San Pellegrino
(pso. di)
Highest Point: 1918m
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| Western Approach: |
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| from Moena (1140m) |
778m |
11+1/2km
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| Eastern Approach: |
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|
| from Cencenighe (774m) |
1144m |
18km |
| from Canale d'Agordo (971m) |
947m |
13+1/2km |
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This pass joins the busy tourst towns in the Val
di Fassa with the Bellunesi (or Venetian)
dolomites. Approaching from the west and compared
with the nearby Sella Group passes or the even
nearer Karerpass,
this road is relaxing and low traffic. If climbing
from the the east however, the workout is anything
but relaxing. However, in my opinion the best part
of this ride is the scenery along the lower
eastern approach, which also makes up the approach
to other passes, among them pso. di Valles. That
part of the ride is certainly more attractive than
the summit, which is nature transformed into ski
area.
Approaches
From West. The road makes a couple of
switchbacks above Moena to a vantage point, where the
Sella Massif at the end of Val di Fassa comes into
view. Then the route enters a forested valley. There
are intermittent steep spots in a moderate climb, till
finally a clearing with a few businesses comes in
sight. It looks like the top but it's three gentle kms
more of climbing to a group of ski lifts, and a
probably closed 3 star hotel at the top. It's
difficult to impossible to take a picture of the top
without a barrage of kilifts in it.
From East. described downwards. It's a
pretty roll over forested switchbacks. A high ridge
appears in front, and just how high this ridge really
is, becomes apparent with how low this descent goes.
Past the junction with pso. di Valles comes the best
part, but maybe the weather conspired to make it so in
my case. The road emerges on a balcony above Caviola,
and sky piercing peaks appear upvalley, as well as a
sheer wall downvalley, carved by the river Cordevole.
After the road joins the larger Rte203, a long,
brightly lit tunnel can be circumnavigated by an old
abandoned road that also contains an unlit, but much
shorter tunnel. There also seems to be a secondary
road closer to the stream.
Tours
Extended Tour. (< pso
di San Pelegrino| pso
di San Osvaldo>) A short day of touring on a
loaded mountain bike started in Fontanac (near
Canazei) > Moena > pso di Pelegrino > to a
small town right next to Agordo. It measured 44
miles with 3900 ft of climbing in 4:3 hours and
included a few detours while looking for a room. The
direct route without the detours took about 4 hours
in 40 miles (m3:9.6.7).
picture locations: pic3 is the only one taken on
the western approach. It shows a view of Moena on one
of the initial switchbacks. pics 1 and 2: east of
summit but west of Falcade; 4: taken from Falcade;
5,7,8 taken from Canale d'Agordo; pic 6 tken between
Canale d'Agordo and Cencenighe Agordino.
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Cycling Passes in Europe
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