recommended route
Dolomites high trail 5
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Fischleintal, SextenPhoto: By Rufus46 (Own work), CC BY-SA, via Wikimedia Commons
Author’s recommendation
Track types
Show elevation profileSafety information
- The high-altitude trail can only be recommended to persevering mountaineers with sufficient alpine experience and climbing skills in secured and free terrain (up to difficulty level II). Absolute surefootedness and freedom from vertigo as well as orientation skills are required!
- On steep mountain flanks and secured climbs there is a risk of falling rocks, so it is essential to wear a rockfall helmet!
- Be careful after prolonged rainfall, when there is residual snow and icing in early summer, as well as during fog and thunderstorms!
- A solo ascent is not advised.
Start
Turn-by-turn directions
Stage 1: Sesto - Zsigmondyhütte
.From the centre of Sesto, we cross the Sextenbach stream, walk to the ski lift and then up to the right into the forest. We pass the Heideck fortress and hike into the Fischleintal valley. After a good hour we reach the Fischleinboden hut and the Dolomitenhof Hotel, then follow trail no. 102/103 to the Talschluss hut. The trail becomes increasingly steep on trail no. 103 through the eastern flank of the Einserkofel and Kanzel to the Zsigmondy Hut.
Stage 2: Zsigmondy Hut - Rifugio Carducci
.From the Zsigmondyhütte, take trail 103, first southwards, then steeply upwards in a south-easterly direction to the Forcella Giralba (2431 m), which lies between the Zwölferkofel and Monte Giralba. From there the trail descends into the Val Giralba Alta and finally to the Rifugio Carducci.
.Stage 3: Rifugio Carducci - Rifugio Monte Agudo
.The next stage continues on trail no. 103 downhill towards the southeast, on the right side of the valley past the junction to the Via ferrata Cengia Gabriella, and further down into a side valley. Later, you enter Val Giralba Alta again and then descend to the point where Val Giralba Alta and Val di Stallata meet. Now we descend through Val Giralba Bassa until we reach the SS48 in Val d'Ansiei. We can save ourselves the walk on the busy road to Reane by taking a bus. From the Taiarezze station we then either climb steeply in about two hours or we make the climb easier by using the chairlift to the mountain station on Monte Agudo, from where the Rifugio Agudo is five minutes away.
Stage 4: Rifugio Monte Agudo - Rifugio Ciareido
.The fourth stage marks the beginning of the crossing of the Marmarole group. From the Rifugio we descend again to the junction at the mountain station, there in a south-westerly direction to the edge of the forest. Follow trail no. 262/271 to Croda di Grazioso, whose summit you pass just below. Head in a south-easterly direction to Col Burgion, along its western flank and down from the southern saddle of the mountain to a fork. There we follow trail no. 262 to Tabià Forcella Bassa, then southwards up to the Col dei Buoi plateau. Further southwest, we meet a road coming from Lozzo di Cadore, which we follow to the right. At the next fork, keep straight on to follow trail no. 268 steeply up to the Rifugio Ciareido.
Stage 5: Rifugio Ciareido - Rifugio Baion
.This stage is a pleasant high-altitude hike to Rifugio Baion. We go down towards the Ciareido massif to the fork, turn left there and go up to a shoulder. At the fork, we opt for the easy-to-travel trail no. 262, which leads us first in a south-westerly, then in a southerly direction, partly level, later steeply down to Rifugio Baion.
Stage 6: Rifugio Baion - Rifugio Chiggiato
.From the Rifugio, take trail 262 westwards, at the fork after about half an hour continue straight on, crossing the southern slopes of Monte Peronat. Then turn right into the high valley between Peronat and Croda Bianca. Cross the scree-covered high valley, then follow a demanding and partly exposed climb, which can also be bypassed and leads us into the Vallon del Froppa. We cross this valley before reaching the Forcella Sacù. At the fork, go straight on to the Rifugio Chiggiato.
Stage 7: Rifugio Chiggiato - Bivacco Tiziano
.The following section via the "Sentiero degli Alpini" is very demanding. It should not be done alone and optimal weather conditions are required. In addition, sufficient provisions and water must be remembered, as an overnight stay in at least one of the bivouacs must be planned. From the Rifugio, take the familiar path back to the fork, then turn left onto trail no. 260 in a north-westerly direction and up to the southern flank of the Cima Salina. The route goes upwards, exposed and unsecured, before the path turns right at a ledge into the steep western flank. The route continues challengingly into the Val de la Tana, then up to the north and left to a chimney. Via ladders and climbing passages (I) we reach a scree slope, then another ascent with climbing passages follows. The route continues under the west face of the Punta Anita, then descends in an exposed manner to the Forcella Jau de la Tana. From there, the trail leads northwest to the Bivacco Tiziano.
