option would be to start the ascent even down in Valsugana, NW, N or NE of the mountain. But that means whole 1600 meters of elevation gain. One marked path for example goes up from Olle, 442 m, just south of Borgo Valsugana. Cippo Austriaco

View Cima Dodici 2 in a larger map

Ascent Routes

1. From Piazzale Lozze, 1750 m. This is a very easy and short ascent, but very worth doing it. You will reach the summit in 1 h. From the parking place the marked path leads you towards the W-NW. In some 15 min you reach the church of Lozze and the nearby Rif. Cecchin. From there you continue along the path no. 840-841, named the Path of Peace. With many ups and downs it brings you to Baito Ortigara, 1937 m, on the ex alpine pasture. There the path branches, but take the leftmost one which soon brings you up to the monument on the highest point. You return by the same route or you visit other places of interest in the vicinity. This tour can be in winter conditions also done as a ski tour.

2. From the south-west. All ascent approaches from the SW join on Bivio Italia, 1987 m. See the page of Cima Dodici where it is described how to get there by ex military roads from Malga Larici, Malga di Galmarara or Piazza delle Saline, hiking, or using a mountain bike. From Bivio Italia you can continue northwards some 1-2 km, then the road turns into a mountain path. By the road you first pass Busa del Cavallo (ex military logistic center), then the meadow of Cuvolin (water source there), then a small pass where the path turns right down for some 50 meters of altitude. Then you regain the NE direction, pass the graveyard of Monte Campigoletti and start ascending on Monte Ortigara. First you reach the bell and then the highest point. Less than 1 h 30 min from Bivio Italia, 3 h from Malga Galmarara.

3. From Olle, 442 m. This is a long and strenuous approach from Valsugana, requiring 5 hours (1600 m of altitude). Map: Tabacco No. 50 - Altopiano dei Sette Comuni 1:25.000 On-line: http://www.kompass.de/online-karte.html

Cross Contry Skiing

In winter almost all ex military roads are arranged as cross country ski tracks. Centro Fondo Gallio has its base at Campomulo, 1530 m. You need to pay entry (9 EUR in 2013) and some 300 km of well maintained tracks are available (together with Marcesina area). The hardest one goes to Monte Ortigara. For some 29.5 km and 570 m of altitude gain the average time for the round tour is close to 5 hours.

Reaching Rif. Moline

Near Rif. Moline

Rif. Moline, 1740 m

Descending to Campomulo

Mountain Huts

To ascend Monte Ortigara we don't need to sleep on the mountain. Otherwise near the parking place there is Rif. Cecchin, 1920 m. It does not have a winter bivouac (as shown on the map).

When To Visit Monte Ortigara?

You can visit Monte Ortigara any time of the year. In winter conditions you will have less chances to explore ruins from the World War I and you will need skis or snowshoes.

External Links

A good description of World War I events is in Richard Galli: The Battle of Ortigara, June 1917