Trekking Baitol - Monte Croce

Trekking Baitol - Monte Croce - Description

Directions

• Start

  Brusago - square (Municipality of Bedollo); more information in the section "how to get there"
  
  From the started point (read the section "how to get there") take the forest road on the left with "malga Fregasoga-Scalet pass” direction with path number 407. Always with great signage, continue on a path in the woods until "ponte dei vasoni" locality. Pay attention, in this indications track, it is not specified Monte Croce but Scalet pass. Keeping path n. 407, that runs along the orographic right of Rio Brusago, continue in the wood in an quiet environment up to the Fregasoga hut. Now, with "Caserine hut and Scalet pass" indication, take a beautiful cobbled street with a pleasant slope that leads to the large valley with a view on the peak of Monte Croce. After the ex Caserine hut, the street turns into a path that through meadows with rare vegetation goes on to Scalet pass; to win the to the steep path and get to the pass, the track proceeds with some zig-zag. Once you reach the pass, after having enjoyed for a while the stunning view on the Val dei Mocheni mountains, you walk on untill the top, and in about 40 minutes you are at 2490 meters of altitude on Monte Croce mountain. The view overlooks in all directions: the Marmolada, the Sella group, Cima D'Asta, the Brenta group and Ortles-Cevedale, Bondone and Rujoch. In short time you return at Scalet pass and here you can choose between two options of descent: the first is the same of the climb, recommended to those who have not a sufficient energy reserve or for who have limited time. The other, recommended by me it's explained later. From the pass follow the directions for "passo Val mattio e baracche austriache della Grande Guerra" with path n° 460A. In short you arrive at the Austrian shacks of the Great War and at the trenches; the whole has been beautifully refurbished and is highly recommended a visit (coordinate N46°9’38,7 E11°22’48,7). The structure can be helpful also in case of bad weather. You continue in direction of "passo Val mattio" always on marked path and easy to walk. Arriving at the pass follow the indication for Tonini shelter on path n° 340. Arriving at "busona di val mattio" always follow a wild but nice path with a stretch on a wooden staircase, you arrived on the dorsal of Rujoch mountain, and from here in 20 minutes you arrived at the ruins of Tonini shelter, destroyed in a fire in december 2016. From here on path n. 443, indication for Brusago, you go down for a steep path in the wood until reaching the forest road that leads to Sprugio Bassa hut; then continue always on a forest road untill the starting point.

• end point

  Brusago - square (Municipality of Bedollo); more information in the section "how to get there"

required equipment

Even on relatively short easy outings make sure to take all you need so you don't run into trouble if things take an unexpected turn, for example a storm blows up or you have a sudden drop in energy levels. What you should have in your rucksack:   water canteen (1L) snacks (e.g. mixed dried fruit or chocolate) First aid kit windproof jacket fleece change of t-shirt and socks (in a plastic bag) make sure to wear or at least bring a pair of long trousers hat sun screen sunglasses gloves whistle to attract attention in an emergency emergency telephone number Mountain Rescue 112   Make sure you're wearing the right footwear for the trail and season. The trail can get rough and rocky underfoot and a pair of hiking boots will protect you from sprains. And finally... don't forget to bring your camera! You'll need it to capture the stunning views.

Tips for the tour

The pivotal point of interest of this excursion are the Austrian shacks of the Great War, relevant point in terms of culture and history

Difficulty

• Difficulty

  Difficult

• Fitness

• Technique

• Experience

• Landscape

Directions

self-arranged arrival
From the A22 Brenner motorway (from the south exit Trento sud - from the north exit Trento north) and from the Brenner state road 12, continue on the S.S. 47 of the Valsugana for Pergine Valsugana - Padua untill the junction for the Altopiano di Piné, continue then on the S.P. 83 di Piné to the village of Brusago. From the square in front of the church, by car, follow towards "Monte Croce-Rifugio Tonini" on an asphalted road uphill perpendicular to the provincial road, follow it up to a crossroads where you choose the road on the left (and not straight), cross a wooden bridge and park at the first bend to the right, either in the small parking lot or by the roadside (do not get in the way) (bend with no-transit sign, start of path n. 407).
Park in the square of Brusago or in the small parking lot near the start of path n. 407.

public transport
From the Trento bus station, take line B403 / B402 towards Montesover and get off at Brusago di Bedollo. From the square in front of the church, on foot for about 20 minutes, follow the signs for "Monte Croce-Rifugio Tonini" on an uphill asphalted road perpendicular to the provincial road; follow it untill a crossroads where you choose the road to the left (and not straight), cross a wooden bridge and reach the first bend on the right from which path n. 407 starts.