Eappe Tiziano.
Stage 8: Bivacco Tiziano - Bivacco Musatti The next stage leads southwards on trail no. 280 into the Val Longa, there to the right along the eastern flank of the Tacco del Tedesco, across two meadows and to a ramp. This leads you steeply almost to the ridge, then southwards and upwards on a sparsely marked path to a saddle, where you reach a panoramic saddle a little further west. We have to bypass its western steep slope to the right before we descend in a northerly direction to the fork of the Schiavina north ridge. Then we keep to the left and take care on the descent over the rugged slopes, over which we reach a scree cirque. Heading west, we continue unmarked into the Meduce di Fuori cirque and finally to the Bivacco Musatti. Stage 9: Bivacco Musatti - Bivacco Voltolina The ninth stage via the "Strada Sanmarchi" is again very demanding - best visibility, surefootedness, no fear of heights, orientation skills and climbing skills (up to II) are required. From the bivacco, follow the tracks of trail 280 southwards until the markings point to the right. Across steep meadows (danger of slipping) and climbing sections (partly secured, partly free), the trail leads to the Forcella Mescol. The next section leads in a westerly direction over scree and with climbing passages into the cirque Meduce di Dentro and to the eastern flank of the Croda Rotta. The ridge is crossed (ladders, scree, rubble, scree), you reach the Forcella Croda Rotta, the west side of the ridge and a saddle with a cairn. Under the west face of the Cima Vanedel, the traverse continues, finally over a vertical wall with protection, into the Forcella Vanedel. Under the northern walls of the Cima de Marchi, you cross to the ridge between the Cima de Marchi and Col Nero, partly exposed. From a shoulder further to the west, we turn left into the western flank of the Cima de Marchi, where very exposed spots again await us. We then enter the Val di Mezzo, where the Bivacco Voltolina is located. Stage 10: Bivacco Voltolina - Rifugio San Marco Through the Val di Mezzo, head out of the valley on the left side (trail 280), along under the east face of the Corno del Doge, then into the north face. There begins the band of the Cengia del Doge, which is crossed on the Sentiero attrezzato Adriano Cipriano and, although it contains tricky passages (II), is one of the most beautiful and imposing sections of the high-altitude trail. The Corno del Doge is thus circumnavigated. Then, in the Valle di San Vito, we meet the route of the alpine path no. 4. On path no. 266 we pass under the Torre dei Sabbioni into the Forcella Grande, then descend southwards to the Rifugio San Marco. Stage 11: Rifugio San Marco - Rifugio Galassi From Rifugio San Marco follows a long traverse to the east. At the junction of trail 229, it goes straight into a high valley, then in steep switchbacks to a fork. We decide to take the left option and arrive at the Forcella Piccola, then in a right turn to the Rifugio Galassi. Stage 12: Rifugio Galassi - Rifugio Antelao On this day, the longest and one of the most demanding stages of the high-altitude trail awaits us with the traverse of the Antelao massif. From the rifugio, we head south on trail 250 towards the Antelao glacier. At the foot of the glacier, the demanding Via ferrata del Cadorin (II) begins, leading to the Forcella del Ghiacciaio (2584 m). From there, the trail continues eastwards with some climbing sections (I), later descending steeply southwards into the Valle Antelao. Trail no. 250 then leads us southeastwards over vegetated slopes until we meet no. 230 and follow it to Forcella Piria. From there, the trail heads east on easy terrain to the Rifugio Antelao. Stage 13: Rifugio Antelao - Pieve di Cadore The last section proves to be a pleasant descent into the Piave valley. We stick to trail no. 250, which leads us eastwards first to Forcella Antracisa. We then continue on trail no. 252 to Monte Trànego. From there, the descent is made in many hairpin bends first to Pozzale and finally to Pieve di Cadore.
Note
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
Take the train to San Candido station, then the bus to Sesto
.At the end of the tour by bus from Pieve di Cadore back to Sesto
.Getting there
Via the Brenner motorway A22 to the exit Brixen/Vahrn (Pustertal), then on the state road (SS49-E66) to Sesto.Coordinates
Equipment
Sturdy and well-worn hiking boots, comfortable and functional clothing (windproof, waterproof, several layers), KS set, rockfall helmet, rope, ice axe, crampons, large rucksack with rain cover, map and compass, sun protection, lamp, first aid kit, water and food supply, camping equipment with bivouac/sleeping bag.Localization
Statistics
- 14 Waypoints
- 14 Waypoints
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