High Altitude Cappuccino

🗺️ Overview Starting point: Passo del Lupo (1540 m) Highest point: Monte Cimone (2165 m) Total elevation gain: ~625 m Total distance: ~7–8 km (round trip) Total time: ~2h30–3h (including breaks) Technical difficulty: Easy–moderate (more demanding in winter conditions) Download GPS file I was in Bologna for Easter and it was 25 degrees. On the other hand, the week before had been much colder and it had snowed in Italy, so we decided to take advantage of one last snowshoe/ski touring hike. We set off to Monte Cimone , in the province of Modena . At 2165 m, it is one of the highest peaks in Emilia-Romagna. I was with my dad and three of his friends from the Club Alpino Italiano — the youngest was about 30 years older than me 🙂 We started from Passo del Lupo , above Pian del Falco . Compared to my region in Switzerland, you even have to “earn” the starting point in the Apennines — it took almost two hours to get there from Bologna. But my group of pensioners knew how to live: w...

🗺️ Overview Starting point: Corno alle Scale lifts / Rifugio Cavone (1470 m) Highest point: Corno alle Scale summit cross (1945 m) Total elevation gain:  470 m Total distance:  3.8 km Total time:  1.5-2 hours (one way) Technical difficulty: Easy–Moderate (non-technical) Download GPS file Here we are! For the first time, I leave the Alps. This is the first post describing a hike in another ridge: the Apennines in Italy, not far from Bologna , my hometown (not far as the crow flies, but with busy and horrible roads it still takes about 1h50 to get there). This hike starts at the Corno alle Scale lifts, next to Rifugio Cavone (1470 m), and leads to the summit of the Corno. I did it in winter as a ski touring outing.¨ The starting point is a small side road between Rifugio Cavone and the lifts. After passing behind an old abandoned building, you reach the slopes. You can start going uphill along their edge, but soon a road branches left into the w...

🗺️ Overview Start: Col di Roanza, 850 m (parking behind the bar) Highest point: Monte Serva, 2,133 m Elevation gain: ~1,270 m Distance:   11km A/R Time: ~3 h ascent, 1 h 45 descent (without long breaks) Difficulty: Long, constant uphill; no technical sections Download GPS file It was announcing rain, but I needed to reflect – a close relative was ill in the hospital  –  so I decided to go hiking anyway.  Monte Serva felt like the perfect hike for the purpose. Close, only 15 min from Belluno, and long enough with 1,270 m elevation gain to clear my head. Good to think. The hike starts at Col di Roanza, 850 m, where you can park behind the bar. You set off on the road at the end of the parking lot. There’s also a gravel shortcut via trails on the left, but it’s not well marked – I think the road is better. After about 20 min you reach a panel clearly indicating  Monte Serva  uphill on a trail. From here, the path becomes steeper. Not brut...

🗺️   Overview Highest point: Gran Paradiso, 4,061m — the only 4000er fully in Italy Elevation gain: 2250m over 2 days, 1350m the second Duration: 2h30 first day, 10-12h the second Day 1: Hike to Rifugio Federico Chabod (2h35, 950m elevation gain) Day 2: Ascent to summit and return to the valley (~11 hours total) Difficulty: Long but non-technical (glacier + short via ferrata) Gear: Crampons, harness, helmet, ice axe — rentable at the hut Best advice: Start early to avoid slushy snow and traffic on the summit! Download GPS file Gran Paradiso (4,061m) holds a special place in the Alps: it's the only 4000-meter peak located entirely within Italy. After climbing to Capanna Margherita last year (4,556m, the highest building in Europe), Gran Paradiso was the natural next step. It's known as one of the easier 4000ers technically—but don’t be fooled, it’s long and demanding due to the lack of lifts. Day 1 – The Climb to Rifugio Federico Chabod We arrived on a Sun...