Location: Monte Spitz
Difficulty: High
Length: 8 km
Elevation Gain: 700 m
The Tarbiasa trail is difficult to traverse because it crosses ancient paths used by lumberjacks or draft animals.
The start
The Tarbiasa trail begins from the road above the cemetery parking lot in Tonezza. Upon reaching a fork towards the areas of Forni and Valpegana, the ascent begins surrounded by a beech and laburnum forest. The trail then connects with the one leading to Paile and towards Val d’Astico.
The view from Coconeche
The Tarbiasa route continues with a steady ascent. During this route, there will be a few spots to rest, one of which is the summit of Coconeche. Here, you can catch your breath while admiring the wonderful view of the valley, with our goal in the distance: the summit of Monte Spitz. We depart again, entering the forest with another uphill stretch. Be cautious as the trail is not always clearly marked here. Towards the last slope, it comes out near the Chiosco Alpino hotel and restaurant.
The Tarbiasa
Crossing the road, you connect with the main route leading to the mountain. Along the way, you will find military outposts and sites of old barracks and trenches that remind us of the events that took place during World War I. Shortly after, you arrive at a small pass and a large pasture that gives its name to the Tarbiasa route.
The Casotto quarries and a view towards the Alps
After passing the remains from the Great War, you can enjoy another small clearing with a spectacular view: you can also see the Alps and the Lagorai. From here on, the ascent becomes more challenging, and by crossing the Casotto quarries (which remove the landslide debris from Monte Spitz), you reach Pala Grande.
The summit of Monte Spitz
Now, there's very little left to reach the top, but in this section, the climb intensifies with a small series of switchbacks. After about 2 hours from departure, you finally arrive at the summit of Monte Spitz with a 360-degree panorama of the entire valley, and on clear days, you can see the mountains of Recoaro, the Pasubio massif from Scarubbi to Cima Palon. For the descent, it's recommended to follow the Tronconi trail or the Vena pass.
