Monte Cusna is the 2nd highest peak in the northern Apennines after Monte Cimone, with an altitude of 2,121 metres (6,959 ft).
The mountain is also known as Uomo Morto (“Dead Man”), “Uomo che Dorme” (“Sleeping Man”) or “Il Gigante” (“The Giant”) for its appearance, resembling a lying man.
Similar to Mount Cimone for its solitary massif, it is much steeper and more remote, surrounded by wide forests and river gorges.
The peak is situated in the comune of Villa Minozzo, some 3 kilometers from the boundary of Emilia Romagna with Tuscany. It contains a population of marmots, as well as, herds of semi-wild horses that graze on its slopes.
The imposing mountain range, visible from the Po Valley, is formed by the Monte Cusna and secondary peaks of the Sasso of the Dead (2078 m) and Mount La Piella (2071 m). The mountain ridge forms the characteristic profile of the Giant. From its name took birth the protected area of the former Gigante Park, now part of the National Park of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. It lies to the north of the main ridge of the Apennines between Tuscany and Emilia, separated by the valley of the river Ozola.
Mount Cusna is particularly interesting from the natural point of view and has many paths and refuges, like Rifugio Cesare Battisti (1759 m), Rifugio Bargetana (1740 m), Rifugio Segheria (1410 m), Rifugio S. Leonardo (1240 m), Rifugio Monte Orsaro and Rifugio Peschiera Zamboni (1151 m).
On the north side, the resort of Febbio is equipped for alpine skiing, snowboarding and cross country skiing.
Febbio 2000, also know as Rescadore, is our starting point for this difficult ring for snowshoeing. We follow the borders of the ski track till the ridge at Monte La Piella, over 2000 metres high, with a shelter recently renovated as refugee. Later on we follow the ridge with superbs view to the Alpi Apuane and to the plains, in better days we can see also the Northern Alps.
Once reached the feet of Monte Cusna we have to climb a vertical steps of rock, very difficult in presence of ice, that could require the use of snow crampons.
The top of the Monte Cusna presents a plain form, with a cross and a bronzee statue of the Virgin Mary.
The descent is along a simple crest directing north with beautiful views to thePietra of Bismantova and the Padania Plain.
Before ending the trail we pass on the bucholic spot of Peschiera Zamboni, a fish reserve.
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