Monte Totóga

The loop that, starting from Passo Gobbera, runs the complete tour of Mount Totóga (La Totóga in local dialect), is a rather not popular route, almost immersed in the forest in its entirety. Developing on easy paths, this itinerary is ideal for families and it is capable of combining the naturalistic beauty and panoramas with a little bit of history, thanks to the numerous remains of the Great War.

The hike, which leads to the top of Mount Totóga (1,705 m asl), starts from Passo Gòbbera (989 m asl), with the possibility of parking and a water pipe for supply.

From Passo Gòbbera, the route initially takes the easy gravel road towards the W (marked its very first stretch as Signpost No. 345), climbing slightly along the N side of Monte Totóga. In this first section, you can take a look at the remains of a so-called Calchèra, a kiln used for the production of lime and active until 1950. From here, the trail continues heading W, towards the location of Còl de la Crós. The road continues on a slight slope towards Còl de la Crós (1,083 m asl), which can be reached shortly while joining back the Signpost No. 345, climbing from the hamlet of Lausén to the top of Mount Totóga.

The walk follows the road of the Signpost No. 345 which develops on the W slope of the mountain. While crossing some valleys, the road features a couple of exposed and suggestive stretches on the rocks, which can be easily overcome thanks to the protections. After such stretches, the steeper section of the itinerary begins, leading to the area of the remains of the hamlet of Masi de Totóga (1,376 m asl), once immersed in their open pastures and today are reduced to ruins. After climbing a little further up, the trail leads to the meadows of Pradi de Totóga Alta (1,402 m asl), also reached by a gravel road that climbs up from Val di Schenèr, widely known for mountain biking thanks to its 48 (!) hairpin bends. From the crossroads on the meadows, the route proceeds by climbing towards Monte Totóga (NW) along the path of the Signpost No. 345B which crosses up the location of Pradi de Totóga Alta until getting by the bivouac San Giovanni Gualberto (1,570 m asl), with its side structure (casa forestale) always open and excellent for a stop before the final stretch of ascent.

From the casa forestale you can reach in a few meters the military outposts of the Great War, called Stóli di Totóga (1,586 m asl), a system of artificial tunnels built by the Italian army during the First World War with the purpose of protecting from a possible descent of the Austro-Hungarian troops from the Valley of Vanoi. The tunnels can be visited. They are built on two levels, with seven main rooms that directly overlook the Valley of Vanoi and the peak of Cauriòl and four smaller internal rooms. There is a suggestive vertical connection passage, which may require particular attention.

From the casa forestale, the last short section of ascent proceeds along the Signpost No. 345A, which narrows and enters the forest before reaching Cima Totóga (1,705 m asl) with its cross, where a small clearing allows you to admire the landscape, with the Primiero Valley and Mount Vederna on one side, the Valley of Vanoi and Lagorai on the other side, separated by the deep ravine of Val di Schenèr.

From Cima Totóga the return to Passo Gobbera initially follows the same path (Signpost No. 345A), passing once again near the bivouac San Giovanni Gualberto and reaching the crossroads by the location of Le Monde (1,499 m asl), where you continue to the left, towards SE, always following the Signpost No. 345A towards Passo Gobbera. The route chosen for the return is more direct and descends at times quite steep towards the mountain pass on the E slopes of Mount Totóga. Once you reach the crossroads in the location of El Ram (1,384 m asl), you will get back to the main path (Signpost No. 345) which continues to the left towards Passo Gobbera. After another nice steep descent, at the crossroads named Bivio de le Doi Strade (1,045 m asl) the path turns into a nice gravel road, softening the slope. Right at the crossroads you find yourself above the picturesque church of San Silvestro, which the itinerary does not touch but which can be glimpsed on your right (towards E) beyond the forest. Continuing along the road and passing again by the Calchèra met in the very beginning, the trail gently returns to Passo Gobbera.