Introduction: The long ridge running from Pizzo di Camarda to Pizzo Cefalone is perhaps one of the most knife-edged and panoramic ridges of the whole Gran Sasso mountain group. Pizzo di Camarda is in fact the first peak, marking the start of this sharp and broken ridge. To the south the precipice falls away for over a thousand metres towards Assergi, with a truly dizzying effect. To the north the sheer drop looks down into the green, lush Val Chiarino.
Route characteristics: A tiring route that does not offer particularly varied views until you reach the ridge. Although you can get up to high altitude by the gravel road, the ascent route we suggest goes up a wild and fun little gully in which (during the summer months) you can climb grade I and grade II moves on fairly stable small rocks and boulders.
Route description
From where you leave the car you can see an obvious stazzo (shepherds' stone enclosure) halfway up the slope. Further to the right, a deep-cut valley of scree with a crown of small rock walls. Further right still, the obvious rounded hump of Monte Ienca. The aim is to slip into the rocky valley. This is in fact the most fun route. First of all you head for the stazzo, which makes a handy shelter: open in winter too, it has two rooms, a fireplace, a table with benches and a sofa. Inside, the stazzo is bare but there is no bad smell, neither of wood nor of mould, let alone of animals. Really well kept. It would be curious to know who is behind so much free care. The stazzo, however, becomes a meeting point for cows and horses, so be careful when you decide to stop. The animals gather in the area at very precise times, especially late in the evening.
From the stazzo it is even easier to pick out the rocky valley that from the Iaccio San Pietro (a high grassy expanse) leads, by way of two fun little rock steps, to the Piano di Camarda. In the valley we meet a first little rock step, where there is a first little grade II hands-and-feet move with forced positions. Some of the little climbing moves can, however, be avoided in various ways, choosing the ones that best suit your abilities. You come out on a small grassy terrace, recognisable by a little tree. Here the valley can be followed either on the right over steep meadows or towards the right, where we find the second little rock step, easier but fun.
Past the little step the view opens up and we are already at 1940 m. On our right the imposing rounded hump of Colle Quadreglio. You can go straight up Colle Quadreglio with one last but truly exhausting effort, or carry on to the Piano di Camarda. Beyond the little high lake (a water supply for the livestock that summer up high) you can look out over the Val Chiarino. From the little lake you carry on eastwards, meeting the broad ridge leading to the obvious summit of Pizzo di Camarda. As you get closer to the summit the ridge tends to narrow, culminating in the summit, which drops sheer on three sides.
The return is certainly not by the same way (it would be too awkward to have to climb back down the little grade I and II moves). Comfortable, instead, is the return by the long but very fast gravel road leading to the Sorgente di Acqua Berardo. On the way down you spot a farm. Here, over meadows and traces of path, you regain the tarmac road that takes you back to the car.
Variants and alternatives
A possible variant is to go down eastwards beyond a small gendarme; from here you can carry on towards the small point at 2282 m, which is the fore-summit of the Malecoste.
Notes on effort and difficulty
Visitor centres and accommodation
Frequently asked questions
Are there climbing moves on the ascent of Pizzo di Camarda?
Yes: in the rocky valley between Iaccio San Pietro and Piano di Camarda you get over two small rock steps with grade I and II moves, partly avoidable. In winter they are tackled with crampons and ice axe. That is why the difficulty is EE+ (for experienced hikers, upper end of the grade) and it is not suitable for children.
How do you get back from Pizzo di Camarda?
Not by the ascent route, which is awkward to downclimb: from Piano di Camarda you go down the long gravel road towards the Sorgente di Acqua Berardo, then over meadows and traces of path you find the tarmac road that takes you back to the car.
