Mount Antelao - climbing the King of the Dolomites
The Mount Antelao is the highest mountain of the
Dolomites of Ampezzo. With its 3,263 m he tops the opposite Mount
Monte Pelmo (3,168 m) and the Mount Civetta (3,220 m). If you want
to climb the mighty King Antelao you should be in excellent
physical shape and experienced in climbing and hiking. Also you
shouldn't be afraid of heights.
The best starting point for excursions to the Mount Antelao is
San Vito di
Cadore. To get there you can take your car or a bus from Toblach in South Tyrol
over Cortina
d'Ampezzo. Arrived in San Vito di Cadore you have to take the
chairlift to Rifugio Scotter. From there you hike
following the signposts until you reach Rifugio San
Marco at 1,823 m above sea level. The hike will take you
about 3 hours. You can stay at the hut overnight in order be fit
and rested for the demanding ascent on the following day.
The next day you take the high altitude trail in south-eastern
direction to reach the Forcella Piccola at 2,120 m above sea level.
There you follow the path southwards, until you reach the rocks.
From here you go right hand over airy shelves to a small bank. Here
the "Laste", the characteristic slides of the
Mount Antelao, begins. After that you have to follow cairns and get
over some tricky climbing-parts (I° and II° difficulty). Hiking on
the ridge you come to the P. Cosi bivouac at 3,111 m above sea
level. Going on climbing you will reach the peak of Mount Antelao
after about 3 hours.
You will be flabbergasted by the magnificent
panorama. The descent following the ascent is very
demanding and requires a lot of concentration.
Please climb the Antelao only at good weather
conditions. When it's cold and wet it could be very
dangerous.
All articles about Hiking in Cadore