| Kobariski Stol - Gran Monte Mountain/Rock |
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| Kobariski Stol - Gran Monte   | 
| Page Type: Mountain/Rock Location: Italy/Slovenia, Europe Lat/Lon: 46.27911°N / 13.45276°E Activities: Hiking, Skiing Season: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter Elevation: 5489 ft / 1673 m | Page By: Vid Pogachnik Created/Edited: Mar 6, 2006 / Feb 1, 2008 Object ID: 178908 Hits: 1578 Loading... Page Score: 90.02% - 22 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
Overview  Northern views from the slopes of Kobariski Stol  The S slopes of Gran Monte
Remarks- When reading Slovenian words on maps or in books, you will find special characters for ch, sh, and zh. They are written with c, s and z with a caron - little v above them. So, the adjective 'Kobariski' is pronouncen 'Kobarishki' (Kobarid=town).
- Locals name the mountain only Stol (=Chair). But as we have in Slovenia also its higher counterpartner in Karavanke, in last years our mountain is more and more frequently referred as Kobariski Stol.
IntroFor the southern part of Julian Alps, where they blend into fore-alps, long, but still narrow and steep ridges are characteristic. The longest one, the South Bohinj Range runs some 40km. The Kobariski Stol - Gran Monte range runs in the East-West direction 'only' some 34km. The range is rising south of Kanin/Canin group. More towards SE there are also the similar Matajur, 1641m, and Kolovrat, 1242m, ranges. As I could still not find much data about the western part, until some help comes from other members, this page will contain predominantly all the detailed information about the eastern part.
BordersThe eastern border of Kobariski Stol is the valley of river Soca. Just at Kobarid town the long ridge comes down to the river bank. Towards the West the range stretches to the valley of river Torre/Ter. That part is called Gran Monte, 1636m. The eastern part of the range lies in Slovenia, the western part in Italy. That's why it looks that here we have two distinct mountains, but between the two the range does not lower much. The southern slopes of the range are falling down into Breginj valley (in Slovenia), where the river Nadiza/Natissone flows. In the Italian part, below Gran Monte there are nice terraces with villages, around the Cornappo creek some side hills of the group are formed. The northern border of the range is on the East first formed by Soca river (to Zaga village), then by its tributary Ucja/Uccea. Between the valleys of Ucja/Uccea and Torre/Ter there's an important saddle, named Nam na meji / Tannamea, dividing Stol / Gran Monte range from the similar, but sharper Muzci/Musi range on the NW. Over it a good asphalt road goes from Soca valley to Torre/Ter valley.
Elevations  The ridge of Kobariski Stol
Eastern part. From Kobarid on the East the range is rising first steeply, then more and more moderately. While the Napoleon bridge over Soca is on the altitude of only 216m, the first bump in the range, Baba, is already 767m. From there, the range goes less steep over Starijski vrh, 1136m, Point 1281m, Vrsanja glava, 1353m, Mali vrh, 1404m, to the highest point of Stol, 1673m. More towards the West the ridge gets narrow. Till the border there are the summits: Puntarcic, 1562m, Ribezni, 1516m, Mali Muzec, 1612m, Veliki Muzec, 1638m, Nad Ohojami, 1576m, Gnjilica, 1463m.
 Gran Monte above Campo di Bonis
Western part. Going across the Slovenian-Italian border, we have first the summit of Punta di Montemaggiore, 1613m, then Punta Lausciovizza, 1620m, then the highest elevation on Gran Monte Brinica/Briniza comes, 1636m, finally Monte Testa Grande, 1556m and Mali vrh, 1466m. All these summits are connected by a marked path, and reachable also by many marked paths from valleys on the north and south. Many paths start in the village of Monteaperto, 608m, on the southern side of Brinica/Brinizza.
 Kobariski Stol from Skutnik
CharacteristicsAs expected, the southern slopes of the range are bare, grassy, also on many places intermitted with rocks. The northern slopes are till the summits covered with dense woods. As these mountains receive the first waves of wet clouds from the West, they are well known by the highest amounts of precipitations in Julian Alps. That's why despite relatively low altitudes also the snow heights in winter are considerable.Summit ViewsDue to the road the eastern part is easilly accessed, Kobariski Stol is known as one of the most beautiful panoramic points in the southern Julian Alps. Towards the West and South forehills are lowering down to the Po river plane. The neighbouring Muzci/Musi range on the NW impresses with its sharpness. On the East, Krn massif is rising, nearby we beautifully see its westernmost part, the Polovnik ridge. Immediately towards the North the Kanin/Canin massif is rising, its characteristic bare, rocky, sun burn slopes are very clearly seen. And far behind, along the Soca valley all giants of Julian Alps can be seen.
Getting There  Kanin group and Julian Alps fore-hills
For general overview, see the Julian Prealps page and the Julian Alps page.
You can start the tours on the Kobariski Stol / Gran Monte range in the neighbouring valleys. But to shorten the summit ascent to the highest point, you can also use the mountain road, which ascends the ridge below Mali vrh from the North, from the Slovenian side of the border in Ucja/Uccea valley. Near the ex customs office you deter southwards, cross the N slopes of Stol and reach Na Verilih alpine meadow on the main ridge.
