Pelmo Peak a solo between the major peaks of the Dolomites
Formerly called Sass de Pelf, for its amphitheater form that makes him look like a throne, Pelmo is a mighty rocky hill that stands isolated impressive, reaching 3168 meters in the heart of the Belluno Dolomites.
Awesome. There are no other words to better describe the Pelmo Peak. The colossus stands undisturbed on the territory around it, green and wavy, a solo between the major peaks of the Dolomites, visible from many vantage points around the Dolomites.
The Alta Via that link the Fork Staulanza with Venezia refuge, 1946 meters, with its beautiful location, passes very close to it, and thanks to the Fiabani trail, that is connected to Alta Via, you will overcome the Pelmo northern slopes on the wild Fork Val d’Arcia, 2476 m: a real immersion in the world of the Dolomites!
Not far from the famous Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Pelmo group is a stronghold of three valleys systems: two from Cadore and Val Boite. The latter communicates with the Val Fiorentina through the Alpine pass Forada Fork (1977 m), which is also the northern boundary of the massif, and the valley of Torto Ru (hence the val Zoldo) through the step that share the same name (1950 mt.).
Val Fiorentina and Zoldo Valley are connected by car crossing the fork Staulanza (1766 m), which defines the Pelmo West.
Pelmo constitutes the main body and includes the highest peak, smaller peaks separated by the Red Fork and Pelmetto which reaches 2990 meters. The Zoldo Dolomites stretch then south-easterly direction from the main group and include the Group of Bosconero until it reaches the valley of the famouse Piave river.
To note that Pelmo Peak was the first summit to be scaled by man in the Dolomite, September 19, 1857, by the English naturalist John Ball accompanied by a local guide. The choice of that first climb was obliged according to Ball since for him in the Alps there was no comparable mountain to this gigantic and impressive peak. The two climbers met some difficulties in their ascent, especially on the bolder step, the famous “step of the cat, a very low ceiling above which the transition to a cornice, which they did on all fours.
Certainly there are some the debates on it and there are many who believe that such long before Ball others climbed Pelmo Peak (chamois hunters as well as a likely another naturalist, would therefore explain the precise dimensioning of the peak altitude).