Pizzo Coca ( Lombard: ''Ol Coca'') is a mountain that straddles the Val Seriana and the

Valtellina Valtellina or the Valtelline (occasionally spelled as two words in English: Val Telline; rm, Vuclina (); lmo, Valtelina or ; german: Veltlin; it, Valtellina) is a valley in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, bordering Switzerland. Toda ...

Lombardy Lombardy ( it, Lombardia, Lombard language, Lombard: ''Lombardia'' or ''Lumbardia' '') is an administrative regions of Italy, region of Italy that covers ; it is located in the northern-central part of the country and has a population of about 10 ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

. It is the highest peak in the

Bergamo Alps The Bergamasque Alps or Bergamo Alps (Italian language, Italian: ''Alpi Orobie'', sometimes translated into English as Orobic Alps) are a mountain range in the Italy, Italian Alps. They are located in northern Lombardy and named after the city Be ...

(also called the Orobie Alps). Its height is 3,050 metres with a prominence height of 1,878 metres and a

saddle The saddle is a supportive structure for a rider of an animal, fastened to an animal's back by a girth. The most common type is equestrian. However, specialized saddles have been created for oxen, camels and other animals. It is not kno ...

of 1,172 metres. A post-glacial valley exists near a point called "ometto in sassi" (literally "little man in rock") at 2,400 meters.

Geology and orogeny

The Alps form a part of a

tertiary Tertiary ( ) is a widely used but obsolete term for the geologic period from 66 million to 2.6 million years ago. The period began with the demise of the non-avian dinosaurs in the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, at the start ...

orogenic Orogeny is a mountain building process. An orogeny is an event that takes place at a convergent boundary, convergent plate margin when plate motion compresses the margin. An ''orogenic belt'' or ''orogen'' develops as the compressed plate crumpl ...

belt of mountain chains, called the

Alpide belt The Alpide belt or Alpine-Himalayan orogenic belt,K.M. Storetvedt, K. M., ''The Tethys Sea and the Alpine-Himalayan orogenic belt; mega-elements in a new global tectonic system,'' Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, Volume 62, Issues 1 ...

, that stretches through southern

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

and

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...

from the

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

stretching eastward to the

Himalayas The Himalayas, or Himalaya (; ; ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the planet's highest peaks, including the very highest, Mount Everest. Over 100 ...

. The Bergamo Alps have three prominent peaks named Pizzo Coca, Punta Scaiss and Pizzo Redorta. As with its parent Alpine belt, Pizzo Coca is composed of "dark-coloured" sedimentary mountain rock with "huge rocky spurs" known as a pyramid type peak. Pizzo Coca, along with the other Bergamo

crystalline A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituents (such as atoms, molecules, or ions) are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic structure, forming a crystal lattice that extends in all directions. In addition, macrosc ...

peaks, exist parallel to the Valtellina Valley. Narrow and vertical chimney clefts stretch towards Pizzo Coca's summit, which has rock debris, before it levels off. The mountain rises to 2,924 meters by "Dente di Coca" (literally Tooth of Coca") before settling out by Pico Coca's summit.

Climate

The Alps are split into five climate zones, each with a different kind of environment. The climate, plant life and animal life vary on different sections or zones of the mountain such as Pizzo Coca. The initial altitude at

Val Seriana The Serio ( Lombard: ''Sère'') is an Italian river that flows entirely within Lombardy, crossing the provinces of Bergamo and Cremona. It is long and flows into the Adda at Bocca di Serio south of Crema Crema or Cremas may refer to: Cr ...

, one of the recommended southern access points, is 1,100 meters and part of a valley. The valley trail rises to 1,892 meters by

Rifugio Coca A mountain hut is a building located high in the mountains, generally accessible only by foot, intended to provide food and shelter to mountaineers, climbers and hikers. Mountain huts are usually operated by an Alpine Club or some organization de ...

which is a

rest stop A rest area is a public facility located next to a large thoroughfare such as a motorway, expressway, or highway, at which drivers and passengers can rest, eat, or refuel without exiting onto secondary roads. Other names include motorway servi ...

