Winter hikes in Emilia-Romagna

Pleasant and easy route in the Casentinesi Forests. Extremely scenic. The route does not present major difficulties, it is well marked.

The route: departure from the parking lot at the Capanne di Cosola pass, you take a road first paved with a concrete surface, then dirt, which gently climbs among the trees. Upon reaching a house, abandon the dirt road to turn right along a path, with a sign indicating Monte Chiappo, which crosses a fence and climbs through meadows, gaining the broad and grassy south ridge of the mountain. Passing a small weather station with an anemometer and crossing another fence, you climb over the broad sub-peak of the mountain (1668 m), ascend along the panoramic ridge, cross a third fence, and arrive at the broad summit of Monte Chiappo (1700 m). Return a few meters on the ascent path, then descend to the right along the west ridge of the mountain, then cross the grassy summit of Monte Prenardo (1649 m) and descend through wide meadows to the saddle called Bocca di Crenna (1551 m), located between Mounts Ebro and Chiappo. Here you meet the mule track that rises directly from Capanne di Cosola, which we will take on the return. Continue along the panoramic grassy ridge, with a long and steep ramp, reaching a shoulder; here turn left and, shortly, reach the summit cross of Monte Ebro (1700 m). From the summit, return shortly to Bocca di Crenna (1551 m), take the dirt road descending south and follow it for a few tens of meters. At the first curve to the right, leave it to take a path to the left (signs: two yellow dots, red marks) that cuts across the broad southwest slope of Monte Chiappo. First cross wide pastures scattered with shrubs, then after passing a sacred shrine, enter the beech forest. With some ups and downs, cross a small valley where there is a spring, then descend more steeply until you meet a flat dirt track. Follow it to the left and now encounter the first isolated small houses. Then rejoin the outbound path just before Capanne di Cosola, and finally reach the parking lot.

Cavone Refuge - Porticciola Pass - Sofia Peak - Giorgina Peak - Strofinatoio Pass - Malghe Refuge - Baita del Sole - Cavone Refuge

Central Channel Lombard Swallow (PD+, 50-55°, length approx. 250m, east exposure)

Winter ascent to Monte Casarola starting from the Scalucchia Pass. Hike interrupted due to a problem with a crampon.

Santo Modenese Lake Parking - Vittoria Refuge - Boccaccia Pass - normal route to Mount Giovo - Rosa Cave - Altaretto - Mount Rondinaio - Passetto - Baccio Lake - Santo Lake

Just above the town of Ospitaletto, you park at the Pianella area. From here, continue along the forest path to the plateau that precedes the ascent, which must be tackled in winter with crampons and an ice axe, up to the summit. In this case, due to strong winds, we reached Monte Polla and not Cavalbianco as planned. Return on the same path used to go up.

Parking a little beyond the Cerreto Pass - climb through the woods up to the Rosario bivouac - ascent with ice axe and crampons through the Inferno valley - Mount La Nuda - descent on the opposite side through the ski slopes of Cerreto Laghi

Monte Cella from Casone di Profecchia

Monte La Nuda via the Channel of the two Gendarmes (difficulty PD+/AD-) starting from Passo Crocetta