List of forums / Italy / Carnic Alps / Monte Strabut

Monte Strabut

turbo1. 05. 2022 19:10:28

Thursday, 28.4.2022

If you drive past Tolmezzo, you can't miss Monte Strabut, as the hill rises right above the small town. The paths to it also start in the town itself, in its old part, below the Torre Picotta tower or at the ruins of the old Pra Castello castle. At the starting point there is a large parking lot in two levels, of course free. You get there by following the signs for the town center and brown signs with Torre Picotta. At the end of the parking lot, the alley continues between houses, turns right under the hill and when you reach a large concrete trough that serves for draining torrent waters, you are at the starting point of two paths. Or three. One goes straight up and soon turns left to the panoramic Torre Picotta tower, marked with number '459', the other crosses the concrete trough beyond which you ascend to nice meadows where there are remains of the castle ruins. The first path is called "459 Torre Picotta", the second "459 Pra Castello". Both are relatively undemanding hiking paths, Pra Castello is perhaps a bit more "wild", more like alpine terrain, it also has more steeper and relatively exposed spots. The path past the tower is also routed along a concrete road higher near the summit, so it is more suitable for descent.

There is also a third path called direttissima, which branches off toward the summit a bit higher above the Torre Picotta tower. I tackled this path myself today.

The path is very demanding, exposed, intended only for experienced hikers. That's roughly what the warning sign at the path's start says, and I fully agree with the warnings after completing the tour. The start quickly becomes steep, but to the indistinct saddle below the summit there are really no difficult spots. Exposure is also moderate. Soon above this saddle the path becomes very steep and very exposed. It is marked with red dots, bolli rossi, no safety gear. Tree roots and solid rock help, where you can find holds, in between clearings where you claw your way up grabbing grass roots. The soil is black and greasy, slippery, at least on the day of my ascent. The path leads directly to the summit, when you step on flat ground, just a few meters left to a concrete marker indicating the summit. Of course, Medjugorje Mary and a cross are not missing on it.

At the summit there are lots of transmitters and antennas, also containers, the summit is also quite overgrown, so views are limited.

A bit below the summit there is a road that ends on the right (iron fence, behind it container and transmitter) - from there go to the viewpoint, follow signs for "Panoramo". Left along the road is the descent which I also took. I walked this road for a long time, alternating gravel and concrete, then three signs directed me left uphill into the forest. Red directional arrows on the ground and on the tree, at the trail start a stake with mark. To near the Pale dal Pup viewpoint (worth going there, close to junction, nice views) the path goes slightly up now and then, then long traverse under Strabut, when you reach the junction with direttissima, only the descent past the tower awaits.

Direttissima is a beautiful path, wild, alpine pristine, despite the red dots. But it is indeed quite demanding, exposed, so good to have experience with similar paths. And don't do it in wet conditions, I had "dry conditions", yet slippery in places.

https://tubojan.blogspot.com/2022/04/monte-strabut-direttissima.html