Monte Capezzone

The Monte Capezzone is a mountain in the Pennine Alps of north-western Italy; with an elevation of is the highest peak of the Strona Valley.

Geography

The mountain is located at the tripoint between three valleys: Valstrona, Valle Anzasca and Valle Mastallone. The Sesia/Anzasca wayer divide goes on westwards with Monte Mora and Cima Cresta. From the summit of Monte Capezzone starts the dividing range between Val Strona and Val Mastallone which, heading South, after the Colle della Crocetta and the Cima Lago reaches the Altemberg. Estwards the water divide between the valleys of the Strona and the Anza heads towards the Monte Massone. Administratively the summit of Monte Capezzone is the tripoint where the borders of the comunes of Rimella, Calasca-Castiglione and Valstrona meet. Close to the main elevation of the mountain stands a cross.

SOIUSA classification

According to the SOIUSA the mountain can be classified in the following way:

main part = Western Alps
major sector = North Western Alps
section = Pennine Alps
subsection = Eastern Aosta and Northern Valsesia Alps
supergroup = Contrafforti valsesiani del Monte Rosa
group = Costiera Punta Grober-Tagliaferro-Montevecchio
subgroup = Contrafforte Montevecchio-Quarazzola-Capezzone
code = I/B-9.III-C.7.b/b
Geology

At the foot of the Capezzone a geologic survey discovered gold mineralizations embedded in schistose rock layers.

Access to the summit

The summit of the Capezzone can be accessed starting from Campello Monti. After the bivouac Abele Traglio, located on the Lake Capezzone shore, a waymarked track reaches the Colle della Crocetta saddle and, turning right, climbs the Sesia/Stona ridge up to the summit cross. The Colle della Crocetta can also be reached from Rimella with an uneasy hiking itinerary.

Nature conservation

The slopes of Monte Capezzone facing Valstrona and Valsesia are part of the regional park of Parco naturale dell'Alta [Val Sesia e dell'Alta Val Strona|Alta Val Sesia e dell'Alta Val Strona]. The area is also preserved by the establishment of S.C.I. named "Campello Monti" and of a whider protected area named Alta Val Strona e la Val Segnara.

Mountain huts

By the Lake Capezzone at stands the Bivacco Abele Traglio, an unattended and always open mountain hut; in Campello Monti, during the summer, can be used a posto tappa of the GTA.