Red-Echar-Bertigo-Ronco Carbon Ronco Carbon Excursion

Valbella da Col del Rosso

Red-Echar-Bertigo-Ronco Carbon - Asiago Plateau

INTRODUCTION TO THE ITINERARY

TheAsiago Plateau Seven Municipalities as known is seen by the presence of numerous areas that were the scene of the Great War. The route we propose passes through the places where the Battle of the Three Mountains was bloody fought between the end of 1917 and 1918. In particular, the excursion that starts from the parking lot of the Valbella ski lifts in The Ronco Carbon Resort in Gallio,passes first on the side of Mount Valbella and then reaches the top of the Col del Rosso,from which you can see the Col d'Echelea short distance away. From here our story takes you to Mount Echar and then back to the starting point passing through the Contrada di Gallio, Bertigo.

It is therefore an excursion of particular historical importance. In addition to the war events of which a good study can be found on our website The book VITTORY TO EVERY COSTO. Plateau of the Seven Municipalities 1917-1918. The battles of the Three Mountains. Paolo Volpato with photos from theHistorical Archive Dal Molin in this area is also interesting the naturalistic aspect as there is a rich flora.
The hike has been classified as easy as most of the route has low slopes both up and down and can be tackled by anyone.

HOW TO GET TO THE STARTING POINT OF THE ROUTE

From Asiago you head and pass the Contrada Pennar. At the intersection with the SP72, then turn left. Alternatively, also from Asiago, from the Military Sacrario you take the road to the Contrada Stellar and at the intersection with the SP72 you turn right. In both cases you continue until you reach a small underpass and you turn by diverting from the SP72 towards Contrada Bertigo, Gallio. Continue straight for a further 1300 meters and then arrive at the parking lot of the Valbellaski lifts, in the resort Ronco Carbon. Here you park the car and start the journey.

ROUTE DESCRIPTION

Parked the car (m. 1122), you continue on foot, straight, on the paved road from which you came for 500 meters and then it turns to the second white road on the right. The first of the two leads to the Valbella Peak but we proceed in the direction of Malga Stenfle. The road has therefore turned white and slowly begins to enter the woods in a series of semi-curves, rising slightly. As soon as the fir forest fails the gaze can begin to range from Mount Verena to the Melette,and just below the village of Gallio. In a very light descent you arrive (after 1,560 km from the start) at Malga Stenfle (m. 1150) and turn right and continue on the white road. Once again, the road is made in a continuous semi-curve. There are some junctions but the route plans to always keep the main road.

Malga Stenfle

After 1.9 kM from Malga Stenfle, the forest leaves room for the meadows and you arrive at the "Cippo Niccolai", monument inaugurated on September 13, 2009 in the resort Houses Melaghetto in the 91st Anniversary of the Fact of Arms in perennial memory of Eugenio Niccolai,on the initiative of the Association "Filippo Corridoni", the Brigade "Sassari", the municipalities of Corridonia and Gallio, the Committee of municipalities of Sardinia, the National Association of the Fante "Section Plateau 7 Municipalities", the National Association Of Brigade Sassari. The monument reads: Eugenio Niccolai Captain of the 151st Infantry Regiment (Sassari Brigade) here fell on January 31, 1918 during the 1st Battle of the "Three Mountains" claiming to the Fatherland these sacred lands. In addition, he, Commander of the 6th Company II Battalion of the 151st Infantry Regiment Brigade Sassari, is Gold Medal of Military Valor for the motivation that can be read on the monument:"With irresistible momentum at the head of his company, he seized an important position, taking numerous prisoners there and capturing weapons and ammunition. He then assumed command of a battalion, whose commander had been wounded, and continued his intelligent and daring work with units of conception and with fascinating value. Wounded in the face and leg by shrapnel of hand grenades, careless of himself, he did not stray, the only surviving captain, from his place of combat. In the days that followed, always indefatigable and undaunted, he validly helped to maintain lines extremely exposed to opposing shots, instilling, with vibrant word and shining example, faith and courage in the employees. Finally, he marched to a new attack, first among the first, reaching new positions, on which, still hit by enemy lead, he gloriously immolated life "Col del Red, 28 - 31 January 1918.
Like the previous historical memories, they deserve to pause at the monument and reflect before resuming the journey.

