Carnic Alps

Overview

Carnic Alps Main Ridge as seen from the ascent to Eggenkofel

The Carnic Alps (Alpi Carniche in Italian, Karnische Alpen in German) are a large mountain range in the Southern Alps, wedged between the Sexten / Sesto Dolomites to the west and the Julian Alps to the east. In the north you find the Gailtal Alps whereas to the south the "Prealpi Carniche" finally drop down to the plain of the Po River. Geologically the Carnic Alps are among the most important and most complex mountain ranges of the Alps (world?), since they are located directly in the region, in which the massive build-up of the Alps occurred ages ago. This results in a complex layering of the different rock composites which gave way to a number of "Geo Trails" where you can inform yourself with the help of displays placed to the sides of the trails. For more geology details, see the section below.

Besides having been the frontline in the forming of the Alps the Carnic Alps Main Ridge in the north of the range was the theatre of battle during World War I. Austro-Ungarian troops fought the Italians here in fierce battles and across the whole ridge you can see multiple proofs of the fighting 90 years ago. You'll find the actual trenches, caves dug into the rock and collapsed (sometimes still standing) forts and positions everywhere. See the Peralba Trip Report if interested in this history. Though the war resulted in a complete upheaval in the political landscape of Europe (especially in the eastern part of the Austrian empire), the actual military gains were minimal. The peace treaties of Versailles and St. Germain did more than four years of fighting. It is interesting - and sad - that the ancient peoples, actually living in the fighting zones, Furlani, Ladini, Rhaetian - had to suffer most and got shifted around in the new landscape without having a word in the proceedings.

Due to the complex geology of the Carnic Alps it is not quite easy to subdivide it into special groups. The general assumption is that there are two subgroups, the Carnic Alps Main Ridge to the north of the range and the Southern Carnic Alps in the south. Both groups, however, are still very large and complex so that in a discussion thread in the Europe forum we decided on the following structure with five subgroups (bold lettering):

• Carnic Main Ridge
  • 1 - Western Main Ridge (Kreuzbergpass through Plöckenpass)
    
  • 2 - Eastern Main Ridge (Plöckenpass through Thörl)
• 3 - Southern Carnic Alps (Upper Piave River through upper Tagliamento River)
  
• Prealpi Carniche
  • 4 - Northern Part(Upper Tagliamento River through Cellina River)
    
  • 5 - Southern Part (south of the Cellina River)

Compare the Interactive Map in the "Getting There" section.

Carnic Alps Geology

As already mentioned in the overview section, the geology of the Carnic Alps is very complex. This is certainly true for the main ridge which runs from west to east along the Gail- and Lesachtal Valleys (actually one large valley which has been named differently in different sections - in the following paragraphs I will refer only to Gailtal meaning both). The valleys are part of the peradriatic fault, the geological boundary between the North African plate and the European one. The fault runs from Lago Maggiore directly through Locarno to Veltlintal, later to Adamello, before it reaches Pustertal / Val Pusteria and Gailtal. In the east it crosses the Karawanke before heading south to the sea again.

In both Pustertal, the valley of the river Drau / Drava, and Gailtal the fault runs directly through the centre, the effect of which can nicely be seen by the difference of the rock composition north and east of the valley. While to the north the Zillertal Alps and Hohe Tauern are composed of solid eruptive rocks (granite, gneiss and the like) to the south most of the mountains are composed of limestone or the limestone-like Dolomite. In the area of the Carnic Alps however things get even more complicated.

What happened? First of all the area was covered by seas twice for long amounts of time. The first of these seas covered today's Carnic Alps in the Ordovicium Age. Sediments were formed and 440 million years ago a first "event" triggered the first build-up of mountains in the area. A porphyry plate was pushed over the sedimentary rocks. Remains of this plate can still be seen along the main ridge.

Erosion did away with most of the built-up mountains. Some 350 - 400 million years ago the second sea started to cover the area and overall it lasted 200 million years. This was the so-called Thetis Sea which also is responsible for the creation of the Dolomites. Huge coral atolls were formed the remainders of which are the mountain groups of the Dolomites. For instance look at the map of Langkofel / Sassolungo in the Dolomites (see below) and you will be able to see the atoll form still.


200 million years ago the final formation of the Alps began. And here the the Carnic Alps Area again was special. The mountains were kind of folded upwards, but this action took place in the form of waves which often overtook each other. With the waves "breaking" over the fault line the layering of the rocks became more and more complicated. Suddenly (think of it on a geological scale) old layers were sandwiched between younger ones, sometimes even layers of the same age several 100m apart with layers of all ages in between.

