Monte Salinchiet

Overview

Monte Salinchiet from the N - on the right is the sharp NW ridge

From the NW

Geological phaenomena

Mountains, described here

> Monte Salinchiet, 1759 m,
> Monte Cullar, 1764 m,
> Monte Palon di Lius, 1705 m.

General

"This is quite a poor mountain", said Jasmina, after we were down and around the mountain, standing on its northern ridge.
"Hm", I was observing the sharp summit and thinking that we even haven't ascended the highest peak, that it didn't allow us to cross neither its western, nor northern slopes, and that at the end we still did reach all objectives for today. How would then Jasmina rate the even more humble Crete dal Cronz, down the crest, if she was with me the last time? No answer though. She hurried northwards and I knew we shall ascend that day Monte Zermula too.

In the crest which is from Monte Zermula winding towards the SE, down to Pontebba, there are a few more interesting summits. Monte Salinchiet is rising first, being accompanied with a few green, overgrown summits, then only above Pontebba another worth to mention summit comes - Crete dal Cronz. Monte Salinchiet is a sharp, rocky mountain, not very high, but having its weaker side only towards the south-east. In a rocky crest, which just on the SE summit changes direction, there are several bumps, the highest two - the NW peak and the SE peak - are close together and the harder reachable NW peak is higher for 1 meter. I think most of visitors ascend only the SE summit. That summit can be reached by marked paths by the E ridge and the SE slope. The area is very rarely visited and nature is unspoiled. Alpine meadows in the neighbourhood are not exploited any more, perhaps only a few hunters penetrate the dense woods and rugged ravines around the mountain. Despite its low altitude, the view from the top is very fine. Along the crests you will see also many remains from the World War I - trenches, buildings, fortifications.

Monte Salinchiet is interesting also geologically, because in contrast to the cardinal mountains of the Main Carnic Crest (and the nearby Monte Zermula) it is not made of paleozoic rocks but of mesozoic (Mid Triassic) Schlern Dolomite. That results in big friability. Strictly speaking, in geological sense Monte Salinchiet shoul be perhaps considered as part of the Creta Grauzaria - Monte Sernio group.

Geography

Monte Salinchiet from the west, from above Paularo

The scenery above Pradulina

The narrow group of Monte Zermula is on the SE concluded with Monte Pizzul, 1935 m. South of it there is Forca Pizzul (saddle), 1708 m, which separates Monte Zermula group from Monte Salinchiet group. From there the ridge runs in the southern direction and has two humble elevations, 1767 m and 1739 m. After the next saddle the NW ridge of Monte Salinchiet starts. It has first a few towers, sharp, rocky and below also overgrown, then the rocky ridge rises steeply on the highest summit, point 1858 m. Beyond a notch (some 25 meters lower) there is the SE summit, 1857 m. From there the summit ridge continues towards the E-SE, having a few unimportant elevations, finally with Cuel Mat sinking below the timberline.

But the E-SE ridge is not the main one. The edge, descending towards the S is delimiting a rugged, extremely wild western face from the grassy SE slope. This edge lowers to Forca Pradulina (notch), 1492 m, below which the alpine meadow lies, and then rises on the rounded Turrion, 1632 m, further on Monte Cullar (also Chiaf da l'Omp), 1764 m, and then turning towards the east on the ridge elevation of Palon di Lius, 1707 m. These summits are not any more important, unless someone being around there, wants to pick up just everyone of them. But Monte Cullar and Palon di Lius are offering qite nice panoramas around the forrested wilderness.

Even if the road through Val Pontebbana reaches much higher, the area of Monte Salinchiet is more often visited from the western side, from Paularo town. Many people drive up to Casera Pizzul, 1532 m, where an 'agriturismo' is operating. But unfortunately from there the summit of Monte Salinchiet is not easilly reachable. The wild ravine of Rio Turriea, the sharp NW ridge and the rocky N face are preventing usual hikers to ascend on top. Other approaches are longer, so for summiting Monte Salinchiet I guess still the majority of people come from Val Pontebbana.

Different is the situation with southern summits: Monte Cullar and Monte Palon di Lius. They are more often ascended from the south, not from Paularo, but from the hamlet of Saps in Val Aupa. Those long hikes are crossing a broad forrest wilderness, finally gaining enough altitude to enjoy broad views from these rocky summits. In addition to broad views, there are still interesting remains from the World War I and in the whole area there are also many caves, I guess not yet fully explored.

Summit Views

Towards the south-east

Towards the north

Getting There

The road above Malga Pizzul

The starting point is the town of Pontebba, on the Udine - Tarvisio highway. See the main Carnic Alps page how to get there. From Pontebba you take the road into Val Pontebbana, towards Passo del Cason di Lanza. The trailheads are:

> On 896 m - Through the valley of Rio Pradulina.
> On 1086 m - To Rif. Pezzeit and further on top.
> On 1455 m - Crossing the slopes to Rif. Pezzeit and further on top.

