Monte Luco, from Gampenpass / Passo Palade
The Groβe Laugenspitze, or Monte Luco, is part of Maddalene chain and is located on the south side of the Ultental / Val d'Ultimo. Its isolated location allows to see, from the summit, a magnificent 360° view.
The climb from the Gampenpass / Passo delle Palade is a ski mountaineering route of medium difficulty, also suitable to be covered with snow shoes.
Follow the SS 43 of the Val di Non up to Dermulo. Continue right to the SS 43 dir to the village of Fondo. From there, take the SS 238 until Gampenpass / Passo Palade. Or you can reach the pass from Lana d'Adige. Wide parking area.
From the Gampenpass / Passo Palade you go along a dirt road
until you reach Malga Luco, 1850 m:
You now go to the left, southward, through a larch forest for several hundred meters:
then, bending gradually to the right, climb to reach the wide south ridge, now out of the woods.
You follow it for a long stretch to the north:
with several changes of slope and traversing carefully along a rather exposed section, until you reach the large summit, with a cross.
You can enjoy spectacular views on the Val d’Ultimo, Val di Non, Maddalene, Ötztal Alps, Brenta Dolomites and Eastern Dolomites.
You can go down along the ascent route or, in safe snow conditions, directly through the basin below the summit, towards the hut
■ as, 2014-01-13