And this is what you still can find in the Carnic Alps today. The area around the highest summit, Hohe Warte (2780m) is the most complex, and thus most interesting. It is there that a so-called "Geo Trail" has been created, informing the hikers and climbers about the massive upheaval that took place 200 million years ago. These Geo Trails exist in more than one place so that - while visiting the area - you'll certainly run into one of them.

The Carnic Alps on SP

Since the mountain range is so large and complicated this section is supposed to give you the information about the summits, already posted to SP. The summits are listed west to east.

• Carnic Main Ridge
  • Western Main Ridge
    • Helm / Monte Elmo
    • Hornischegg / Monte Arnese
    • Zenzerspitze
    • Hollbrucker Spitze
    • Demut / La Mutta
    • Schöntalhöhe
    • Spitzköfele
    • Knieberg
    • Pfannspitze
    • Kleine Kinigat
    • Grosse Kinigat
    • Porze / Cima Palombino
    • Baerenbadegg / Croda Negra
    • Reiterkarspitz / Monte Cecido
    • Schulterhöhe
    • Zwölferspitz
    • Weißsteinspitze
    • Crode dei Longerin
    • Peralba
    • Hochalpl
    • Cjadenis Group
    • Mittagskofel
    • Säbelspitz / Stallonkofel / Runseck
    • Wolayer Kopf
    • Hohe Warte
    • Kellerspitzen
    • Kollinspitze
    • Cellon
    • Rauchkofel
  • Eastern Main Ridge
    • Polinik
    • Monte Zermula
    • Findenigkofel / Monte Lodin
    • Hochwipfel
    • Trogkofel / Creta di Aip
    • Monte Cavallo di Pontebba / Rosskofel
    • Monte Malvueric / Malurch
    • Creta di Timau / Hocheck
    • Cima Avostanis / Blaustein
    • Hoher Trieb / Cuestalta
    • Gartnerkofel
    • Garnitzenberg / Monte Carnizza
    • Monte Scinauz
    • Poludnig/Poludnik
    • Cima Bella / Schönwipfel
    • Ojstrnik
    • Monte Dimon and Monte Paularo
    • Kleiner Pal / Pal Piccolo
    • Monte Salinchiet
    • Crete dal Cronz
    • Kapin / Monte Capin
• Southern Carnic Alps
  • Terza Grande
  • Monte Brentoni
  • Cretòn di Culzei
  • Monte Siera
  • Monte Creta Forata
  • Monte Riorda
  • Monte Pieltinis
  • Monte Clapsavon
  • Monte Bivera
  • Monte Tamai
  • Monte Tersadia
  • Monte Sernio
  • Creta Grauzaria
  • Monte Amariana
  • Creta di Mimoias
  • Monte Chiavals
• Prealpi Carniche
  • Northern Part
    • Crìdola
    • Monte Pramaggiore
    • Monte Raut
    • Monfalcòn di Forni
    • Torrione Comici
    • Campanile di Val Montanaia
    • Monte Verzegnis
    • Monte Cuar
  • Southern Part
    • Monte Pizzoc
    • Cimon del Cavallo

Getting There

Since the border between Austria and Italy runs along the northern chain of this large mountain range the itineraries are quite different. While all the important Austrian towns and villages are lined up along the river Gail the more complex structure on the Italian side calls for different approach routes depending were you want to go.

Getting There From Italy
The most important villages / towns in the area are:

• Sappada (I)
  
• Pontebba
  
• Tarvisio
  
• Pieve di Cadore
  
• Tolmezzo
  
• Gemona
  
• Longarone
  
• Maniago
  
• Belluno
  
• Udine

• Getting There by Plane:
  The closest airports are the international airports in Venice (180 km) and Trieste (140 km)
  • Marco Polo International Airport (Venice)
    Take the train to Calalzo di Cadore (3 hours) then by bus to all Carnic Alps villages with Dolomiti bus.
    
  • Ronchi dei Legionari Airport (Udine)
    Take the bus to all Carnic Alps villages with Dolomiti bus.
  
  
• Getting There by Train:
  Those who travel by train stop at Calalzo, the end of the line from Venice and Padova or at Carnia on the Udine Tarvisio line. Connect to any of the Italian Carnic Alps destinations by frequent bus lines that meet the main trains. So, two possibilities:
  • To Calalzo di Cadore (from Venice direction Belluno, three hours) then by Dolomiti bus to any of the Carnic Alps Villages
    
  • To Udine (from Venice direction Trieste, two hours) then by Dolomiti bus to any of the Carnic Alps Villages.
  