Ascending Casera Pradulina from Paularo would mean starting just above the town, in Misincinis, 735 m. As said, it is possible to drive also to Casera Pizzul, 1532 m, ascend from there the N ridge and go around the mountain by its northern side. The other trailhead is Dierico, just south of Paularo.

The third trailhead is even further away. We can start in Val Aupa on some 750 m, walk by the mountain road on Casera Lius and further on Casera Palis di Lius and then continue northwards.

Routes Overview

We would be faster directly from the valley up, instead of this long crossing, even if doing some 400 meters of altitude more, or even 600 meters more," said Jasmina. And she was right.

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Crossing the N slopes 1. Crossing from below Passo del Cason di Lanza. This is the 'traditionally recommended' approach, because it starts on the altitude of 1455 m. You then cross the slopes above Pontebbana valley towards the south, but ascend considerably only at the end - on the E-SE ridge and by it on top. 2 h 30 min, medium hard hike up. By starting below Rif. Pezzeit, on 1086 m, you shorten the crossing, but have more altitude difference. Also 2 h 30 min. 2. Through the valley of Rio Pradulina. You also start in Val Pontebbana, on 896 m and ascend by the side valley first Casera Pradulina. From there by the S slopes on top. 2 h 30 min, medium hard hike up. 3. From the north. As said, the problem is how to detour the sharp NW ridge. We went in the opposite direction, so from below the N face up on the N ridge. We followed the terrain just north of the first dry creek bed (Rio Saline), coming up on point 1739 m. So, in the opposite direction one would start either on Casera Pizzul, 1532 m, or on Passo del Cason di Lanza, coming on Forca Pizzul. From there you could: > descend by the marked path down to Rif. Pezzeit and continue as described under #1 and #2. > continue by the ridge southwards to the point 1739 m and from there descend towards the E till hitting the marked path. Some 3 h. 4. From the west. These ascents are all long. A better trailhead than Paularo is Dierico, a bit towards the south. From there forrest roads bring you towards Ricovero Casera Turriee, from there you detour the summit of Turrion, 1632 m, by the eastern side, reach Forca Pradulina and from there the summit of Salinchiet. South of Ricovero Casera Turriee there's quite close the summit of Monte Cullar, 1764 m, which might be the preferred goal. 5. Monte Cullar From the south. The summits of Monte Cullar, 1764 m, and Palon di Lius, 1707 m, can be ascended also from the south, from Saps in Val Aupa.

ganesh70: "The crossing of the two summits and the ascent from the NNW crest have both alpinistic difficulties (passages of the I and II degree on very friable rock)."

All other routes from the south and east would reach somehow Casera Pradulina. Those approaches are much longer.

Map. Tabacco: Alpi Carniche Orientali, Canal del Ferro (No. 018). 1:25.000.

Red Tape

Blossoming ridge

No limitations.

Mountain Huts

The summit can be easilly reached in a day but you can also sleep on several alpine meadows. As the area is much abandoned, you also shouldn't have problems setting up a tent (if on a long-distance hike).

• On Passo del Cason di Lanza, 1552 m. Reachable by car.
• Casera Pizzul, 1532 m. Reachable by car.
  
  
• Casera Pradulina. I guess the meadow is abandoned, but perhaps you could sleep there in emergency. Till there you have a 2 h walk up from Val Pontebbana.
• Ricovero Casera Turriee, 1555 m. On the saddle between Turrion and Monte Cullar. Long ascents from the W, SW, S and E.
  
  ganesh70: "The huts should be in acceptable conditions".
  dante (Oct. 26th, 2010): "Casera Pradulina is in very good condition (I slept there a few times, last time some month ago), it has beds with mattresses, fire, even water inside (it looks "non-potabile" so I prefered water from nearby spring). Casera Turiee is as Fabrizio said "in acceptible condition". Casera Palon di Lius (about 1 hour from Salinchiet) is one of the best ricovero on the Carnic Alps¸ because hunters use it and they keep it very clean and equiped so it looks better than some rifugio. Casera Forchiutta (also about 1 hour from Salinchiet) is the worst in the area but you can overnight even there (if I remember well it has only one bed with mattress)."

  When To Climb

  Best seasons are summer and autumn, so from June till October. In good conditions the S slope could be appropriate for skiing, but the continuation down into valleys is not nice (perhaps around Turrion and then towards the west by mountain roads). I think in winter and spring Monte Salinchiet is extremely rarely ascended.
  
  

  Books

  R. Gaberscik: Guida escursionistica alle Alpi Carniche. Studio64srl Edizioni, 2010 (7th edition), Genova. In Italian. (An unsurpassable guidebook!)

  P. Holl: Karnischer Hauptkamm (Alpenvereinsfuehrer). Bergverlag R. Rother, Muenchen, 1988 (2nd edition). In German.

  Guidebook and photomonography (in Slovenian): V. Pogačnik: Kar na Karnijce. Založba Narava, 2011.

  Your Help Needed

  • Is the path from Val Pontebbana (point 1086 m) up to Rif. Pezzeit really marked now (on Tabacco maps it is shown as a not marked path)?
  • Any information from winter ascents? Or even skiing?