Monte Alpe

Monte Alpe
La Rocca, Monte Alpe Est
View from Sella d'Alpe
Highest point
Elevation1,056 m (3,465 ft)[1]
Prominence151 m (495 ft)[2]
Coordinates44°07′31″N 8°05′15″E / 44.1252775°N 8.0873908°E / 44.1252775; 8.0873908
Geography
Monte Alpe is located in Alps
Monte Alpe
Monte Alpe
Location in the Alps
LocationLiguria, Italy
Parent rangeLigurian Alps
Climbing
First ascentancestral
Easiest routefootpath from Erli

The Monte Alpe (or La Rocca, or Monte Alpe Est, 1.056 m[1]) is a mountain of the Ligurian Prealps, the eastern section of the Ligurian Alps.

Features[edit]

View from Monte Peso Grande
The W summit as seen from the Sella d'Alpe

The mountain stands between the comunes of Castelbianco and Erli, both in the provincia di Savona (Italy). It belongs to the Pennavaira/Neva; its prominence is of 151 metres.[2] The Sella d'Alpe (938 m[3]) divides the main summit of Monte Alpe, at an elevation of 1056 m,[1] from a W summit at 1035 m. NW of this elevation the Neva/Pennavaira ridge goes on with Monte delle Gettine and Pizzo Castellino and, after the saddle of Passo delle Caranche, meets the main chain of the Alps at Monte Galero.[4] Towards SE the ridge quickly drops, ending up close to the village of Marinetto, at the connfluence between the two rivers.[4]

The summit of Monte Alpe is marked by a small cairn.[5] The mountain is shrouded by thick woods which, both close to its main elevation and the W summit, leave places to grassland.[5] On the Monte Alpe flanks there are several rock outcrops, some of them very steep or vertical and used by enthusiasts as a climbing area. The lower slopes of the mountain are occupied by olive trees plantations and by other Mediterranean cultivations.[3]

SOIUSA classification[edit]

According to the SOIUSA (International Standardized Mountain Subdivision of the Alps) the mountain can be classified in the following way:[6]

  • main part = Western Alps; major sector = South Western Alps, section = Ligurian Alps, subsection = Prealpi Liguri
  • supergroup = Catena Settepani-Carmo-Armetta, group = Gruppo Galero-Armetta, subgroup = Dorsale del Pizzo Castellino, code = I/A-1.I-A.3.b

Geology[edit]

Monte Alpe, from a geological point of view, features limestone dating back to the Triassic era.[7] The area located between Monte Alpe and Monte Galero is characterized by quite a high landslide risk.[8]

Access to the summit[edit]

Summit cairn

Monte Alpe can be easily reached on foot following the ridge which connects it with Monte Galero.[1] Others hiking routes start from Erli[5] and Veravo (comune of Castelbianco).[3]

Mountain bike[edit]

The ascent to Monte Alpe is considered a mountain bike itinerary considered quite demanding, but very satisfactory too.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Montagna, Montalto 1981, pp. 241–242.
  2. ^ a b "Monte Alpe". peakery.com. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  3. ^ a b c Marco Piana. "Da Veravo al Monte Alpe" (PDF) (in Italian). verdeazzurroligure.com. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  4. ^ a b IGM & 1:25.000 official Italian map.
  5. ^ a b c Filippo Ceragioli (14 May 2022). "Le due cime del Monte Alpe" (in Italian). MountainHall. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  6. ^ Marazzi 2005, p. 62.
  7. ^ AA.VV. (comitato geologico) (1909). Bollettino del Servizio geologico d'Italia (in Italian). Vol. 40. Instituto poligrafico e zecca della stato. pp. 13–14. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  8. ^ AA.VV. "Idrografia". Analisi Ambientale (PDF) (in Italian). Comune di Castelbianco. p. 9. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  9. ^ Andrea Codda (18 January 2019). "Monte Alpe (1055 m)" (in Italian). cicloalpinismo.com. Retrieved 2022-05-17.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Marazzi, Sergio (2005). Atlante Orografico delle Alpi. SOIUSA (in Italian). Pavone Canavese: Priuli & Verlucca editori. ISBN 9788880682738.
  • Montagna, Euro; Montaldo, Lorenzo (1981). Alpi Liguri. Guida dei Monti d'Italia (in Italian). Milano: CAI / TCI.

Maps[edit]