Monte Spino, from the church of Sant'Urbano

Access

Brescia Ovest exit of the motorway. Continue eastwards along the Tangenziale Sud and then onto the state road [SS45bis] Gardesana Occidentale. You leave the turnoff for Salò on the right, and along the coast of Lake Garda, you pass through Gardone Riviera, Fasano and Maderno. Just before the bridge over the Toscolano torrent, take the left road to Montemaderno. After passing the hamlets of Maclino and Vigole, you reach the village of Sanico. Now take the steep asphalt road to the left that climbs up towards the Ortello cross. Shortly before the cross, the road becomes alternately paved and unpaved. Continue, at times on somewhat uneven stretches, to the church of Sant'Urbano (872m), where we park (approx. 4.3km from Sanico).

Introduction

Mount Spino, in local dialect 'L'Espì', is a limestone mountain that stretches between Passo della Fobbiola, Passo di Spino and Buco del Gatto. On its northern slope there are rocky limestone pillars that have not yet been climbed; the southern slope slopes down with the grassy slopes of the "Costa Mandria" and to the east with those of the "Forseul"; to the south-west the ridge, which also forms the boundary of the "Parco Alto Garda Bresciano", joins Marmera.

The proposed excursion initially leads to the Spino Pass, in the vicinity of the "Antonio Duse" Regional Ornithological Observatory and the Giorgio Pirlo Refuge at Spino, and then climbs along the grassy ridges of Monte Spino. The Spino Pass has long been a natural passage for many migratory birds. Near the pass, in fact, the Regional Ornithological Observatory 'Antonio Duse' of Passo Spino was re-established in 1999 by the Region Lombardy. The observatory thus resumed the activity of "ringing", i.e. the capture of birds followed by measurement and marking and subsequent release, coordinated at European level by the EURING (The European Union for Bird Ringing), at national level by the INFS (National Institute for Wild Fauna) and at regional level by the Region Lombardy. The first 'ringing' activities were coordinated by Dr. Antonio Duse from 1929 to 1933. In those years, about 7500 finches, 2500 siskins, 2000 bramblings, 1100 crossbills, 900 song thrush and 500 shag-birds, 200 prispoions and 1200 birds of other species were 'ringed' at the Passo di Spino. From 1999 to 2003 about 15,000 birds were captured at the Spino Pass. In particular, about 5000 finches, 3000 siskins, 1500 robins and captured birds of 80 different species were ringed. Curious was the recapture (October 2001) of a robin ringed in Lithuania, and vice versa the recapture (October 2000) of a woodcock ringed at Passo di Spino.
Note: Buzzards nest among the crags of Monte Spino. In addition, the traverse area is densely populated with wild boars. Please be careful.

Description

From the car park in front of the church of Sant'Urbano (872m) go up a few metres and immediately leave the path [23] for Monte Pizzocolo, turning left along path [6]. A few minutes and you come to the turnoff to the left for Passo Buelino (signpost [23]). Continue into the wood, rising into the upper Poiano valley and, crossing a few streams, make a wide bend to the left and leave the wood at "il Pirello" (1030m), where the road from S. Michele ends. Climb up to the right following the signpost [8] for Rifugio Giorgio Pirlo and Passo di Spino. The wide mule track rises in the wood, gaining height amidst beech and fir trees, and crosses the signpost [1] on the left, which goes up the Valle di Sur, and leads to Passo di Spino, near the "Antonio Duse" Regional Ornithological Observatory (1160m, 1h10'). Note the Rifugio Pirlo in the distance and, in the background, Monte Spino, Marmera and Monte Forametto. Proceed, amidst some war ruins, along a wide dirt track with several boards illustrating the activities of the ornithological observatory. We leave a variant to the left for the Pirlo Refuge, pass by a rocky outcrop, often used as a rock gym for instruction and training, indicated locally as "Via Ferrata Ernesto Franco", and reach a panoramic grassy knoll. To the right of a modest grassy hump is the 'Sentiero dei Ladroni' (Thieves' Path), right near the 'Casel de l' Uselí' (Birdhouse) of the Gardesana Occidentale Regional State Forest. A few more minutes and you take the track to the right for "Cima Spino - Dorsale Sud Est", marker [4], and "Passo Fobbiola, Cav. della Fobbia, Val Degagna", marker [3]. Shortly afterwards, leave the signpost marker No. 3 behind and climb up to cross the variant of the "Sentiero dell'amicizia" (Friendship Path). Having ignored the main track (heading for Monte Spino along the south-east ridge), continue to the right following the variant. After a wide bend to the left, following a not-very-obvious track, go up the steep grassy crest of the "Forseul" until you almost reach the northern anticima (1486m), turn left and you reach Monte Spino (1513m, 2h20').
The panorama from the summit of Monte Spino ranges from the Adamello, to Carè Alto and Presanella. To the south, the southern waters of Lake Garda stretch out. You can now descend along the signpost [4] following the south-west ridge. Descend rapidly down grassy slopes to the crossroads for Buco del Gatto (if you want to reach it, consider an additional 0h30' round trip) and continue as far as the alpine chapel next to Rifugio Giorgio Pirlo allo Spino (1165 m, 0h35'). We now proceed, to the left, on the wide dirt track towards Passo di Spino (1160m, 0h45'). Following the trail marker [5] uphill, we re-enter the woods by following the twists and turns of a small war road (known as "delle Merle"). The track rises along the northern flank of the "delle Prade" ridge and comes out at the Passo delle Merle (1352m, 1h15'), locally indicated as "Località le Merle - Dos delle Prade". From the pass, the panorama over the lower Lake Garda is stupendous. Now follow the wide mule track to the right, signposted [23] for Pirello and Sant'Urbano, which descends "le Prade". The road passes through fir trees, crosses trail marker No. 8 for Pirello and San Michele, and descends to the left, back into the woods, to the "Cà da Prada Refuge - alpino Angelo Usardi" (1117m) and the church of Sant'Urbano (872m, 2h05').