Monte Pieltinis : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering : SummitPost

Overview

Tackling the east ridge of Monte Pieltinis

Monte Pieltinis seen from its east ridge

Monte Pieltinis is the central mountain of the Pieltinis - Gentile Subgroup of the Southern Carnic Alps. The subgroup consist of a single ridge which separates Val Pesarina in the north from Val del Lumei in the south. In the latter valley you find Lago di Sauris, a big reservoir and one of the main attractions of the area. The villages of Sauris di Sotto (lower Sauris) and Sauris di Sopra (upper Sauris) form a German speaking exclave, since a couple of hundred years ago Carinthian miners moved south from their homeland in Austria and settled in the area. Names still reflect this heritage though over the years a very special kind of dialect formed which is barely distinguishable as having German roots. Naturally, Italian and the Friulan dialect, also have influenced the local speak.

Looking down the east ridge of Monte Pieltinis

Looking down the east ridge towards Col Gentile (far right)

Monte Pieltinis is considered to be the trademark mountain of Sauris, though it is not very impressive to look at. Still it is some 800m higher than the villages and directly reachable by several routes. Moreover, the whole area - i.e. the ridge, of which Monte Pieltinis is the central formation - is one huge pasture and in summer it turns into a giant flowerbed. Animals of all kinds graze here. Among the pastures there are several farmsteads, which in return means access to the mountain is easily possible via the support roads.

Creton di Clap Piccolo, Creton di Clap Grande

The mountain itself resembles a grass-covered hill. It posesses four ridges, roughly directed in the for compass directions. Three ridges combine at the summit, while the west ridge joins 20m underneath. Thanks to the fact that Monte Pieltinis is the highest mountain of its vicinity, views in general are excellent. It is a perfect lookout for the rocky Terze - Siera and Tiarfin - Bivera - Tinisia Groups of the Southern Carnic Alps. On fine days the southern views reach as far as the Adriatic Sea.

360° Summit Panorama

The 360° "panorama" from Monte Pieltinis

Getting There

Looking across Malga Pieltinis towards Monte Pieltinis

Malga Pieltinis underneath Monte Pieltinis, Monte Torondon and Monte Novarza

From Venezia

Take motorway A27 from Venezia (Venice) to Ponte nelle Alpi
Take SS51 (Alemagna) to Pieve di Cadore
Take SS51bis to Lozzo di Cadore
Take SP619, direction Comeglians to Sella di Razzo
Take an unnamed (very narrow) mountain road to Sauris di Sopra

From Udine

Take A23 north to exit Carnia.
Turn off onto SS52 to Ampezzo.
Turn north into Via Sauris, which leads through Sauris di Sotto to Sauris di Sopra.

From Südtirol / Alto Adige

Take Brenner motorway A22 to Bressanone (Brixen)
Take SS49 through Val Pusteria (Pustertal) until you reach Innichen (San Candido)
Take SS52 (Carnica) to Lozzo di Cadore
Take SP619, direction Comeglians to Sella di Razzo
Take an unnamed (very narrow) mountain road to Sauris di Sopra