. Pizzo Coca's Subalpine regional climate ranges to 1,800 metres with the lower levels available for cultivation. The Alpine regional climate exists between 1,800 and 2,500 meters. The

Glacial A glacial period (alternatively glacial or glaciation) is an interval of time (thousands of years) within an ice age that is marked by colder temperatures and glacier advances. Interglacials, on the other hand, are periods of warmer climate betw ...

regional climate extends from 2,500 to Pico Coca's top at 3,050 metres with snow falling at the higher elevations.

Approach

Pizzo Coca can be reached from the south starting from

Valbondione Valbondione (Bergamasque: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Bergamo in the Italian region of Lombardy, located about northeast of Milan and about north of Bergamo. It is surrounded by the Orobie Alps. As of 31 December 2004, it ...

. From here the path leads to

, a "hut" managed by

Club Alpino Italiano The Club Alpino Italiano is the senior Italian alpine club which stages climbing competitions, operates alpine huts, marks and maintains paths, and is active in protecting the Alpine environment. It was founded in Turin in 1863 by the then finan ...

based in Bergamo, then continues towards

Lago di Coca Lago di Coca is a lake in the Province of Bergamo, Lombardy, Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and ...

. From here, before reaching the lake, climbers must crawl up the

scree Scree is a collection of broken rock fragments at the base of a cliff or other steep rocky mass that has accumulated through periodic rockfall. Landforms associated with these materials are often called talus deposits. Talus deposits typically ha ...

to the east. After this, the trail climbs quickly, then follows a semicircle along the natural amphitheatre at the foot of the Bocchetta dei Camosci. From here begins the steepest part of the path allowing climbers, after 300 to 400 meters uphill, the base of Pizzo Coca is reached. From the peak, there is an unrestricted view to the east and the surrounding area. The

Rhaetian Alps The Rhaetian Alps ( it, Alpi Retiche; german: Rätische Alpen) are a mountain range of the Eastern Alps. The SOIUSA classification system divides them into the Western and Eastern Rhaetian Alps, while the Alpine Club classification of the Eastern ...

that connects to the north are visible, as is Lake Barbellino,

Monte Torena Monte Torena is a mountain in Lombardy, Italy, located within the Bergamo Alps. On its south slopes there's the source of the Serio river The Serio ( Lombard: ''Sère'') is an Italian river that flows entirely within Lombardy, crossing ...

, Pizzo Strinato, Monte Costone, Monte Trobio,

Monte Gleno Monte Gleno is a mountain of Lombardy, Italy. It is located within the Bergamo Alps The Bergamasque Alps or Bergamo Alps (Italian language, Italian: ''Alpi Orobie'', sometimes translated into English as Orobic Alps) are a mountain range in th ...

and

Pizzo Recastello Pizzo Recastello is a mountain of Lombardy, Italy. It is located within the Bergamo Alps. SOIUSA classification According to the SOIUSA (''International Standardized Mountain Subdivision of the Alps'') the mountain can be classified in the fo ...

Pizzo Redorta Pizzo Redorta is a mountain of Lombardy, Italy. It is located within the Bergamo Alps The Bergamasque Alps or Bergamo Alps (Italian language, Italian: ''Alpi Orobie'', sometimes translated into English as Orobic Alps) are a mountain range in t ...

, the glacier of Marovin, and the

Pizzo del Diavolo di Tenda Pizzo del Diavolo di Tenda is a mountain of Lombardy, Italy. It is located within the Bergamo Alps. It is the highest peak of the Val Brembana Val Brembana is a valley in Lombardy, northern Italy. It takes its name from the river crossing it, th ...

in the west,

Presolana Presolana (Italian: ''Pizzo della Presolana'') is a mountain located in Lombardy, northern Italy, about 35 km north of Bergamo. Geography Part of the Bergamasque Alps, it is included in the province of Bergamo, and divides the Val Seriana ...

and Pizzo Arera to the south as well as several other peaks, and beginning from the valley of the

Serio River The Serio ( Lombard: ''Sère'') is an Italian river that flows entirely within Lombardy, crossing the provinces of Bergamo and Cremona. It is long and flows into the Adda at Bocca di Serio south of Crema Crema or Cremas may refer to: ...

