Pizzo Coca

{{main|Geology of the Alps|Alpine orogeny}}

The Alps form a part of a tertiary orogenic belt of mountain chains, called the Alpide belt, that stretches through southern Europe and Asia from the Atlantic stretching eastward to the Himalayas. The Bergamo Alps have three prominent peaks named Pizzo Coca, Punta Scaiss and Pizzo Redorta.{{cite web |url=http://turismo.provincia.bergamo.it/site/index.php/en/mountain/il-parco-delle-orobie |title=The Orobie Park |access-date=2010-05-11 |publisher=turismo.provincia.bergamo.it |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100630173606/http://turismo.provincia.bergamo.it/site/index.php/en/mountain/il-parco-delle-orobie |archive-date=2010-06-30 |url-status=dead }} As with its parent Alpine belt, Pizzo Coca is composed of "dark-coloured" sedimentary mountain rock with "huge rocky spurs" known as a pyramid type peak. Pizzo Coca, along with the other Bergamo crystalline peaks, exist parallel to the Valtellina Valley.{{cite web |url=http://www.parks.it/parco.orobie.bergamasche/Epar.php|title=Parco delle Orobie Bergamasche |access-date=2010-05-11 |year=2010 |work=Consorzio Parco delle Orobie Bergamasche |publisher=turismo.provincia.bergamo.it}} Narrow and vertical chimney clefts stretch towards Pizzo Coca's summit, which has rock debris, before it levels off.{{cite web |url=http://www.camptocamp.org/routes/141877/it/pizzo-coca-cresta-est |title=Pizzo Coca: Cresta Est |access-date=2010-05-11 |date=October 19, 2008 |publisher=camptocamp.org|language=it}}{{cite web |url=https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://www.camptocamp.org/routes/141877/it/pizzo-coca-cresta-est&ei=0-PpS9a0IJPSsQOZ9oWLCA&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CDIQ7gEwCDgU&prev=/search%3Fq%3DPizzo%2BCoca%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN|title=Pizzo Coca: Cresta Est Google translation |access-date=2010-05-11 |date=October 19, 2008 |publisher=camptocamp.org}} The mountain rises to 2,924 meters by "Dente di Coca" (literally Tooth of Coca") before settling out by Pico Coca's summit.{{cite web |url=http://www.valseriana.bg.it/ricettivita/rifugi/rifugio-coca |title=Rifugio Coca |access-date=2010-05-12 |author=Giada Beccarelli |date=April 20, 2010 |publisher=valseriana.bg.it |language=it |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100902050218/http://www.valseriana.bg.it/ricettivita/rifugi/rifugio-coca |archive-date=September 2, 2010 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://www.valseriana.bg.it/ricettivita/rifugi/rifugio-coca&ei=hu3pS9-xMYWMtAPwiJ3uBw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CBIQ7gEwAjiCAQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3DPizzo%2BCoca%26start%3D130%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN |title=Rifugio Coca Google translation|access-date=2010-05-12 |author=Giada Beccarelli |date=April 20, 2010 |publisher=valseriana.bg.it}}

{{main|Climate of the Alps|High Alps}}

The Alps are split into five climate zones, each with a different kind of environment. The climate, plant life and animal life vary on different sections or zones of the mountain such as Pizzo Coca. The initial altitude at Val Seriana, one of the recommended southern access points, is 1,100 meters and part of a valley. The valley trail rises to 1,892 meters by Rifugio Coca which is a rest stop.

Pizzo Coca's Subalpine regional climate ranges to 1,800 metres with the lower levels available for cultivation. The Alpine regional climate exists between 1,800 and 2,500 meters. The Glacial regional climate extends from 2,500 to Pico Coca's top at 3,050 metres with snow falling at the higher elevations.

