Leaving behind some shelters and positions used by Italian soldiers (if you are coming from CAI trail No. 401), you reach the summit of the mountain, where you can immediately see an important Italian installation known as "Large trench". It is an articulated defensive system in concrete originally built by the Austrian troops during the period of Italian neutrality. The high commands, in fact, thought it wise to improve their defensive system by occupying Mt. Pal Piccolo, Mt. Pal Grande and Mt. Creta di Collinetta (west of the Pass).
Here, the Austrians built a solid fortified trench, partly covered and protected by barbed wire, and caves armed with machine guns and small trench cannons, connected to the defensive line on Mt. Pal Grande. As soon as war was declared, the Italians occupied Mt. Pal Piccolo and Mt. Pal Grande, therefore taking over also the "Large trench".
On 26th March 1916, the 272nd Division of the Alpine Corps Tagliamento Battalion (which presided over Mt. Pal Piccolo) suffered a hard blow inflicted by the Austrian Feldjager, which moved forward during a violent snow storm. Weather conditions improved in the morning and during the afternoon, so the Italians were able to reorganise themselves and, thanks to reinforcements, strike a counter-attack. Both parties suffered countless losses in this battle.