  
• Getting There by Car:
  • From A22, Brenner motorway, exit "Ora" and then through the Pordoi and Falzarego passes to Cortina d'Ampezzo, Misurina and Auronzo (3 hours - better solution in summer period).
    
  • From A22, Brenner motorway, exit "Bressanone/Brixen" to Bruneck / Brunico and then to the Carnic Alps over Passo Monte Croce / Kreuzbergpass or "Monte Comelico" Pass/Ploeckenpass (2 hours and half, better solution in the winter period).
    
  • From the Veneto side take the Venice-Belluno motorway and then go towards Pieve di Cadore.
    
  • If you come from Friuli leave the Udine-Tarvisio motorway at the Carnia exit and drive towards Villa Santina and Forni Avoltri (45 km.).

Getting There From Austria
The most important villages / towns are aligned along the Lesachtal and Gailtal Valleys. They are :

• Sillian
  
• Osttiroler Gailtal (click on the village links to the right
  
• Lesachtal
  
• Kötschach-Mauthen
  
• Hermagor
  
• Villach

• Getting There by Plane / Train
  The nearest airports are the ones at Klagenfurt and Innsbruck, both ocal airports, which are served only sporadically.
  • From Innsbruck take the train to Brixen / Bressanone where you have to change to the line going through Pustertal / Val Pusteria. At Sillian change to the busline into Lesachtal towards Kötschach Mauthen.
    
  • From Klagenfurt take the train to Villach and on to Hermargor or Kötschach-Mauthen. From there go on by bus to your final destination.
  
  
• Getting There by Car:
  • From the West (Brenner Motorway A22)
    Leave the Brenner Motorway near Brixen / Bressanone and follow SS49 to the east through Pustertal / Val Pusteria. To the east of Innichen / San Candido you cross the Austro-Italian border and follow the road (now B100) to Tassenbach. Turn right (south-east) here onto B111, which runs through Osttiroler Gailtal, Lesachtal and Kärntener Gailtal. All the towns and villages mentioned above are located on this road.
    
  • From the North
    There are two possible roads:
    • From Kitzbühel over B108 through the Felbertauern Tunnel to Lienz, then southeast to Oberdrauburg and Kötschach-Mauthen (B110), where you turn on to B111 west into Lesachtal.
      
    • From Salzburg along motorway A10 to Spittal. Turn west on B100 to Oberdrauburg, there south to Kötschach-Mauthen were you turn east on B111.

Red Tape

In most of the subgroups of the Carnic Alps you won't find any red tape. An exception is the area around Wolayer See: Biegengebirge, Hohe Warte, Kellerwand. Here the usual restrictions for natural preserves apply. Don't take anything except your refuse with you. As a rule restrictions are more severe in the Austrian part of the Alps. Some of the trails are closed for mountainbiking. You will find notes and marks at the respective trailheads.

Weather Conditions

Quite naturally the weather between the northern Austrian part and the southern Italian part can be quite different. The Carnic Alps Main Ridge serves as a weather divide, especially if the winds come from the north or south. For up to date weather information follow one the links below.

Austrian side:

• Tyrol weather
  
• Carinthia weather
  
  Italian side:
  
• Friuli/Venetia/Giulia weather
  
• Veneto weather

Accommodation

On both sides of the Austrian - Italian border there are a lot of hotels and appartments to be had. While on the Austrian side the relevant info can be found on one site (two links though for the different Austrian states) on the Italian side of the border you will have to look for the single towns and villages on the web. Here is an excerpt for the towns and villages mentioned in the "Getting There" section:

Austria

• Gailtal, Lesachtal Accommodation
  
• Hochpustertal, Tiroler Gailtal Accommodation

Italy

• Sappada accommodation
  
• Forni Avoltri accommodation
  
• Pontebba accommodation
  
• Tarvisio accommodation
  
• Pieve di Cadore accommodation
  
• Tolmezzo accommodation
  
• Gemona accommodation
  
• Udine hotels
  
• Belluno hotels

Mountain Huts and Refuges

For the time being the list of huts, refuges and bivouacs won't be complete until all of the five subgroups will have been submitted..

The huts of the Carnic Alps Main Ridge are connected by a well-known hiking trail which often follows the line of the batte in the first world war. Therefore the trail is named as "trail of peace" (Friedensweg - via del pace). There are several possibilities between Ploecken pass/Passo di M. Croce and Sillian or Sexten/Sesto. The route takes 5-7 days.

Here is one possible route described in english.

