Hi everyone...

I have an opportunity to go to Florence, Italy with my gf from Feb 16 to Feb 24, and i'd like to take advantage of the trip to climb some. I'm just a beginner, and really don't think there's anything in the Alps for me, but I thought Mt. Cimone may work.

Thoughts?

For details: I'm 43 y/o, 225 pounds, 6-4 and have climbed Mt. Washington, Mt. Mitchell, Mt. Elbert, Mt. Katahdin, and Ben Nevis. I also nearly got to the top of Mt. Baker.

Looked up the Mount on googlemap... Monte Cimone is a hill, not a mountain
So summiting normally is more a walk than a hike.

Edit:
In february (havn't recognized that) of course you have to be aware of snow. Check the webcams in advance
As there is a ski resort, I would expect the hill is snow-covered at that time of the year. Ski lifts reach up to 1800...1900m. So bring trekking poles and perhaps snow shoes -- and if there's a lot of fresh snow, inform youself about avalanche risks.

Martin

Close by:

http://www.summitpost.org/alpi-apuane/329897

and

http://www.summitpost.org/appennino-tos ... olo/541398

The former is Dolomites like with steep climbing faces while the latter is higher but consists of a chain of hills really.

And yes, you'll have snow in Feb. The pictures on those two pages were taken in May and there was still quite some snow around. Monte Cimone can quite easily be reached as there is a road right to the tow where there is a military installation.

http://www.summitpost.org/monte-cimone/535860

Personally, if I was going to Florence for a week, I'd make an effort to enjoy Florence and, if you get restless, rent a car and explore Tuscany. That should be endlessly gratifying.

fatdad wrote:Personally, if I was going to Florence for a week, I'd make an effort to enjoy Florence and, if you get restless, rent a car and explore Tuscany. That should be endlessly gratifying.

Hmmmm.......you sound like my gf.

From what I hear Florence is an absolutely incredible cultural gem, but I always like to get up a mountain when I travel.

My wife spends 1-2 months of the year there. You can never run out of things to do in Florence. Unless you are a serious mountaineer, I agree with fatdad (and I can't believe i'm saying that! ), just enjoy Italy. If you are dying for a hike/run, just plow up to Fisole from Florence (great views, great workout, take the bus back down).

Plus, Florence will be cold then. No snow, but brisk. The mountains/roads leading up to them will have snow all over them...

Fletch wrote:I agree with fatdad (and I can't believe i'm saying that! )

Don't worry, it's not contagious. Nice gig for your wife, BTW.

Having said that you should just enjoy the cultural pleasures of Florence and surrounding area, some of the best adventures I've had are the impromptu jaunts to this peak or trail, etc. During our honeymoon, my wife and I did the Rome/Florence/Venice thing, but we also hit the Dolomites and Bolzano. While we did some hiking and an easy via ferrata, I think the trip would have been even better had I done a little more research while I was there and bagged a peak or more involved via ferrata, like the Tridentina.

You'll probably have a great time just hanging out in Florence, but I have to admit that getting off the beaten track and seeing some real countryside is always a real treat.

OK, well, a little late, but I'm off to Florence! From March 22 to March 31. Yes, I'm going to go enjoy the museums, etc.

Now........What to climb?

http://www.summitpost.org/monte-cimone/535860 is definitely on the list.

Any other easy climbs?

Just from browsing the googlemap... a similar, but closer peak seems to be Corno alle Scale:



No responsibility taken...

Thanks.... What about these:

http://www.summitpost.org/monte-corvo/469446

http://www.summitpost.org/monte-amaro/151201

http://www.summitpost.org/monte-viglio/152597

http://www.summitpost.org/monte-velino/154145

So many mountains in Italy! Overwhelming and intimidating!

LesterLong wrote:Thanks.... What about these:

http://www.summitpost.org/monte-corvo/469446

http://www.summitpost.org/monte-amaro/151201

http://www.summitpost.org/monte-viglio/152597

http://www.summitpost.org/monte-velino/154145

So many mountains in Italy! Overwhelming and intimidating!

Well these are rather in the area near Rome, not Florence. Much better mountaineering destinations, though. But in Feb? Don't know. I'd really suggest the Alpi Apuane. Less than 2000m but very impressive nevertheless. Corno alle Scale and Libro Aperto in the Apennino, also Monte Prado. All shoud be ski or snowshoe mountains in Feb.

Thanks for the quick reply!

I'm going in late March, so i'm hoping that there will be slightly less snow, and slightly warmer temperatures.

I'm already climbing Mount Cimone.

Which of those that you named is easiest?

LesterLong wrote:Thanks for the quick reply!

I'm going in late March, so i'm hoping that there will be slightly less snow, and slightly warmer temperatures.

I'm already climbing Mount Cimone.

Which of those that you named is easiest?

Libro Aperto has a short climbing section on the very top. Corno alle Scale and Monte Prado are hiking summits. The ridge traverse from Libro Aperto to Monte Cimone is wonderful. See the Area here:
http://www.summitpost.org/appennino-tos ... olo/541398

And drill down to the mountains.

Also close to Florence:
http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.p ... _id=329897

Well, I'm all packed up and ready. Flying out tomorrow. Hope I get some good hiking/climbing in!

Will definitely attempt Monte Cimone, but hope to try some of the others mentioned above.

Please leave any last minute suggestions!