Westernmost ascent to Cima Grappa - beginning with spectacular views of surrounding sheer face mountains.

Cismon is the westerly most ascent to the Cima Grappa (top of Monte Grappa) and begins with spectacular views of dolomite-like granite walls bordering Cismon to its east.  As of 2016, we receive our Brevetto del Grappa journey book stamp at Birreria-Bruschetteria Nazionale 67.5 then begin the 16.2 miles / 26 km trek up the western of ascent to Monte Grappa.

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Cismon is the westerly most ascent to Monte Grappa

2016 Brevetto del Grappa stamp for Cismon here                               

Cross watching over Cismon  

Short Tunnel  early on in the climb

Cismon and Crespano are the only routes up Monte Grappa that involve gravel.  While Crespano is entirely gravel and rock until the last segment, Cismon involves only two relatively brief sections of gravel that we encounter between miles 8 and 10 (km 12.9/16) and last 400 and 550 meters, respectively - they are both manageable on a road bike (we used 25mm tires)

We do encounter a few Monte Grappa-like steep pitches  

View northwest towards Cismon and SP 76 - our road to the far left

12 tornanti in the first 5 miles / 8 km      

First of 2 gravel sections (400 and 530m each)

Merge with Caupo and Seren routes at km 14.5

Ristorante Forcelletto at mile 11.3 / km 18.2

Seren enters Cismon at Ristorante Forcelletto (11.3m/18.2km)

Formaggio anyone?

Route from Romano d’Ezelino intersects at km 22.5

All 11 routes up Monte Grappa ultimately connect.  At mile/km 9.9/16 we turn right onto SP 148 from Caupo (to our north), next Seren enters from the left (east) at 11.3/18.2, next Romano from the right (south) at 14.7/23.6 and finally the southern/eastern routes from the right at 15.8/25.4 (.4/.6 from the top;  Semonzo, Crespano, Fietta, Possagno, Cavaso del Tomba, Pederobba and Alano).

As with all routes up Monte Grappa, there are monuments and/or remnants of WW I along this climb::

WW I tunnel cannon placement

Shrine of the Madonnina del Grappa

Alll 11 Monte Grappa routes end at the Rifugio Bassano a Cima Grappa which is a cafe with many outside chairs and tables and is frequented by many cyclists each day - this is a very popular Italian cycling destination.  The Rifugio is just below the Sacrario del Monte Grappa which is a monumental burial site for approximately 20,000 of the Italian and Austrian soldiers who died in battle on the hillsides of Monte Grappa during World War I.  

The top of this mountain is a sacred place    

Refugio top center

Sacrario left of screen

Rifugio has fantastic sandwiches, pastries, beer, and more

PJAMM 6 DAY 11 CLIMB MONTE GRAPPA CHALLENGE

Photos clockwise from top right:  8-27-16 Romano d’Ezzelino + Caupo;

8-28-16 Seren + Cismon; 8-29-16 Semonzo + Possagno

Photos clockwise from top right:  8-30-16 Alano + Fieta;

8-31-16 Pederobba + Cavaso del Tomba; 9-1-16 Crespano

Giro History