, the starting point of Valbondione. The initial trail leads to a series of rifugios, which is Italian for refuges, like the first Rifugio Coca

mountain hut A mountain hut is a building located high in the mountains, generally accessible only by foot, intended to provide food and shelter to mountaineers, climbers and hikers. Mountain huts are usually operated by an Alpine Club or some organization d ...

. This is a

hike Hike may refer to: * Hiking, walking lengthy distances in the countryside or wilderness * Hiking (sailing), moving a sailor's body weight as far to windward (upwind) as possible, in order to counteract the force of the wind pushing sideways agains ...

to this stage or refuge. Past Rifugio Coca, becomes a YDS 3 or a

climbing route A climbing route is a path by which a climber reaches the top of a mountain, rock, or ice wall. Routes can vary dramatically in difficulty and grade; once committed to that ascent, it can sometimes be difficult to stop or return. Choice of rout ...

with

scrambling Scrambling is a mountaineering term for ascending steep terrain using one's hands to assist in holds and balance.''New Oxford American Dictionary''. It is also used to describe terrain that falls between hiking and rock climbing (as a “scramb ...

uphill amongst boulders, creeks, cliffs and zig-zag markers. Based upon exposure to falling and increased YDS 3+ , title=Pizzo Coca per il canalone NO (m 3050) , access-date=2010-05-12 , date=June 22, 2008 , publisher=lemontagnedivertenti.com in some hard rock climb areas, climbing equipment like rope,

climbing harness A climbing harness is a device which allows a climber access to the safety of a rope. It is used in rock and ice climbing, abseiling, and lowering; this is in contrast to other activities requiring ropes for access or safety such as industrial ro ...

, boots,

crampons A crampon is a traction device that is attached to footwear to improve mobility on snow and ice during ice climbing. Besides ice climbing, crampons are also used for secure travel on snow and ice, such as crossing glaciers, snowfields and ice ...

ice axes An ice axe is a multi-purpose hiking and climbing tool used by mountaineering, mountaineers in both the ascent and descent of routes that involve snow, ice, or frozen conditions. Its use depends on the terrain: in its simplest role it is used ...

snowshoes Snowshoes are specialized outdoor gear for walking over snow. Their large footprint spreads the user's weight out and allows them to travel largely on top of rather than through snow. Adjustable bindings attach them to appropriate winter footwe ...

and skis is recommended.

Nearest services

Pizzo Coca's nearest airport is

Orio al Serio Airport Orio may refer to: People Notable people with this name include: Surname * Baltasar de Echave Orio (late 16th century – mid-17th century), Basque Spanish painter * Shane Orio (born 1980), Belizean football player Given name * Orio Mastropiero ( ...

Bergamo, Italy Bergamo (; lmo, Bèrghem ; from the proto- Germanic elements *''berg +*heim'', the "mountain home") is a city in the alpine Lombardy region of northern Italy, approximately northeast of Milan, and about from Switzerland, the alpine lakes Como ...

. The nearest "convenient center" is Valbondione.

Photo gallery

File:Torena_dal_coca.jpg, Looking south

from Pizzo Coca File:PizzoStrinato1.jpg, Looking south Pizzo Strinato File:Presolana_dal_coca.jpg, Looking at

File:DenteCoca.jpg, The crown view from Pizzo Coca File:PIZZODICOCA.jpg, Pizzo di Coca

Sources

''Europe Ultra-Prominences'' www.peaklist.org
Retrieved: 2010-05-11. *

translation] Retrieved: 2010-05-11

References

External links

''Alpinfoto'' alpinfoto.it
Retrieved: 2010-05-11. - Images from the Alps
''Alpine Convention'' www.alpconv.org
Retrieved: 2010-05-11. - Convention on the Protection of the Alps
''Alpine Space Programme'' Alpine Space Programme – European Territorial Cooperation 2007-2013, Alpine Space Programme
] Retrieved: 2010-05-11. - EU transnational co-operational programme for the Alps {{DEFAULTSORT:Coca Mountains of the Alps Mountains of Lombardy Mountains of Italy Alpine three-thousanders