Passo Cibiana
Pass · 1530 m · Dolomites
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Monte Rite rises above the saddle at 1,530 m, and the fort the Italian army cut into it between 1911 and 1915 watched the approaches to Zoldo and Cortina, then sheltered partisans in the next war. Along the climb, Monte Pelmo and Antelao stand on opposite skylines.
Cibiana carries far less traffic than the well known passes nearby, a quiet link between Val di Zoldo and the Boite valley. The Giro d'Italia crossed it again in 1988, days after Johan van der Velde had led over the Gavia in a snowstorm, only for hypothermia to cost him 45 minutes on the descent; he still held the points jersey when he crossed Cibiana. Above the pass, the fort built on Monte Rite between 1911 and 1915 by the Italian army guarded the approaches to Zoldo and Cortina against Austria-Hungary, and later sheltered partisans during the Second World War. The summit itself sits in a natural saddle, Col Alto rising to 2,145 m on one side and the Sassolungo di Cibiana to 2,413 m on the other.
What you see
Monte Pelmo and Antelao, two of the great bare rock summits of the Cadore, stand on opposite skylines along the climb.
Practical
The Messner Mountain Museum on Monte Rite is reached on foot from the pass, a 7 km walk on the old military road, about two hours each way.
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