Where to go? Alben, Grem?

[Siim_S]

Hi! I'm sorry to post here in English but I can't speak Italian (yet). Me and my girlfriend are on a hiking vacation here in Bergamo and would love to go above 2000m. We are generally in good fit (cyclists) but not experienced in climbing. I was thinking about Monte Alben or Cima di Grem. What is the difficulty of these when approached from Zambla Alta? Is there any special equipment needed or it can be taken as usual hike? We have so far went to Monte Rena (from Albino, was quite easy), Monte Podona (from Selvino, very nice views, mostly easy but descent on the south side was quite slow and needed some use of hands) and today we were on Monte Misma (easy, up from 511, then 601 and descent on 539).

What do you think? Anybody going on Alben, Grem (or maybe even Arera?) on Thursday?

[elio.biava]

Hi siim,
all three, Grem, Alben and Arera are for hikers.
I put them in order of difficulty: Grem easier and Arera more challenging.
Only unknown for everyone it is to find some places with ice.

[moritz63]

Hi! I'm sorry to post here in English but I can't speak Italian (yet). Me and my girlfriend are on a hiking vacation here in Bergamo and would love to go above 2000m. We are generally in good fit (cyclists) but not experienced in climbing. I was thinking about Monte Alben or Cima di Grem. What is the difficulty of these when approached from Zambla Alta? Is there any special equipment needed or it can be taken as usual hike? We have so far went to Monte Rena (from Albino, was quite easy), Monte Podona (from Selvino, very nice views, mostly easy but descent on the south side was quite slow and needed some use of hands) and today we were on Monte Misma (easy, up from 511, then 601 and descent on 539).

What do you think? Anybody going on Alben, Grem (or maybe even Arera?) on Thursday?

Hi Siim_S, welcome forum: I apologize for my English, but I try to answer...
Cima di Grem is an easy mountain, very sunny...
Monte Alben is a most challenging mountain to climb, suitable for experienced hikers: the ascent from Zambla Alta is largely in shadow, attention to the possible presence of ice...
Pizzo Arera is a very scenic mountain, but it is reserved to very experienced hikers: there is a passage equipped with safety ropes, the three mountains you've named it is the most difficult to climb...
In all three cases are mountains above 2000 meters, equipment must be adequate to counteract the cold, Monte Alben there may be sections of trail with frozen snow...
My advice is to go up the Cima di Grem: Good hiking in the Orobie Mountains...

[Siim_S]

Thank you! What is the best place to leave the car and start hiking? I'd love to get as much sun as possible and have max 5 hours hike to the top and back.

[moritz63]

Thank you! What is the best place to leave the car and start hiking? I'd love to get as much sun as possible and have max 5 hours hike to the top and back.

Hi.! Which mountain you choose to go up?
If it is the Cima di Grem you can leave your car at Passo di Zambla or at Camping Zambla: take the path 223, at the beginning you go up into the woods for about half an hour, the trail will take you into the sun to Baita di Mezzo , then a dirt road will go up to Baita Alta. Here a path up to the left, taking up over a pond, climb a steep grassy slope and leads directly to the summit.
In 5 hours you can safely go and come back.

[Siim_S]

Oh, forgot to say that we decided to go to Grem and will do it tomorrow. Thank you for the tips everyone!