Rating the Route (By Hiking Standards)
Monte Salinchiet from the north
The grading system for hiking and scrambling routes is here.
0. General: From Caserute meadow, 1532m to 1857m, exposition W, E, N and S (we go around the mountain). First over grassy slopes on the Pizzul saddle, then down on the eastern side, then the northern slopes through woods and dwarf pines, then a steeper ascent over a few a bit exposed (secured) passages, finally a panoramic ridge and steep grassy slopes. Gear: Good hiking shoes and poles.
1. Effort: cca 600m, 3h.
2. Power: 2 - Easy, only walk-up, but also steep below the summit.
3. Psyche: 2 - Easy, only one or two a bit more exposed ledges, secured with a cable.
4. Orientation: 2 - Easy, well marked, also in the woods.
Getting There
See the main page how to get in Paularo and further up to Csera Pizzul, 1532m.Map: Tabacco: Alpi Carniche Orientali, Canal del Ferro. 1:25000.
Route Description
Flowers on the N ridge
The first objective is to reach the path No. 435, which crosses the slopes on the other side of the ridge, above Pontebbana valley. The quickest way is to go by the path No. 441 eastwards on Forca Pizzul, 1708m, and on the other side in the same direction down till Rif. Forte di Pezzeit, 1475m. The continuation is the same as described on this route.
From Pezzeit hut we continue across the slopes in the southern direction. Allways through woods, crossing many more or less dry (depends on season) water beds. So we approach the N face of Monte Salinchiet, where the terrain is more opened. Scree fields on the right, broad areas of dwarf-pine, the path is still well marked and strong, but after the last ravine (Rio Saline) starts ascending - first slowly, then in a few turns, using one or two a bit exposed ledges. There the path is protected. The crossing continues, finally the path ascends through a forrest on the E-SE ridge, where the view towards the south opens. Some good 2h till here.
The summit ridge (E-SE)
From the ridge, the path No. 435 descends on the other side, towards the nearby Pradulina alpine meadow. Our marked path, however, turns sharp right and follows the ridge towards the top. This part of the ascent is interesting because of growing panorama and because of the rests from World War I which we can explore. Towards the top, our path goes mostly by the S side of the ridge. In the upper part it gets weaker, but the direction is clear. Last some 20 meters are a steep ascent over a rocky slope. So we reach the SE summit, which is 1 meter lower than the NW summit, which we see near by. Climbing there would mean a few passages up to UIAA II level of difficulty.
Variant:
(We did it in the opposite direction) From Forca Pizzul we could also continue southwards by a panoramic ridge, where the path 441b goes. Over the first elevation (1767m) we reach a small saddle and then the next elevation (1739m). Till here we could come also directly over Casera Paluchian (road till there). Now we are already close to the NW ridge of Monte Salinchiet. If we don't want to climb it, we must avoid it left down. Over a pathless terrain north of the dry bed of Rio Saline we descend in the E direction and hit below the path No. 435 on the altitude of 1507m. Then right as described.Images
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