Via ferrata Gustavo & Natale Vidi, Brenta Dolomites

Via ferrata Gustavo & Natale Vidi, Brenta Dolomites - Description

Directions

• Start

  Grostè Pass (upper station of the Grostè gondola lift)
  
  From the arrival of the Grostè gondola lift (2,438m / 7,998 ft), head around the uphill side of the station and follow the directions to the base of the corner of Pietra Grande and the junction with trails O301  – O306. From here, head up the eastern slope of Pietra Grande and cross a great ledge up to the ridge. Continue along the ridge and cross the bridge, which is the most exposed section of the trail but offers up a stunning view of Lake Tovel to the east and of the Adamello-Presanella, Ortles and Cevedale groups to the west. Continue up until the ridge is interrupted by a rock wall (2,663m / 8,736 ft). At this point, you will shift over to the west face of Pietra Grande, where you will continue along ridges and past a number of fissures (where there could be snow late into the season). From here, follow the iron cables and rungs to a grassy plateau above Orti della Regina (2,346m / 7,697 ft), where trail O390 ends. Then follow trail O336 in the direction of Rifugio Graffer to Orti della Regina (Garden of the Queen), one of the most stunning natural terraces of the entire Brenta Group, so named because legend has it that a queen and her entourage came here and planted flowers and shallots. It is famous not only for this legend, but also for the fact that there are a number of boulders with some amazing fossils. From Orti della Regina, continue down to Rifugio Graffer (2,261m / 7,418 ft).

• end point

  Rifugio Graffer

required equipment

Equipment needed:    technical mountain clothing    hiking boots with Vibram or similar sole    via ferrata gear    harness    helmet    gloves    pickaxe and crampons (when necessary)    a length of rope (recommended)

Tips for the tour

The itinerary can be done in the clockwise direction if you would like a greater challenge from the increased elevation gain, but the lighting conditions will not be as good (as the west face is in shadows in the morning).

Difficulty

• Difficulty

  Medium

• Fitness

• Experience

• Landscape

Directions

self-arranged arrival
To get to Rifugio Stoppani: from Campo Carlo Magno Pass by way of the Grostè gondola lift or the trail along the ski slope (approx. 3 hrs). from Malga Spora along trail 301 (2.5 hrs). from Rifugio Tuckett taking the Dallagiacoma and Benini via ferratas.
Ample paid parking is also available at the base of the Grostè gondola lift.

public transport
Shuttle bus service (in summer, from late June to early September) from Madonna di Campiglio (Piazza Brenta Alta) to the Grostè gondola lift. Check schedule and prices online or ask for the booklet from the tourist office at Via Pradalago 4. You may also check the bus schedule of Trentino Trasporti www.ttesercizio.it.