Refuges:



Bivouacs:

Bivouac	Height
Carnic Alps Main Ridge (West)
A. Piva	2450m
Mitterkar	2000m
Letterspitzbiwak	2080m
Eiskarhüttl	2100m
E. Lomasti	1920m
Southern Carnic Alps
Bivacco Arsella – Zandonella	2000m
Bivacco Caimi al Cornon	2045m
Bivacco Marta Franco	2045m
Casera Mimoias	1623m
BivaccoDamiana del Gobbo	1985m
Ricovero Casera Chiarzò	1393m
Ricovero Casera Lavazeit	1813m
Ricovero Casera Giaveada o Neveade	1684m
Ricovero Casera Tintina	1495m
Ricovero Casera Nauleni	1639m
Ricovero Valuta	1588m
Bivacco Lander	950m
Ricovero Zouf di Fau	1331m
Bivacco Feruglio	1700m
Ricovero Monte Forcella	1098m
Ricovero Pian d’Aiars	1475m
Bivacco Cimenti	1080m
Cjasut dal Sior	1752m
Bivacco G. Bianchi	1712m
Prealpi Carniche (South)
Biv Scalon	1150m
Ric. Casera del Pian	1810m
Biv. Val Provagna	1123m
Biv. Val Zea	1245m
Biv. Toffolon	1990m
Biv. Pastout	1617m
Ric. C.ra Montelonga	1327m
Ric C.ra La Pala	1200m
Ric C.ra Rupeit	1275m
Ric. C.ra di Giais	1289m

Maps 'n' Books

Maps
I have been using maps by Kompass Verlag, which are very good for the hiking trails though they don't show ALL the relevant summits of the area.

• Lienzer Dolomiten / Lesachtal
  1:50000
  Kompass Map WK47
  Kompass Verlag
  ISBN: 3-85491-053-3
  
• Gailtaler Alpen / Karnische Alpen / Oberdrautal
  1:50000
  Kompass Map WK60
  Kompass Verlag
  ISBN: 3-85491-067-3
  
• Tabacco Maps, all 1:25000
  001 - SAPPADA-S.STEFANO-FORNI AVOLTRI
  002 - FORNI DI SOPRA-AMPEZZO-SÀURIS-ALTA TAGLIAMENTO
  009 - ALPI CARNICHE / CARNIA CENTRALE
  013 - PREALPI CARNICHE-VAL TAGLIAMENTO
  018 - ALPI CARNICHE ORIENTALI-CANAL DEL FERRO
  019 - ALPI GIULIE OCCIDENTALI-TARVISIANO
  020 - PREALPI CARNICHE E GIULIE DEL GEMONESE
  
  028 - VAL TRAMONTINA - VAL COSA - VAL D`ARZINO

Books

German Books

• Hiking and Trekking
  • Osttirol Süd
    W. Mair
    Rother Verlag
    ISBN: 3-7633-4132-3
    Good descriptions with maps covering: Defregger Berge, Villgrater Berge, Carnic Alps, Lienz Dolomites
    
  • Kärnten
    G. Lehofer
    Rother Verlag
    ISBN: 3-7633-4187-0
    Good descriptions with maps covering: Carnic Alps, Gailtal Alps, Karawanke, Julian Alps (parts)
    
  • Gailtal – Lesachtal – Karnischer Höhenweg
    Kompass Wanderbuch 982
    Kompass Verlag
    ISBN: 3-85491-500-4
    Good Descriptions with maps and elevation profiles covering: Carnic Alps, Southern Lienz Dolomites, Gailtal Alps
  
  
• Ski Touring
  • Kaerntner Schitourenfuehrer
    Manfred Korbaj
    H. Weishaupt Verlag, Graz. 1992.
  
  
• Climbing
  • Karnischer Hauptkamm
    Alpenvereinsführer
    P. Holl
    Rother Verlag
    ISBN: 3-7633-1254-4
    Excellent overall Climbing Guide through the Carnic Alps Main Ridge.

Italian Books

• ALPI CARNICHE E DOLOMITI FRIULANE
  ISBN: 88-86928-37-8
  Euro 16,53
  see here how to to buy it
  
• ALPI CARNICHE, vol. I - II
  A. De Rovere, M. Di Gallo;
  Guida dei monti d'Italia CAI-TCI; 1988
  
• Tirolo Orientale Sud
  W. Mair
  (traduzione: Barbara Schöpf / Denise Brazzioli)
  Rother Verlag
  ISBN: 3-7633-4307-5

Thanks to gabriele.roth for the Italian books ;-)

External Links

• trip report with 29 pictures, in german, about "Karnischer Hoehenweg" hiking trail
  
  

Images

View Carnic Alps Image Gallery - 47 Images