Cippo Eugenio Niccolai

Brigade Sassari - war notes - 31 January 1918 "... This morning on the Melaghetto the enemy had concentrated a large artillery fire that suggested it was the prelude to another counterattack, and he, thinking that rather that waiting for him was better prevented, moved with a few men and took himself to a small high ground in front of his positions. A bullet to the heart stopped his generous daring and young life. ..." Giuseppe Tommasi, Capt. 15th Rgt. F. (Sassari Brigade)
Historical Diary of the 51st Infantry Regiment (Sassari Brigade) - January 31, 1918 "... Following orders from the Brigade Command, the remains of the 2nd Battalion at 5.30am are being occupation of Casera Melaghetto. At around 8 a.m. with intense artillery fire and machine guns, they had to retreat to the starting trench. Several enemy counterattacks were repelled. ...." Colonel Commander the Wall Regiment

Cippo Niccola - Historical Diary Brigade Sassari

The hike can now continue as planned by leaving the monument on the right and facing a rapidly rising stretch of white road. Otherwise you can shorten the route, without climbing the Col del Rosso, but heading directly towards Melaghetto along the white road that enters the valley between the Colle and valbella.
Following the planned route at the end of the steepest section of the ascent you reach another point, 1968, the 50th anniversary of the victory, in which we remember the Cadutsthe"glorious feats that the 157th Infantry Regiment Liguria renewing the splendours of M. Zovetto - M. Pasubio - M. Zomo here performed in the Battle of the Three Mountains Col del Rosso - Col d'Ecchele - M. Valbella on 30.1.1918".

Panorama on Gallio

With the altitude, the panorama of Gallio and the surrounding mountains is once again open, as well as on Cima Valbella and Cima Echar on which you can see the upper dome of the Astronomical Observatory. For a short stretch you return to the road among the vegetation that sells the prevailing presence of beech trees up to reach (5 km from the starting point) on the meadows on the top of the Col del Rosso (m. 1263). From the top, where there is the arrival of the lift and a repeater the panorama, weather permitting is guaranteed. Just to name a few, you can see: Cima Valbella, Monte Verena, Melette, Col d'Ecchele, Foza, Sasso di Asiago, Dolomiti Bellunesi, etc.
From here you can decide to go down to Col d'Ecchele and reach Sasso di Asiago where there is the Great War Museum 1915-18 and you can possibly walk down the famous Calà del Sasso.

Monument Section Fanti Plateau 7 Municipalities

Near the summit of the Col del Rosso there is a boulder with a plaque of the Section Fanti Plateau 7 Communes,which reads"On January 28, 1918 during the Battle of the 3 Mountains the factions of the Sassari Brigade recaptured the Col del Rosso. It was the first victorious Italian offensive after Caporetto. We remember on Sardinian granite, the great brigade with its motto Forza Paris." Not far from the explanatory panels tell the passing hikers briefly about the events of the war that, as already said, have affected this part of Asiago Plateau.
Continuing the hike, from the aforementioned boulder you continue straight to Mount Melago and after a few tens of meters you turn decisively right towards Casara di Melago. following the cai 805 trail. The proposed section of route from here to Bertigo passes entirely on what is called"High Tilman Street"after the British Artillery Major Harold William Tilman. He during the Resistance after being parachuted into the Granezza area and more precisely in the Barenthal Valley in the summer of 1944, from Asiago he reached Falcade,in Bellunese. Between woods and pastures the journey passed through Bertigo, Cima Echar, Col del Rosso, Calà del Sasso,Valstagna, Monte Grappa, Cimonega, Errera, Park of the Bellunesi Dolomites, the Valley of San Lucan and Garès Valley, Forcella della Stia, Caviola di Falcade and then arrived at Falcade.

Panorama on Contrada Bertigo

After the descent from Col del Rosso,you leave Casara Melago (m. 1140) to your right and continue on a white road, left towards Bertigo. You will then see Casara Melaghetto, a marble quarry, and the old Melagon lifts on the left. Just before the white road begins to rise, it diverts to the height of a decisive left turn,continuing straight towards the woods, point from which our path will proceed on a path in the woods just passed an iron bar (m. 1170). You then begin to climb along the path that with some hairpin bends leads to altitude (1252 meters) on the ridge between Mount Valbella and Cima Echar. We continue to follow the path that turns left between the dense forest and a few tens of meters to the right to return to having above its head only the sky.

Once you reach the mule that leads to Bertigo,you go down a few meters and a spectacular view of the central reaches of Asiago will open to repay every effort so far made. Following the mule track or in the middle of this, a path between barbed wire and stoan platten,you quickly reach the village of Contrada Bertigo (m. 1103).
At this point we are almost arrived at the arrival and starting point of this itinerary: just turn right and along the paved road for 1100m you reach the parking lot of the Valbella Sciovie from which we started.

Asiago.it in collaboration with Alberto Mazzocco

PHOTO GALLERY OF THE RONCO CARBON-MONTE VALBELLA-COL RED-ECHAR-BERTIGO-RONCO CARBON ITINERARY