Monte Plische

实用信息

• Mountain peak
• 12 kmfrom Ala center
• 4.8 / 525 reviews
• Ala

A Summit Between Three Provinces

Monte Plische sits precisely on the watershed that separates the Agno valley in Vicenza from the upper Revolto valley in Trento, with the province of Verona ending just south at Passo Tre Croci. This three-way junction gives the peak a unique geographic significance — it is one of those places where you stand at the meeting point of entirely different cultural and linguistic traditions. The mountain belongs to the Carega Group within the Piccole Dolomiti, a range whose jagged limestone spires earn it the nickname of "the Dolomites of the common people."↗↗

First World War Heritage

The trails circling Monte Plische are not merely footpaths — they are military mule tracks built during the Great War to supply troops stationed along the Italian front. Sentiero 182, the most direct route past the mountain's northern flank, follows this engineered path from Rifugio Scalorbi through Passo Plische to Passo Tre Croci. Remnants of trenches and fortifications survive near the pass and on the summit itself, offering tangible evidence of the harsh conditions soldiers endured at nearly 2,000 metres. The lower stretch of the mule track remains wide and well preserved; further toward Passo Tre Croci it narrows into a trail winding through dense dwarf pine.↗↗

The Approach and Summit

From Rifugio Cesare Battisti (1,265 m), the climb follows a broad, comfortable mule track with gentle switchbacks up a wide scree gully toward Passo Tre Croci at 1,716 m. From there, trail 202 traverses the western flank of the mountain through thick mugo pine before reaching the narrow Passo Plische at 1,900 m — a small notch between Monte Plische and the Dente del Plische, marked on one side by an unmistakable limestone pinnacle with a cave. A faint path marked only by a small cairn climbs the final 100 metres across alpine meadows to the iron cross on the summit.↗↗

For those who want a less exposed alternative, the mountain can be summited from Rifugio Pompeo Scalorbi (1,767 m) at Passo Pelegatta in under an hour, following the mule track around the northern base of the ridge. The descent back toward the Battisti refuge via Sentiero 111 through the Forcellino Plische is steep and rocky, threading the entire eastern scree slope — rated for experienced hikers.↗↗

Panoramas and Wildlife

On clear days, the view from Monte Plische sweeps across the Piccole Dolomiti group, the Brenta massif, and the long spine of Monte Baldo above Lake Garda. The open summit plateau and surrounding meadows are prime habitat for chamois; hikers frequently spot pairs grazing at a respectful distance near the top. The mountain's diverse environments — conifer and beech forests below, alpine grasslands and limestone karst above — support a rich variety of flora and fauna typical of the Southern Alps.↗↗↗

Visiting Practicalities

The standard loop hike from Rifugio Battisti to the summit and back via Forcellino Plische takes roughly five to six hours total with about 750 m of elevation gain and a length of around 12 km. The route is rated E (hiker) up to the summit with an EE (expert) section on the exposed ridge to the southern anticima and the steep return through the scree. Sturdy boots, layers for wind protection at altitude, and sufficient water are essential. Guided group hikes are occasionally organised from Verona during the summer season.↗↗

The best months to attempt the climb are June through September, when the snow has cleared from the high passes. Spring visits can be rewarding for wildflowers on the lower meadows but require checking that the Forcellino Plische route is not still snow-covered. Early morning starts help avoid summer afternoon thunderstorms common across the Prealps.

The Wider Landscape

Monte Plische lies at the northern edge of the Lessini highlands — a karst plateau south of Ala known for sinkholes, glacial erratics, ancient stone boundary markers dating to 1754, and the Spluga della Preta, one of the deepest caves in the world at 886 metres. The plateau's rolling meadows, beech forests, and traditional alpine huts with distinctive stone roofs have been compared to the Irish countryside, and the area hosts cultural events through the summer months.↗