This point on the main ridge can be also reached over the southern slopes. From Breginj valley (Sedlo village, 495m) a narrow road ascends in many turns over the steep slopes to the ridge. It can not be done by car, but is quite often done by mountain bikes (900m). From the parking place on the main ridge to the highest point you have only 45 minutes more to go (300m).Routes Overview  The view down to Breginjski kot
Summer Routes - Eastern Part1. Na Verilih - Stol. From 1375m (parking place on the main ridge) to the summit. 45 min.
2. From Breginj. From the village of Breginj an unmarked path goes to the top. 3-4h. From Sedlo village, near the road, the marked path also goes. You reach Na Verilih in some 3h, the summit in 3:30h.
3. From Ucja/Uccea valley. If you don't follow the road all the time up to the main ridge, you can make a shortcut from below Hum (1109m) towards the south and reach the summit ridge west of the highest point. Not marked. From the road some 1:15h, from the asphalt road in Ucja/Uccea 3h.
4. From Kobarid. The long all the times marked ascent goes just from the town (234m) and will require some 6h of walk-up to reach the summit.
From Breginj village also the summits west of Kobariski Stol can be reached by not marked paths.
Summer Routes - Western Part1. Monte Testa Grande from Monteaperta, 614m. Interesting, on some places very steep marked path (No. 710) reaches over the south grassy slopes the main ridge. In combination with path No. 711 a nice round tour. (Description in Italian)
2. Monte Briniza/Brinica from Monteaperta, 614m. The path No. 711 uses a comfortable mulatiera (broad military path), which winds up to the big cross, standing on zhe main ridge on 1540m. Then towards the W to the highest point. In combination with path No. 710 a nice round tour. (Description in Italian)
3. Punta Lausciovizza/Lausevica from Cornappo, 521m. The marked path reaches the main ridge east of the big cross on point 1540m. Then you can continue eastwards on Punta Lausciovizza/Lausevica or westwards on Briniza/Brinica.
4. From Passo di Tanamea, 851m, to Briniza/Brinica. From the main road on the saddle you go southwards by the marked path No. 711, reach the main ridge close to the big cross on point 1540m and continue westwards to the highest point.
5. Punta di Montemaggiore from Montemaggiore, 795m. From the village of Montemaggiore the marked path No. 712 goes northwards to the saddle in the main ridge (1490m), then you continue by the main ridge (No. 742) towards the west. The point 1490 can also be reached from the north (No. 712).
Crossing The Whole RangeCrossing the whole Kobariski Stol / Gran Monte range is one of my hot wishes. The idea is to leave bicycles on one side, drive to the other side and do the whole range in two days, sleeping somewhere in the middle of it. If not the whole range a very comfortable option would also be to leave bicycles on the parking place on Na Verilih (1375m, on the main ridge), drive with a car to the westernmost part of the ridge in Italy, do the crossing in two days and return comfortably down with bikes.
Mountain biking1. From Breginj valley, Sedlo village, 495m, by the narrow mountain road up to the main ridge - Na Verilih, 1375m. Descent towards the North in Ucja/Uccea valley and back aroud via Kobarid.
2. From Ucja/Uccea valley by the mountain road to the main ridge - Na Verilih, 1375m. There left and by the main ridge down towards Kobarid (cart-road). On Starijski vrh the cart road finishes. We continue by the path left down towards Hum and from there by a cart-road all the way down to Trnovo. Demanding bike!
Ski ToursThe summit slopes of Kobariski Stol are very nice for ski tours. Grassy, not too steep, approapriate for hard winter time. You start the tour on the asphalt road in Ucja/Uccea, ascend the summit in 3-4 hours and ski more or less directly down. The safest variant is around: from the summit by the main ridge to Na Verilih and by the road down. If you turn East of the summit northwards, you can cut through beech woods to Bozca alpine meadow (you hit it by the hunters hut on 1270m). The third option would be to ski down by the valley which starts west of the summit and goes northwards. By this route you'd hit the mountain road on some 1200-1300m.
CanyoneeringDown the northern slopes of Kobariški Stol the Sušec creek flows. Its lower 300 meters of altitude are popular as a guided canyoneering tour. The start is near Srpenica village. By a steep path you ascend those 300 meters and then desxcend by the creek water bed. A few nice places and jumps into ponds.
Also the lower part of Učja/Uccea creek are an interesting gorge, where the canyoneering is possible. And probably some other creeks too. On the Italian part, below Montemaggiore/Brezje, there is the Bončič creek, which has some waterfalls, reachable by a marked path. Also towards the south from the main ridge the Nadiža/Natissone river flows. Its valley is very nice for hiking.Three Cultural Monuments  A memorial place above Kobarid
Above Kobarid you can visit two interesting items:
1. Memorial place to soldiers, died in World War I - just above the town.
2. Tonocev grad. An ancient settlement, used from neolythic on. It saw its best times in times of peoples' migrations - between 4th and 6th century a.d.
3. The Kobarid Museum. Very well presented history of the World War I on this area. When To Climb
Any time of the season.Red TapeThere are no limitations.CampingThe ascent on Stol can be normally done in one day.
For traversing the whole ridge bivouacs, which stand on it, might be useful.
> Hlek, 1225m (on the eastern side of the ridge).
> Bivak pod Muzcem, 1580m. Between Mali and Veliki Muzec.
> On Gran Monte, there's a hut on the altitude of 1468m - Rif. A.N.A. Monteaperta. It is reachable from Monteaperto, 614m, in 3h. Images
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