recommended route
Dolomites without borders - Stage 4: Rifugio Comici - Rifugio Prati di Croda Rossa | Rifugio Rudi
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Pflichtphoto!Photo: Dolomiten ohne Grenzen | Dolomiti senza confini, Alpenverein Austria
Strada degli Alpini: Probably the most famous via ferrata in the Dolomites! The majority of this via ferrata is more of a demanding mountain tour on former wartime paths than a via ferrata.
In reality less of a via ferrata but more of a small path winding along a ledge, almost always at the same height. The path was hewn into the rock face during the First World War by the Italian Alpini soldiers. In some places it is secured. All in all it does not present many problems but instead offers spectacular views and perspectives. The first part of the route is technically very easy, and the difficult sections are well secured with steel rope. It gets particularly difficult if there are still old snow and icy patches on unsecured passages.
Forcella Undici – Passo della Sentinella: C
The challenging section is between Forcella Undici and Passo della Sentinella. Because of the north-facing aspect the snowfields remain well into summer. The descent from Passo della Sentinella across the north-facing cirque is also not to be underestimated. This section does not have to be walked and it is possible to descend directly from Forcella Undici on path 124.
Track types
Rest stops
Zsigmondyhütte (Rif. Comici)Rotwandwiesenhütte
Rudi-Hütte
Safety information
Attention on old snowfields between Elferscharte and Sentinelascharte. Depending on the snow conditions, the "strada degli Alpini" will be officially released by local mountain guides between the middle and the end of June. Information is available at the refuges or the tourist association Sexten.Tips and hints
www.dolomitisenzaconfini.euSupported by EU, EFRE-Funds and Interreg V-A Italy-Austria, 2014-2020
Start
Turn-by-turn directions
From Rifugio Comici the route takes you on path 101 towards Forcella Giralba. From there the path runs past Buco di Dentro to the actual access to Strada degli Alpini. Stone cairns help you to find the path at the access, which would otherwise not always be obvious. Continue along the western flank towards Buco di Fuori, a place well-known from many photographs. Continue northwards to Forcella Undici. There, the descent starts via path 124. At first it runs westwards for a few meters to the actual Forcella Undici. There the steel rope begins, which takes you to the north-facing cirque. Follow a steep and demanding scree deposit to a height of 2000m. There you find the turn-off to path no. 100 which takes you past the Costoni di Croda Rossa and back to Rifugio Prati di Croda Rossa. - 6 hrs.
Alternative: Forcella Undici – Passo della Sentinella:
This section contains the genuine difficulties and there frequently are old snow fields until well into summer. Follow the path in an eastward direction. It then runs slightly downhill towards Passo della Sentinella. On this path you come to the turn-off into the north-facing cirque. We, however, continue on uphill on the path and reach a further path to Passo della Sentinella 30 minutes later. From there we return to the turn-off and down into the north-facing cirque. The steel ropes there take us down to a height of 2500m. From there we continue downhill across the steep and gravelly cirque until you reach path 124, which runs down directly from Forcella Undici. At approx. 2000m we follow path 100, which takes us past the Costoni di Croda Rossa to Prati di Croda Rossa (1900m). - 1.5 hrs.
Note
Coordinates
Author’s map recommendations
Equipment
Certified via ferrata set an helmet, alpine boots and gloves (for via ferratas).Statistics
- 5 Waypoints
- 5 Waypoints
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