Alta via dei Rondoi

Overview

The Alta Via dei Rondoi is a spectacular ridge itinerary on the Monte Cavallo massif in the Friulian Prealps, in the province of Pordenone. The complete route crosses five summits, alternating ridge walking, protected passages, rocky steps and short grade I scrambling sections for a continuous journey with extensive views.

Approach

The starting point is the upper station of the first section of the Piancavallo cable car, reached by heading towards Tremol and parking near the Palasport sports centre. From the Baita Arneri area, follow the signs for CAI trail 918 and the Alta Via dei Rondoi, ignoring the side trails.

The route climbs steadily beneath the second cable-car section and passes an initial easy protected stretch. Continue along the ridge to the summit of Monte Tremol (2007 m), about 1 h 15 min from the cable car.

From the summit, descend to Forcella del Tremol and climb towards Monte Colombera, reached in about 40 minutes. The most extensively equipped part of the itinerary begins at this summit.

Via Ferrata

From Monte Colombera, descend a sharp ridge, protected in places, towards Forcella Colombera. Short drops and traverses are protected by a cable. Although not difficult, this section requires care on the grass and small rocky steps.

From Forcella Colombera, continue along the Alta Via towards Cimon di Palantina, whose summit can be reached by an optional short detour. The main route continues towards Forcella Palantina, then climbs the ridge of Cimon del Cavallo. The ascent includes some unprotected grade I scrambling, with a clear line and no extremely difficult moves. About 30 minutes from the col, reach Cimon del Cavallo (2251 m), the highest summit on the itinerary.

Descend briefly from the summit, then take a path across a protected gully and a partly protected ledge, skirting the mountain to Forcella dei Furlani. From here, climb the final summit, Cimon dei Furlani (2183 m), without technical difficulties. This marks the end of the ascending part of the Alta Via.

Descent

From Cimon dei Furlani, descend the broad ridge to a col, crossing a short, more exposed stretch. Continue steadily downhill to an important junction. Turn left onto the path back towards Piancavallo, enter the woods and eventually reach the base of the lifts. The return takes about 2 hours, giving a total outing time of 6 h 30 min.

Useful Notes

The itinerary is well marked and follows a clear, continuous line along the ridge, linking five summits in one loop. Wet grass can make some sections slippery. Snowfields may remain on the northern slopes early in the season. Anyone planning to use the cable car for the return should check its operating hours beforehand, especially outside the main season.