Monte Brentoni

Overview

Monte Brentoni is a spectacular dolomitic peak of the Southern Carnic Alps that gives the name to a small group of mountains called "Gruppo dei Brentoni" or simply "I Brentoni". The main summits of this group are ( from west ): Monte Tudaio ( 2129 m ), Cima Bragagnina ( 2281 m ), Monte Schiavon ( 2326 m ), Monte Crissin ( 2503 m ), Monte Popera Val Grande ( Cima Est 2520 m ), Cresta Castellati ( 2302 m ), Monte Brentoni ( Cima di Mezzo 2548 m ), Torrioni di Val d'Inferno ( main tower Torre Evelina 2409 m ), Monte Cornon ( Cima Ovest 2378 m ) and Crode di Mezzodì ( Cima Nord 2394 m ).

This is the westernmost group of the southern Carnic Alps, and is situated between the river Piave and the valleys Frison and Piova. The river Piave was chosen by geographers as a border between the Carnic Alps and the Dolomites, even if this mountains, like others of the Carnic Prealps, are mostly dolomitic, much different ( and much younger ) from the limestone peaks of the Carnic main chain. Monte Brentoni formed in the late Triassic age ( 220-200 million years ) and is completely composed by dolomia principale.
The name of this mountain probably comes from "brenta" which in friulano language means wash-tub, and indicates the big basins on the north slopes of the group.
This peak has a very appealing silohuette, with three summits ( Cima Est 2540 m, Cima Ovest 2547 m and Cima di Mezzo 2548 m ) and vertical faces with deep ravines and ledges on all sides.

Monte Brentoni and its group offer to the hiker/climber the chance to go back in time and follow the steps of the first pioneers of the Dolomites that came here in the first years of the 20 th century. Here you can enjoy the wild beauty of the dolomitic mountains in perfect solitude, light years far from the chaos of Cortina, Moena or Pinzolo. Although this is an almost forgotten mountain there are many different routes that can satisfy all tastes. There are beautiful hiking trails around the group and climbing routes from grade UIAA I to VI.







The position of this peak, just in the border between two different alpine chains, makes it a fantastic lookout point for observe how this mountains formed in the geological ages. The panorama from the summit is so amazing that is very difficult to choose which is the best view: looking north and north-east you can admire almost all the main ridge of the Carnic Alps opened like a fan just in front of your eyes; looking west and south you can observe all the fantastic dolomitic peaks of the eastern Dolomites and the Carnic PreAlps, with mountains like Popera, Tre Scarperi, Croda dei Toni, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Croda Rossa d'Ampezzo, Cristallo , Tofane, Sorapiss, Antelao ,Pelmo, Civetta , Schiara, Crìdola, Cima dei Preti, Duranno and Monfalconi that seem to compete on wich one is more beautiful; looking east you can see the sharp peaks of southern Carnic Alps with Terza Grande above all and in the background the Julian Alps and Prealps. So if you plan to climb this mountain choose a day with a clear sky and don't forget your binoculars!
The first ascent of Monte Brentoni is of one famous pioneer of this mountains, Gustav Baldermann from Vienna, that reached the main summit with C.Schmid and H.Woedl on June 24 , 1898. Baldermann was also the one who won the huge vertical north wall ( 700 m ) in 1903.

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Alpenglow

Getting There

There are two possible approaches: From south ( Sella Ciampigotto ) and from north ( S.Stefano di cadore - Val Grande ).

From west: from the Brennero motorway exit Bressanone/Brixen and then S.Candido-Passo Monte Croce Comelico- S.Stefano-Vigo di Cadore-Sella Ciampigotto

From east: from the Udine-Tarvisio motorway exit Carnia and then Tolmezzo-Villa Santina-Ovaro-Val Pesarina- Sella Ciampigotto

Or from Tolmezzo-Villa santina-Sappada-S.Stefano

From south: From Venezia to Belluno-Pieve di cadore-Vigo di Cadore-Sella Ciampigotto

Or from Pieve di Cadore to S.Stefano

Panoramic views