Picco di Mezzodì

Hiking

Level of difficulty: Medium

9.2 km

Distance
5 h

Duration
937 vm

Lowest elevation
2057 vm

Highest elevation
1120 vm
1120 vm

Picco di Mezzodì

A secluded peak that serves as a strategic panoramic point on one side towards the basin of the Fusine Lakes and the Mangart - Ponze chain, the natural orographic border with Slovenia, on the other towards the wild Valromana and the Tarvisio area. For those who already know the most popular itineraries of the Fusine Lakes basin, it is a valuable alternative to follow an itinerary that winds through woods and other vegetation, then following the ridge whose fulcrum is Monte Collarice, whose name already reveals which is the tree that best characterizes the ridge that you travel along, the larch. The itinerary, after crossing the Alpe del Lago on a flat level, takes place along a stretch of ascent with the sun behind you and then turns towards midday (hence its name, Picco di Mezzodì), but always with some areas of shade thanks to the vegetation. The last two hundred meters to reach the top involve passing a gully and a short rocky wall to pay attention to when returning in case of rain.

Equipment

This varies depending on the season. However, you should always carry with you: functional clothing for hiking (long trousers are recommended), windbreaker, headgear, rain/protection clothing, hiking boots, trekking poles (if you are used to using them), food, enough drinks, a change of clothes, various personal items such as camera, mobile phone, hiking map, sun cream, sunglasses, first aid kit, etc.

A first glimpse

Some impressions of the tour

Directions

From the car park, take the forest track and at the first crossroads, follow the branch that deviates to the right, marked with CAI trail marker 514, towards Malga Alpe del Lago, skirting the large pasture area of the same name and the edge of the fir forest. After the malga buildings you pass two detours and keep to the right continuing on the forest track until you come to a clearing where the path begins. The path first goes up the hydrographic left of a small stream and then crosses it, climbing up in a beautiful wood of beech and fir trees which leads with some zigzags to the wide Sella di Colrotondo overcoming the first four hundred meters in altitude. From this point the ascent direction points decidedly left in a south-westerly direction - with the Cai 515 trail sign - following the wide, still wooded ridge of Monte Collarice from where every now and then you can catch glimpses of Monte Travnik and Monte Mangart. The previous arboreal vegetation is replaced by a cover of mountain pines and larch trees and, near the top of the relief, at an altitude of 1558, a beautiful view opens up towards the Rio Nero valley and the Tarvisio area. The route continues on the ridge among magnificent specimens of larches and towards the final part of this more tiringly with some crossing of gravelly slopes that herald a gully, also gravelly, which approaches the base of some rocky walls. Already from here you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view in an easterly direction towards Ponze. You will soon find yourself facing the small wall of well-held limestone rocks marked with red stamps (be careful going downhill especially in the presence of humidity or rain) which leads to the summit slope of Picco di Mezzodì. After the crossroads with the difficult mountaineering path that descends the steep ridge towards Monte Buconig and towards Alpe Moritsch, continue among mountain pines, rocks and some green turf along the final stretch of the ascent that leads to the panoramic summit.