{{main|Mountaineering|Glossary of climbing terms}}

Pizzo Coca can be reached from the south starting from Valbondione. From here the path leads to Rifugio Coca, a "hut"{{cite web |url=http://www.ii.uib.no/~petter/mountains/3000mtn/coca.html |title=Pizzo Coca |access-date=2010-05-12 |publisher=ii.uib.no}} managed by Club Alpino Italiano based in Bergamo, then continues towards Lago di Coca.{{cite web |url=http://www.webalice.it/carmybg/escursioni/edifficili/pizzococa.htm |title=Pizzo Coca |access-date=2010-05-11 |publisher=webalice.it |language=it |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108075007/http://www.webalice.it/carmybg/escursioni/edifficili/pizzococa.htm |archive-date=2012-11-08 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=https://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webalice.it%2Fcarmybg%2Fescursioni%2Fedifficili%2Fpizzococa.htm&sl=auto&tl=en|title=Pizzo Coca Google translation |access-date=2010-05-11 |publisher=webalice.it}} From here, before reaching the lake, climbers must crawl up the scree to the east. After this, the trail climbs quickly, then follows a semicircle along the natural amphitheatre at the foot of the Bocchetta dei Camosci. From here begins the steepest part of the path allowing climbers, after 300 to 400 meters uphill, the base of Pizzo Coca is reached.

From the peak, there is an unrestricted view to the east and the surrounding area. The Rhaetian Alps that connects to the north are visible, as is Lake Barbellino, Monte Torena, Pizzo Strinato, Monte Costone, Monte Trobio, Monte Gleno and Pizzo Recastello, Pizzo Redorta, the glacier of Marovin, and the Pizzo del Diavolo di Tenda in the west, Presolana and Pizzo Arera to the south as well as several other peaks, and beginning from the valley of the Serio River, the starting point of Valbondione.

The initial trail leads to a series of rifugios, which is Italian for refuges, like the first Rifugio Coca mountain hut. This is a hike to this stage or refuge. Past Rifugio Coca, becomes a YDS 3 or a climbing route with scrambling uphill amongst boulders, creeks, cliffs and zig-zag markers. Based upon exposure to falling and increased YDS 3+{{cite web |url=http://www.lemontagnedivertenti.com/benopdf/pdf/orobie/pizzo%20Coca%20per%20canalone%20NO.pdf |title=Pizzo Coca per il canalone NO (m 3050) |access-date=2010-05-12 |date=June 22, 2008 |publisher=lemontagnedivertenti.com}}{{cite web |url=https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://www.lemontagnedivertenti.com/benopdf/pdf/orobie/pizzo%2520Coca%2520per%2520canalone%2520NO.pdf&ei=3ObpS7a-PIjMsgPruvTMBw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CA0Q7gEwATge&prev=/search%3Fq%3DPizzo%2BCoca%26start%3D30%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN |title=Pizzo Coca per il canalone NO (m 3050) Google translation |access-date=2010-05-12 |date=June 22, 2008 |publisher=lemontagnedivertenti.com|lang=it|format=PDF}} in some hard rock climb areas, climbing equipment like rope, climbing harness, boots, crampons, ice axes, snowshoes and skis is recommended.

Pizzo Coca's nearest airport is Orio al Serio Airport in Bergamo, Italy. The nearest "convenient center" is Valbondione.

• Alpine Brigade Orobica
• Swiss Alps
• List of national parks of the Alps

File:Torena_dal_coca.jpg|Looking south Monte Torena from Pizzo Coca

File:PizzoStrinato1.jpg|Looking south Pizzo Strinato

File:Presolana_dal_coca.jpg|Looking at Presolana

File:DenteCoca.jpg|The crown view from Pizzo Coca

File:PIZZODICOCA.jpg|Pizzo di Coca

• [http://www.peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/EuroCoreP1500m.html Europe Ultra-Prominences www.peaklist.org] Retrieved: 2010-05-11.
• {{cite peakware|id=765|name=Pizzo Coca|accessdate=2010-05-11}}
• [https://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.peakware.com%2Fpeaks.html%3Fpk%3D765&sl=it&tl=en Pizzo di Coca A Google translation] Retrieved: 2010-05-11

{{reflist}}

{{sisterlinks|Alps}}

• [http://www.alpinfoto.it Alpinfoto alpinfoto.it] {{in lang|it}} Retrieved: 2010-05-11. - Images from the Alps
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110729001545/http://www.alpconv.org/index_en Alpine Convention www.alpconv.org] Retrieved: 2010-05-11. - Convention on the Protection of the Alps
• [http://www.alpine-space.eu Alpine Space Programme], Alpine Space Programme Retrieved: 2010-05-11. - EU transnational co-operational programme for the Alps

{{Commons category|Pizzo Coca}}

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Category:Mountains of the Alps

Category:Mountains of Lombardy

Category:Mountains of Italy

Category:Alpine three-thousanders