Magic on Mount Rite

In this new adventure, we return to a place I know very well and always enjoy returning to: Monte Rite.
Today, my friend Angelo is with me, and in addition to reaching the summit, we'd like to push even further, to the cross on Monte Rite, where I've never been before.
It's the middle of winter, and the temperature at the start is -3 degrees Celsius. We leave the car at Forcella Cibiana, in the large parking lot not far from Baita Deona. The usual parking lot next to Rifugio Remauro has been converted to a 60-minute parking lot.
We begin the climb and take the military road that will take us to the summit. The road is wide and completely paved (in the summer, a practical and efficient shuttle service operates from Rifugio Remauro, allowing you to reach the summit comfortably by jeep). This season, the presence of snow forces us to be extra careful. Today, the snow we're walking on is light, so crampons aren't even necessary. However, they're a must-have in winter, as they're essential when temperatures cause the thin layer of snow to freeze. Check the weather forecast in case it's just snowed: in that case, progress on this road is excellent with snowshoes.
For those with minimal training, progress on the road is pleasant: the gradient is never steep, allowing you to proceed in company while chatting without tiring.
The sun peeks out and, given the absence of clouds, soon manages to warm the morning and allow us to advance in a warm, spring-like atmosphere. As we climb, the panorama unfolds between the larches: first, we can see the peaks of the Sassolungo di Cibiana, and then, from an altitude of 2,000 meters, near the old refuge, just as we emerge from the tunnel dug into the rock, the view opens up to the Dolomites of Moiazza and Civetta.
In about 1 hour and 30 minutes, we reach an altitude of 2,053 meters, at the Deona Pass: from here, we get our first glimpse of the magnificent panorama, thanks to the balcony that opens up before us, overlooking Mount Antelao!
We continue east, climbing slightly. Don't forget to turn around every now and then: you'll see the majestic Pelmo looming behind Col Alto! We quickly reach the Rifugio Dolomites. Open from spring to fall, this refuge offers an excellent refreshment point with delicious dishes that can be enjoyed on the adjacent terrace overlooking the Cima dei Preti, Duranno, and Sassolungo di Cibiana.
After the refuge, it's just a few more steps to reach an altitude of 2,170 meters and the entrance to Reinhold Messner's "Museum in the Clouds." The museum is part of the mountaineer's museum network, the Messner Mountain Museum. But that's not the most striking thing: we're on one of the most panoramic peaks in Cadore! The view extends from the Friulian Dolomites to the peaks of Agordino and Ampezzo. A feast of Dolomite peaks: from Duranno, Crissin, and Tudaio, passing through Marmarole, Antelao, Sorapiss, Tofane, and Lagazuoi, all the way back to Pelmo, Marmolada, Agner, Civetta, Moiazza, and the Pale di San Martino, completing the loop at Sassolungo di Cibiana.
Truly an exceptional view, and… accessible to everyone!
Looking east, you can see the three glass domes jutting out from the museum, like small diadems. The Museum in the Clouds is housed in an old World War I military fort. It's easy to imagine the strategic position this mountain would have held to defend the entire Cadore Valley.
We continue east past the museum to reach the highest point of the day: the 2,183-meter peak of Monte Rite, with a beautiful installation that allows for a precise view of all the surrounding peaks and helps you identify them thanks to a 360-degree iron plaque.
The special feature of today's tour, however, is continuing along the Monte Rite nature trail to reach the Cross, perched on a peak 300 meters below where we are now. The trail for this route continues right from the lookout point just described.
We skirt the Rite ledge, where a fence has been conveniently installed to prevent you from leaning over and falling into a very high chasm. We enter the fresh snow on the north face. We sink almost knee-deep in some places, as a lot of snow has been blown in by the wind and remains intact on this side.
No trace; we're the first to hike the route since the last snowfall. We head toward the antenna north of the summit, but stay lower. The nature trail, clearly visible and easy in summer, is now barely discernible thanks to the markings on some trees. So we pay attention to the signs and follow the route that seems most suitable.
We quickly reach the Rite lookout cave: a cave carved into the rock that allowed us to peer from Ampezzo to the entire Cadore Valley from a hidden and protected position. We follow the trail, which now turns sharply downhill, skirting the rocky walls of the mountain range now known as Monte Roan.
The trail becomes very narrow, invisible under the white blanket that covers it, and ahead of us we see the start of a secured section! We immediately realize that the metal cable doesn't require a harness, but is merely there for support and safety, given that the path narrows and to our left is a nearly vertical ravine dozens of meters deep. The cable is completely covered in snow in some places; we proceed, sinking our boots into the soft blanket.

