Monte Tamai
1,970 m
Italy
- Elevation
- 1,970 m
- Prominence
- 1,018 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- Jun–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: E (supermontifvg.com (CAI scale))
A short, easy walk from the top of the Zoncolan road (about 1,710 m): CAI path 170 climbs steeply to the ridge at about 1,930 m and a short branch leads to the summit, just above the top station of a ski lift. About 260 m of ascent and 1 hour up; easily extended to Monte Arvenis or into a longer loop.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 2.1 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +249 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,970 m
- Time Up
- 1h 07m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 49m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Drive up the paved road from Sutrio (or from Ovaro) to the Zoncolan pass and park in the lay-by at about 1,710 m. Walk a few tens of metres down the road towards Ovaro and, near the first bend, take CAI path 170 on the left, signed for Monte Tamai. After a level start the path climbs steeply on the grassy slopes of the Tamai to about 1,930 m, where a branch on the left leads in a few minutes to the summit (1,970 m), just above a chairlift top station. The north side facing the Zoncolan is ski piste with rows of avalanche barriers; the far side looks over the Degano valley, Col Gentile and Monte Arvenis. Descend the same way, or by the service road beside the piste past Rifugio/Malga Tamai, rejoining the ascent path at about 1,760 m. A popular extension continues on path 170 down to Forcella Arvenis (1,847 m) and follows CAI 166 across rocky ground, past some pinnacles, to Monte Arvenis (1,968 m); allow about 2¾ hours, 6.7 km and 500 m of ascent for both summits. In wet or icy conditions the Arvenis path is narrow and exposed in places. Longer approaches start at the Enzo Moro car park (about 1,300 m) above Sutrio via the summit of Monte Zoncolan (about 4½ hours, 760 m loop) or from Ovaro by paths 157 and 170 (about 5¾ hours).
Start
Zoncolan pass lay-by1,736 m
- No public transport to the Zoncolan pass was verified; buses serve Sutrio and Ovaro in the valleys below.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zoncolan pass lay-by → Monte Tamai | 2.1 | 249 | 18 | 1h 07m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Zoncolan pass lay-by1,736 m
- Summit: Monte Tamai1,970 m
Key Passages
- Steep grassy climb on CAI 170 to the ridge
- Optional extension: CAI 166 across rocky ground to Monte Arvenis
Equipment
0/4 packedDownloads
Route confidence 70%Overview
The highest point (1,970 m) of the Zoncolan ski area in Carnia, a grassy summit reached in about an hour from the top of the famous Zoncolan road. Lifts and pistes cover the north side; the south and west sides above the Degano valley are quiet pasture.
Monte Tamai rises between the But valley (Sutrio, Arta Terme) and the Degano valley (Ovaro) in the Carnian Alps of Friuli, and is the highest summit of the Zoncolan group. The paved road from Sutrio, and the very steep road from Ovaro, well known to road cyclists, climb to the Zoncolan pass at about 1,730 m, so the summit is only some 260 m above the car.
The Zoncolan side has been heavily shaped by ski pistes, chairlifts and rows of avalanche barriers, and a lift reaches a point just below the top. The far side is different: grass, dwarf pine and summer pastures (Malga Agareit, Malga Tamai) above the Degano valley, with wide views to the Carnic main ridge, Col Gentile and the neighbouring Monte Arvenis (1,968 m).
As a stand-alone summit it is a short walk suitable for families. Most walkers combine it with Monte Arvenis or Monte Zoncolan, or make a longer loop from Sutrio or Ovaro. In winter the area is a ski resort; ski tourers use designated tracks alongside the pistes.
Climbing Notes
No technical skills are needed. From the Zoncolan pass allow about 1 hour up and 45 minutes down; 2¾ hours for the loop including Monte Arvenis, or 4½–6 hours for the longer loops from the Enzo Moro car park above Sutrio or from Ovaro. The steep grass is slippery when wet and the ridge is windy and cold outside summer.
The path from Forcella Arvenis to Monte Arvenis is narrow and exposed in places and can be icy in late autumn. In winter, when the ski area operates, ski tourers and snowshoers should follow the operator's designated uphill tracks along the pistes; the off-piste traverse towards Forcella Tamai is avalanche-prone. Map: Tabacco 09.
Season
Best Jun–Sep- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Good
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Possible
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Ski area open; ski touring only on designated uphill tracks along pistes
- Feb
- Ski area open
- Mar
- Ski area open; spring snow
- Apr
- Patchy snow; road may still be closed
- May
- Usually snow-free by late May
- Jun
- Flowers on the pastures
- Jul
- Busy road at weekends; afternoon thunderstorms
- Aug
- Busy road at weekends
- Sep
- Quiet, stable weather
- Oct
- Cold winds; possible early snow
- Nov
- Early snow; the Ovaro road can be closed
- Dec
- Ski season
Access & Permits
- Rules
- During the ski season, uphill traffic on the Zoncolan pistes must follow the ski-area operator's rules and designated routes
- Getting There
Sutrio (But valley) or Ovaro (Degano valley)
Trieste (TRS) or Venice Marco Polo (VCE)
- By car: from Sutrio on the paved Zoncolan road to the pass (lay-by at about 1,710 m), or from Ovaro on the very steep, narrow road from the Degano valley
- Alternative start from the Enzo Moro car park and lift base (about 1,300 m) above Sutrio
- No public transport to the pass was verified
Hazards
- Weather
- Avalanche