Monte Terminillo

  • Monte Terminillo
  • 2217 m
  • Prominence 1163 m
  • Location: North 42.47392, East 012.99780 (GPS)
  • Italy
  • Difficulty, YDS class 2
  • Climbed June 19, 2022.

Information:

How to get there:
The town of Rieti is a good point of reference. From here, drive the road to Monte Terminillo, you will pass some ski resort buildings. Continue and make a left in order to drive to locaation N42.47061, E013.01001, elevation close to 1800 meter. People park along the road here.
Route description:
From the trailhead, locate a small trail that cuts left in order to access the south-west (left) ridge of Terminillo. Follow this trail to the south summit, a triangular pillar marks this summit. Continue about 80 meter roughly north. You cross a shallow saddle, then gain the highest point of Terminillo marked with a metal plaque signed the Italian Alpine Club. There is a good trail all the way, but since there are a short section where you may need to support yourself with a hand, the difficulty is rated (YDS) class 2.
Comments:
I arrived at the trailhead, the road was closed by police, around 1000, but needed to change before hiking. This was a Sunday and there were about 100 cars parked all over the place, very busy!
I left at 1015 and assumed (wrongly) that the trail would take me to the north side, then up along a ridge from there. When I arrived on the north side, the trail descended steeply into some kind of valley. I realized that I should have climbed the south ridge. What to do? Looking up on the mountain from where I was standing, it looked like a good, but not difficult scramble to ascend directly. I could not see the upper part, but it was tempting to give this route a try. It worked well, some easy (YDS) class 3 scramble after gaining the main crest, then back to class 2. I arrived from the north to the summit by 1105. Most people seemed to rest at the south summit point about 80 meter away. I helped 2 hikers with a summit photo, then headed over to the other summit point, which is 2216m, one meter lower.
After some good rest to enjoy the nice weather, including a clear view across to Corno Grande, I left after 15 minutes and descended the correct route back to my car in about 35 minutes.

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