• Mountain

  ---

  Monte Rite

• Address

  ---

  Cibiana di Cadore - Veneto

• Altitude

  ---

  2183.00 m

• Refuges

  ---

  Rifugio Remauro, Rifugio Dolomites

• Information

  ---

  Rifugio Remauro Rifugio Dolomites

Suddenly, on a vertical rock face, we see clear red markers and arrows pointing left, warning us to avoid a clearly landslide. We notice the red markers on some tree trunks in our line of sight, but we can't discern any convenient detour. Snow covers every curve of the mountain, and given the steepness of the descent ahead, we decide to gaze from this vantage point at the sun-kissed Croce di Monte Rite. Our destination is close, but not safe to reach. We then retrace our steps along the via ferrata, return to the ridge, and once again reach the summit of Monte Rite. We enjoy a good refreshment and return to the valley. For the descent, at Forcella Deona, we choose to take the CAI 479 trail that leads to Col d'Orlando. The trail is indeed very beautiful and easy, but caution is required this season due to the presence of some icy sections. For those in better shape, this alternative route can also be done uphill to avoid the long zigzag of the military road. However, keep in mind that this trail has a steeper gradient. It's an excellent option for the return journey, taking a different route and completing a loop that leads back to the first bend of the military road. This concludes this beautiful hike in a place that's dear to me. It's definitely worth repeating in the spring to reach the Croce di Monte Rite and complete the nature trail. An adventure suitable for everyone, thanks to the option of using the shuttle. Even for those less fit, the easy climb up the military road helps you manage the approximately 650 meters of elevation gain calmly, effortlessly, and at your own pace. A true summit with a spectacular view, accessible to everyone!

For those still interested, I'd like to share with you an epic and perhaps unrepeatable experience: New Year's Eve on the summit of Monte Rite!
Given the excellent conditions of the route I just described, an unusual and exciting idea came to mind. My companion on this epic adventure is my friend Tomaso, who accepted my crazy proposal.
The goal is to reach the summit of Rite by night, in time for midnight so we can enjoy the celebrations in the Cadore Valley, stretching all the way to the Ampezzo area at our feet!
The weather forecast continued to indicate increasingly cold temperatures for the night of December 31st, but we didn't lose heart and, organized for any eventuality and temperature, we set off towards the Cibiana Pass.
We set off at 9:30 PM; the sky above us was starry, not a single cloud, and a nearly full moon cast an almost blinding light. The thermometer read -8 degrees Celsius. At the Remauro refuge, the Christmas dinner was just beginning, but we chose to skip this tradition to experience an emotion that few get to experience.
We climb through the darkness of the forest, the path lit only by our headlamps. The sound of rustling grass to our right, and then three stoats peer down at us before quickly disappearing.
The temperature isn't too harsh, there's no humidity, and our progress is steady. Only a few icy stretches alternating with nice, dry asphalt slow us down.
We reach the summit of Mount Rite about 20 minutes before midnight. Just in time to set up our cameras to capture the starlapse above our heads.
Before us, the valley from Valle di Cadore to San Vito, all the way to Cortina d'Ampezzo, is a shimmering snake zigzagging between the imposing walls of Antelao, Sorapiss, and Pelmo! An incredible sight that makes your heart skip a beat.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1….. Happy New Year!! Happy 2026!
Soon, a myriad of fireworks begins to simmer from the valley like small, uncontrolled pops. Red, green, white, with the inevitable bangs that echo all the way to us. A free show with the most envied Dolomite amphitheater in the world! Antelao, Pelmo, and Cortina with the Tofane provide the backdrop for this blaze of lights and colors that sends the old year to the cellar and happily welcomes the new. A privileged position that allows us to enjoy these wonders alone, without the noise, but only with the most beautiful part of the fireworks!
The show lasts over 20 minutes; every now and then, other locations pop up from which these festive lights are launched. We enjoy them all without exception.
Before we get too caught up in the icy winds whipping the summit (reaching -13 degrees Celsius!), we descend to the Dolomites refuge where we prepare our New Year's Eve dinner: saffron risotto with speck and parmesan. For an aperitif, we enjoy roasted chestnuts (prepared ones) and for dessert, chocolate with rum, raisins, and hazelnuts: a royal dinner!
We retrieve our gear at the summit and retrace our steps until we reach the car at the Cibiana Pass.
Thus concludes one of the most incredible, strange, and beautiful hikes I've ever done. Made epic by the temperature, the time of the ascent, and the reason we decided to undertake it, this New Year's Eve 2026 on the summit of Monte Rite in -10 degrees Celsius is certainly an adventure Tomaso and I won't soon forget!