Monte Pizzocchétto or Pizochèt, Monte Pizzòcco and Monte Piz

Approach to the starting point of the ascent to Monte Pizzocchétto or Pizochet

The normal hiking route to Monte Pizzocco revolves around the Pian del Lach clearing, which can be reached from various directions and with multiple options.

Today I ascended via the CAI 851 path towards the Bivacco Palia.

Before crossing the CAI 853 trail, I took the detour marked with the arrow "ACQUEDOTTO PALIA".

After passing the concrete structure of the aqueduct well hidden in the woods, you return to CAI 853 where there is another wooden arrow indicating downhill "ACQUEDOTTO RONCOI".

From here, after the Bivacco Palia, you reach the junction with the trail descending towards Rifugio Casera Ere, and ascend right towards Pian del Lach.

The Monte Pizzocchétto or Pizochét has been visible for quite a while, and from this angle it appears "flattened by perspective" against Monte Pizzocco: it is the south side, but you cannot see the ascent route which is on the east flank and reduces the elevation gain from the normal trail exit point.

From Pian del Lach, the normal trail heads straight towards Pizochèt with a diagonal uphill cut that crosses the entire south slope in a steady approach.

You reach a well-known point where the trail sharply turns left on the east slope with the first partial close-up view of the final slope of Monte Pizzocco – a few meters after this sharp turn is the famous quasi-ledge section passing under the north side of Pizochèt to provide access to the final slope.

The starting point for the summit of Pizochèt is right on the steep meadow exactly where the sharp left turn occurs, at a conspicuous boulder: do not proceed towards the "almost ledge" section, but stop at the turn.

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Ascent to Monte Pizzocchétto or Pizochèt

There are no signs, markings, or cairns indicating the exit from the normal trail.

However, next to the above-mentioned boulder, you can notice a faint footpath heading directly uphill towards the eastern rocky ridge.

Following the footpath on the steep meadow, you head for a small pinnacle that detaches from the ridge and creates a tiny notch from which you can observe part of the final slope of Monte Pizzocco.

Upon reaching the small notch, on the left side you will see a nice red cord attached to a piton.

Here begins the short difficult section, and the general pattern is: steep diagonal on upward rocks to the left, a more technical and VERY EXPOSED diagonal with a slight ascent to the right, a short easy detour to the left for the final easy rocks surrounded by small and sparse dwarf pines.

The first diagonal to the left is on a narrow gully-notch with two small ledges of about grade I, and is less steep than it appears in the photo I published, taken from below with a 24mm equivalent wide-angle lens.

(The first small ledge can be avoided passing outside on EXPOSED steps: depending on personal preferences.)

Shortly after halfway on the diagonal, there is a piton on the right wall.

There is another piton at the hairpin bend for the second diagonal to the right.

This second diagonal (described as 8 meters long in the guidebook among the recommended books) is very exposed on small handholds, and starts by circumventing a gentle rocky hump which hides the full development of the traverse from below.

It can be rated Grade II, and in the central moves you need to hold on with your hands to keep balance; no need to exert arm strength, but you must cling to the correct holds (which are present) to stand: in some parts it is not possible to stand still alone.

If I observed well, the diagonal has a sequence of piton - piton - cord on piton - piton - cord on piton, which is quite a lot for the 8 meters stated in the book, which seemed a bit longer to me (two pitons are not very visible when ascending and I noticed them only descending).

The highest cord was in poor condition.

From the highest cord, as already mentioned above, you slightly move left and easily reach the large summit cairn.

In summary: you must be ready to pass a Grade II section with small solid holds and very exposed; there are various pitons (bolted and non-bolted) and cords allowing to set up the entire route (for groups), but as always it's better to carry your own cords; even more so, rely on your own gear for organizing possible rappels for the descent.

(It is clear that the GPS is absolutely unreliable in such tight spaces, and therefore the track of the rocky ascent part to Pizochèt is rather approximate: the good thing is that … ascending and descending you will not think of looking at the device.)

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Ending the excursion with ascent to Monte Pizzocco (also Pizzoc or Pizzoch) and passing Monte Piz

Returning to the starting point of the ascent, you bypass the Pizochèt with the short trail-ledge section and reach the Pizzocco summit by the usual route to admire the "usual" breathtaking view.

The slope is almost constantly moderate, there is a rocky step and some slippery spots.

It cannot be said – in the general hiking scale – that this is a difficult or dangerous section, but for example, it is a stretch where you will not always be able to chat amicably with your hiking companions.

You reach a Cross at the beginning of the characteristic summit semicircle of Monte Pizzocco, and then to reach the marker and the cairn of the other two summit points, you must overcome two notches.

On descent, you return to the junction where turning left would lead back to Bivacco Palia and right continues the CAI 853 trail to Rifugio Casera Ere.

For Monte Piz, go straight ahead, and shortly, almost flat, you reach the Cross just after the highest point.

From here, there is a trail that descends directly to Rifugio Casera Ere on the southwest ridge.

At times it is quite steep and almost looks like a ridge, but it is almost always well stepped allowing feet to fully rest flat.

Basically, you need to go slowly but you almost never need to exert your legs in holding.

This way you “glide” above Rifugio Casera Ere with nice views towards Monte Tre Pietre.

From the hut, follow CAI 853 again until the start, crossing the service road at a couple of points.