Mountain Project Logo
To save paper & ink, use the [Hide] controls next to photos and comments so you only print what you need.

Tunnel Diagonale

5.8, Trad, 480 ft (145 m), 4 pitches,  Avg: 2.3 from 7 votes
FA: Ivan Guerini, Paul Belgeri, Massimo Piattoli, Bruno Borsi 11 April 1976
International > Europe > Italy > Val Masino > Val di Mello > Sperone Degli Gnomi

Description

A popular short multi pitch outing with a minimal approach and modest grade. Good, fun climbing as well helps account for this route's popularity.

One of the first technical climbing routes opened in Val di Mello established in 1976.

Starts in a right-facing dihedral crack in the woods and finishes on an open slab.

Pitch 1: climb up initial slab following two paralleling right slanting fingerish seams below the initial right facing corner. Follow corner. Belay after 40 meters at a fixed anchor (anchor for route “Savonarola 7a/b” coming straight up from below). 5a, couple of fixed pins, 40m.

Pitch 2: climb vertical bit, then continue up under roofy corner until corner end. Belay at end of corner (tree and possibly piton belay anchor). 5a, 40m.

Pitch 3: move left to open slab to ledge then continue up slab. Belay from trees. 5b, 40m.

Pitch 4: easy rally up narrow slab through trees to top of formation. 15m, 3a.

From the top, head to the left and follow a nice trail back down through the woods to the base of the route.

Location

Upon arrival at/near the base of the crag, head to the far left side to a flat staging area under a large beech tree. The right slanting crack/dihedral first pitch is viewable. The start of the route is at two thin fingerish right slanting cracks on a slab below the open right facing corner.

Protection

A single set of cams from 1 TCU, Camalot 1, 2 and 3 (or equivalent) and a sprinkling of nuts should prove adequate.

There's a smattering of fixed pro and a few trees for slings. Suggest taking 6 or more shoulder length slings and a few quickdraws.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Looking down the top slab of Tunnel Diagonale
[Hide Photo] Looking down the top slab of Tunnel Diagonale
Carolina bringin' us home on the last pitch of Tunnel Diagonale
[Hide Photo] Carolina bringin' us home on the last pitch of Tunnel Diagonale
Coming up the third pitch of Tunnel Diagonale
[Hide Photo] Coming up the third pitch of Tunnel Diagonale
Looking down the first pitch of Tunnel Diagonale
[Hide Photo] Looking down the first pitch of Tunnel Diagonale
The base of Tunnel Diagonale
[Hide Photo] The base of Tunnel Diagonale
Coming into the second pitch belay on Tunnel Diagonale.
[Hide Photo] Coming into the second pitch belay on Tunnel Diagonale.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

victor colussi
Longmont, CO
  5.8
[Hide Comment] A nice little route to get your feet wet in the valley. We linked pitches 2 and 3 without knowing it, bypassing the unprotected 5b slab moves easily to the right. Jun 15, 2021
Julian Durchholz
Karlsruhe, DE
[Hide Comment] Fun and varied cracks, had to cut some thorns on lead so might wanna bring a knife. As mentioned, P2/3 can be linked with a 50, easily bypassing the short hard slab. Summit slab is unspectacular and better skipped, reaching the ground in one rappell from tree with 2x50. Sep 6, 2023