Introduction: A not too long traverse, suited to the summer-autumn period. Certainly suitable for ski-mountaineering traverses too. Excellent views. It's a ridge route that touches a large number of summits above two thousand metres and runs at an average altitude of about 1800 metres.
Route characteristics: There are paths for most of the route, no technical difficulty, only a bit of stamina and the availability of two cars to do the traverse one way only.
The traverse runs through the Monti Sibillini National Park.
If you have energy to spare you can add the ascent of Monte Porche, described in the variants.
Route description
The itinerary is quite simple, being a romp along a ridge. If you don't want to push the hike's timings and find yourself forced to hurry back to the cars, you can sleep at Frontignano: here there's the well-known Hotel Felycita, where for a good price you can sleep and eat fairly. You walk up the tarmac road that climbs to the upper lifts of the “Saliere”. You climb along the ski runs until you are past the top station. 20 metres past the station you meet a dirt track, which you follow uphill: it leads onto the southern ridge of Monte Bove. At the fork carry on to the right, keeping low without ever climbing Monte Bove. The path continues to the saddle between the Bove and Cima di Passo Cattivo. From here the ridge continues to Cima di Passo Cattivo (2065 m) and Cima di Vallinfante (2113 m). From this summit the view over the whole of the Sibillini is unique. Carry on south: ahead you'll find the rather rounded bulk of Monte Porche, which you can climb (variant 45m / 30 minutes from the path) or else carry on, joining the path that goes down towards Monte Prata. The descent path is rather stony and you often risk slipping; a good pair of trekking poles can help on the way down. The path comes out near a spring, where a dirt track starts that will take you straight to the Monte Prata car park, where you left the second car.
Variants and alternatives
An interesting alternative is to start directly from the Hotel Felycita. Looking at the hotel, on the right-hand side there's a dirt track that leads to the ski runs. From here you can climb Monte Bicco. From Monte Bicco you can walk the ridge to Monte Bove Sud (variant about 1 hour), go back down to meet the saddle of Passo Cattivo and carry on to Monte Prata.
Once again, we remind you of the variant ascent of Monte Porche (45m / 30 minutes from the path).
Notes on effort and difficulty
Visitor centres and accommodation
Frequently asked questions
How do you organise the traverse from Frontignano to Monte Prata?
You need two cars: one left at the Monte Prata car park and one at Frontignano, because the route is one way only. If you want to set off without rushing you can sleep in Frontignano, at the Hotel Felycita.
How long does the traverse by the Passo Cattivo take?
About 5 hours for 11.5 km, with 932 metres of ascent and 600 of descent. The optional ascent of Monte Porche adds about 30-45 minutes. The descent towards Monte Prata is stony: trekking poles are useful.
