Monte Pelmo is a mountain of the

Dolomites The Dolomites ( ), also known as the Dolomite Mountains, Dolomite Alps or Dolomitic Alps, are a mountain range in northeastern Italy. They form part of the Southern Limestone Alps and extend from the River Adige in the west to the Piave Va ...

, in the

province of Belluno The province of Belluno (; ; ) is a Provinces of Italy, province in the Veneto region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Belluno. It has an area of and a population of about 198,000 people. Geography Situated in the Alps, the province of ...

, Northeastern Italy. The mountain resembles a giant block which stands isolated from other peaks, so can be seen clearly from the neighbouring valleys and from nearby mountains such as

Antelao Monte Antelao (Cadorino dialect: Nantelòu) is the highest mountain in the eastern Dolomites (a section of the Alps) in northeastern Italy, southeast of the town of Cortina d'Ampezzo, in the region of Cadore. The Monte Antelao is an ultra-promi ...

and

Monte Civetta Monte Civetta (3,220 m) is a prominent and major mountain of the Dolomites, in the Province of Belluno in northern Italy. Its north-west face can be viewed from the Taibon Agordino valley, and is classed as one of the symbols of the Dolomites. ...

. Monte Pelmo was the first major Dolomite peak to be climbed; Englishman John Ball, who later became president of the UK's

Alpine Club Alpine clubs are typically large social clubs that revolve around climbing, hiking, and other outdoor activities. Many alpine clubs also take on aspects typically reserved for local sport associations, providing education and training courses, se ...

, succeeded in his ascent in 1877. He set out with a chamois hunter from the Boitevalley towards Monte Pelmo. Over the long ledge named after Ball, which the chamois hunters refused to cross, Ball got into the large cirque, through which he climbed over the small Pelmo glacier to below the summit structure. West of the summit lies a secondary peak, Pelmetto (meaning "Little Pelmo" in Italian), at 2,990m high, which has a high north face. There are only a few possibilities for climbing the peak, owing to its unique structure. The best known (and easiest) ascent leads over the south-east flank. The route of the first climbers still offers a rewarding but long and strenuous mountain tour in the second degree of difficulty. Problems can be found with the above-mentioned, exposed ball band. Climbing skills and surefootedness are necessary. The ascent of Monte Pelmo should also be carried out in safe weather and without snow. On some rocks on its western side people can admire dinosaurs prints (Sign "Orme di Dinosauri"). These are the traces of at least three dinosaurs that are approx. 220 million years old. From the path to the tracks you walk steeply uphill for about half an hour. This mountain is surnamed "God's armchair" because its shape looks like a huge armchair.

Gallery

Dolomites in Italy, 2011.JPG, Monte Pelmo Rifugio Città di Fiume 2.jpg, Rifugio Città di Fiume with Monte Pelmo Pelmo da Palafavera.jpg, Pelmo da Palafavera Monte Pelmo e Pelmetto Estate 2013.JPG, Monte Pelmo e Pelmetto Auf dem Ballband, 2015-10-31.jpg, on the ball band Monte_Pelmo_3D.gif, animation

References

Dolomites Mountains of Veneto Mountains of the Alps Alpine three-thousanders {{Veneto-geo-stub

Gallery

See also

References