The Bric di Conoia (2.521 m[1]) is a mountain of the "Alpi del Marguareis", the western section of the Ligurian Alps.
Etymology
The mountain was known in the past as Pizzo di Cornia or Pizzo Conolia;[3] with the second toponym presumably derived from the first one.[4] In the local dialect its name is Piz d'Cunùi.[1]
Features
NW view
The Bric Conoia is located on the water divide between the Corsaglia valley (North) and the Tanaro valley (South).[5] Eastwards, the Bocchin del Bianco pass (2.292 m) separates it from the Cima delle Roccate (2.380 m), while westwards the water divide looses height till to a saddle unnamed on the official chart[6] and flanked by a huge ponor named Il Profondo. The main ridge continues with the Monte Rotondo, Bocchin dell'Aseo pass and Monte Mongioie.[1] Just North of the Bric Conoia stands the tiny Raschera lake, from which originates one of the headwaters of the Corsaglia creek. The high point of the mountain is flanked by some sub-summits; its sides are steady steep towards Tanaro Valley, while the North face has vertical rock walls. The summit is marked by a metallic summit cross. The prominence of Bric Conoia is of 228 m.[2] Administratively it belongs to the region of Piedmont and the comune of Ormea. From its summit can be seen a wide panorama on the surrounding mountains and, in the distance, the Ligurian sea.[7]
SOIUSA classification
According to the SOIUSA (International Standardized Mountain Subdivision of the Alps) the mountain can be classified in the following way:
main part = Western Alps; major sector = South Western Alps, section = Ligurian Alps, subsection = Alpi del Marguareis
supergroup = Catena Marguareis-Mongioie, group = Gruppo Pizzo d'Ormea-Monte Antoroto, subgroup = Bric di Conolia-Pizzo d'Ormea, code = I/A-1.II-B.5.a.[8]
The summit can be reached following the main ridge both by the Bocchin del Bianco and Bocchin dell'Aseo.[1] These are hiking itineraries waymarked with old paint signs and small cairns,[12] suited for well-trained hikers.[9] In summer, also with good weather, haze is quite common, but wonderful blooms can be admired.[13]
Winter
The Bric di Conoia is the destination of some ski mountaineering routes, starting from different locations[14]; the difficulty of the route through the NW face of the mountain is rated as PD[15] (slightly difficult).
^ Carmelo Lamboglia (1925). "Cartografia della Regione Ligure Occidentale". Atti (in Italian). Società geografica italiana. p. 34. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
^Marazzi, Sergio (2005). Atlante orografico delle Alpi SOIUSA: suddivisione orografica internazionale unificata del sistema alpino (in Italian). Priuli & Verlucca. p. 64. ISBN9788880682738.
^AA.VV. (1969). Atti (in Italian). Vol. 20–21. Istituto geologico. Università di Pavia. p. 69. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
^Domenico Zaccagna (1886). "Sulla geologia delle Alpi occidentali". Bollettino del R. Comitato geologico d'Italia (in Italian). Vol. 17–18. R. Comitato geologico d'Italia. Tipografia nazionale. p. 404. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
