11/07/2017 – 12/07/2017 Rifugio Pedrotti, Bocca di Brenta
Madonna di Campiglio, ITALY
Distance: 64km Total Ascent: 2620m Total Descent: 2620m Time: 15 hours
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
This fantastic two day walk starts and ends at the lovely alpine town of Madonna di Campiglio, a summer and winter resort. Expect to be totally immersed and up close to the mighty Brenta Dolomite group, the Italian “Rocky Mountains”. This is one of the most scenic walks we have ever done.
Day 1: Tuesday 11/07/2017 Madonna Di Campiglio – Rifugio Pedrotti
Max elevation: 3565 m
Total climbing: 1815 m
Total descent: -925 m
Average speed: 7.08 km/h
Total time: 07:45:10
We walked north from Madonna di Campiglio to the gondola that would take us to Passo del Groste saving us a climb of 800 vertical metres. As soon as the gondola doors closed Sue realised she had left her walking pole at the ticket office at the bottom. We got off at mid station and told the attendant who immediately contacted the staff at the bottom and soon the walking pole was getting a free ride.
We reached top station a little later than we would have liked as the weather was stunning with clear blue skies and minimal wind. We knew it wouldn’t last.
As soon as we started our walk towards Rifugio Tuckett and Sella the scenery enthralled us. Every five minutes, it felt like we had to stop to take photos as the scenery changed and just got more impressive. We had excellent views of the western flanks of the Brenta Dolomite group including the dramatic Cima Tosa complete with hanging glaciers. The colour and texture of the rock was spectacular and it felt like we were so close, it was awe inspiring.
Cima del Groste (2898m) and Torrione di Vallesinella (2463m)
We stopped for a short break at Rifugio Tuckett and Sella which is stunningly located as most Italian refugios seem to be, surrounded on three side by spires, pinnacles and sheer rock faces.
From here we descended into greenery which was such a contrast to the white rocks walls earlier. The views continued to impress us, the variety of scenery on this walk was quite astounding.
We followed a path cut into the cliff complete with wire cables which for us seemed totally unnecessary but may be useful if the weather was poor and the rocks slippery.
Onto Rifugio Brentei again at an incredible location. The open sided chapel that had numerous plaques dedicated to mountaineers who had lost their lives in the area was sobering.
We continued along the valley and the path took us through a huge scree slope. By this time the weather had changed with the fog descending over the peaks, with some intermittent showers.
Up towards the pass or “bocca” we headed across a permanent snow field before clambering up rocks aided by via ferrata in some sections. It seemed to take a while until we finally reached the passage of the Bocca di Brenta. The cool wind prevented us from lingering for too long and we soon descended and walked along the wide rock ledge to Rifugio Pedrotti and Tosa which was a welcome sight.
Cima Brenta Bassa (2814m) and Cima Brenta Alta (2959m) with Rifugio Pedrotti
It had been an excellent day!
Day 2 : Wednesday 12/07/2017 Refugio Pedrotti – Madonna di Campiglio
Max elevation: 3587 m
Total climbing: 814 m
Total descent: -1703 m
Average speed: 8.06 km/h
Total time: 07:01:57
We awoke to a spectacular morning. Breakfast started at 6:00am at this rifugio which is a common base for climbers. Birthday girl Sue tried very hard to enjoy the stale bread, jam and warm tea for breakfast as is usual for Italian rifugios.
This meant an early start for our return journey. We asked the staff at the rifugio about taking a different route but we were advised we would need crampons as there was ice along that path. So we headed off to the Bocca di Brenta before 8:00am. There was a group of about thirty scouts right on our tail so we decided to try to go ahead of them on the steep descent and via ferrata sections that were ahead. This proved to be the right choice as they were much slower than us.
Sue below Bocca di Brenta
The fog rose from the valley much earlier today but we were lucky as we had clear views over the pass and the towering giants along the valley. By the time we reached Rifugio Brentei one and a half hours later those peaks were becoming lost in the fog. This was almost exactly the point the fog descended on our way in so it meant that we had seen the entire walk under clear skies over the two days.
Crozzon di Brenta (3122m)
We stopped at Rifugio Tuckett for morning tea. Here they served a fantastic thick dark hot chocolate which Steve immediately proceeded to pour over himself, somehow missed his mouth! At least he enjoyed the berry slice! Steve stopped for a time lapse photography of the mist swirling around the peaks.
The rest of the trip was pretty much fog bound. We stopped for a snack at the top of the gondola as we had reached it during the lunch break and had to wait till 2:00pm until it commenced running again.
What an incredible two days! We were wondering why this area didn’t rate in the best walks in the world lists as we think it is deserving of inclusion.
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Very informative and useful for when we go over. Loved the photos too. The maps are great and what I always look for with outdoor articles.