Popi, 1942 m

Anything but a measly mountain! The Popi, or Cima Popi as it's known to the locals in Trentino, is a small mountain, a gently rounded peak, largely avalanche-safe and easy to hike. But it has something that sets it apart from other mountains: a panorama so magnificent that you can only admire it from a few summits. As an inselberg, it rises above a vast plateau, far removed from the major mountain ranges it offers unobstructed views of: the Sarntal Alps, the Dolomites, the Lagorai, the Garda Mountains, the Brenta and Presanella, as well as the southern Ortler Alps. Anyone who enjoys the guessing game "Which peak is that?" should therefore bring a large road map and plenty of time to the Popi. The circular hike from the parking lot at the Hofmahdjoch leads across gentle alpine meadows and through secluded forests, from South Tyrol into Trentino and back again, and is very popular with the locals, so we usually find a well-trodden path.