Overview
Geographical Classification : Eastern Alps > Carnic Alps > Carnic Alps Main Ridge (West) > Schöntalhöhe / Cima di Valbella
As a special request by Johan Heersink - "Gangolf, can't you for one time put up a lousy page?" - I'll do my best to satisfy him with this page ;-)
The object of this lousy page, Schöntalhöhe (as it is spelled in German, also Schöntalhorn), is actually one of the highest summits in the western part of the Carnic Alps Main Ridge. Only 150m lower than the Carnic Alps highpoint Hohe Warte / Coglians it can be considered one of the major summits of the ridge. As for the Italian name - I had to do a quite thorough research - which came up with the obvious: Cima di Valbella, a literal translation meaning "Pretty Valley Peak".
Still it is a quiet and unknown summit, perhaps even obscure. While the southern slopes are rather shallow, Schöntalhöhe shows an impressive drop in its north face. It is located directly on the Italian - Austrian border. The long (140km = 90 miles) "Karnischer Höhenweg" trekking trail runs along very close to the north of the summit, while the Italian version, the "Traversata Carnica" almost touches it from the south. Like its immediate neighbour to the west, Demut / La Mutta it is marred by 90 year old trenches from World War I. At the western base of the summit block you can find the remains of an old wooden fort dating back to the war.
Both routes to the mountains follow the main ridge and are best accessible from the north. Both the Hollbrucker Tal and Schustertal Valleys lead southward to the ridge where they join the "Karnischer Höhenweg". While the route along the Schöntalhöhe east ridge is very short and steep the western ascent needs to climb Demut / La Mutta before cutting over to Schöntalhöhe. Part of this trail leads through the north-west faces of both mountains and runs along the old Kaiserjäger support routes of WW I. One can only admire the ingeniousness of the old pioneers - there certainly is no better way up the mountain.
As for views - we didn't have any. Clouds kept creeping over the ridge - a sure sign for a weather divide. On the southern Italian side everything was covered in fog while the northern Austrian side was relatively clear while we stayed below the summit. This was a real pity because in fine weather the proximity to the Sexten / Sesto Dolomites will place the likes of Drei Zinnen / Tre Cime or Dreischusterspitze / Punta dei Tre Scarperi at your fingertips.
Getting There
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