Historical itineraries on the trail of the Great War
Retrace the historical itineraries of the Great War on the Adamello Brenta mountains, forts, trenches and ancient walkways.
With tourist trails and other paths suitable for expert excursionists, here are the 8 itineraries to retrace the steps of the First World War with information on the departure and arrival points, height difference, the time required and difficulty.
Every itinerary is explained with indications on the recommended period of the year to do them. Don’t forget that along some of the routes it is also possible to stay overnight in a bivouac or mountain hut.
Choose the one that suits you best!
And if you need an Alpine guide:
Guide Alpine Adamello info@adamelloguidealpine.it
Guide Alpine Val di Sole info@guidealpinevaldisole.it
From Forte Strino to Eastern Mount Tonale
Departure point: Forte Strino (1.538 m a.s.l.)
Arrival point: Eastern Mount Tonale (2,696 m a.s.l.)
Height difference: 1,158 m
Time required: 4 h 20 minutes
Difficulty: E (hikers)
Signs: almost all well-signed (local signs, SAT Path no. 160, no. 137 and no. 137 A)
Note: Not a difficult itinerary but long; it can be shortened by only going as far as Forte Zaccarana or the military village called the “Città morta”. It is mostly on the right bank of Val di Strino and on the ridge between this and Val Vermiglio.
Recommended period: from June to October.
From Forte Strino to Torrione d’Albiòlo
Departure point: Forte Strino (1,538 m a.s.l.) Arrival point: Torrione d’Albiòlo (2,969 m a.s.l.)
Height difference: 1431 m
Time required: 3 h 50 minutes
Difficulty: E (hikers ) the last part EE (expert hikers)
Signs: well-signed (local signs, SAT Path no. 137 and no. 137/B)
Note: a long itinerary that can be shortened by only going as far as Malga Strino, making it into an easy walk, or to the military village at the foot of Torrione d’Albiòlo; the last part that takes you to the summit of Torrione d’Albiòlo is only recommended for expert hikers. It is mostly on the right bank of Val di Strino.
Recommended period: from June to October.
From Ospizio San Bartolomeo to Forte Zacarana
Departure point: Ospizio San Bartolomeo in Passo del Tonale (1,971 m a.s.l.)
Arrival point: Forte Zaccarana (2,096 m a.s.l.)
Height difference: 125 m
Time required: 2 h
Difficulty: T (touristic)
Signs: Well-signed (local signs and SAT Path no. 160)
Note: an easy itinerary suitable for everyone. It is on the left bank of the saddle of Passo Tonale, and mostly crosses through pastures on the slopes of Eastern Mount Tonale and Mount Biólca.
Recommended period: from May to October.
From Ospizio San Bartolomeo to Torrione D’Albiòlo
Departure point: Ospizio San Bartolomeo in Passo del Tonale (1,971 m a.s.l.)
Arrival point: Torrione d’Albiòlo (2,969 m a.s.l.)
Height difference: 998 m
Time required: 4 h 40 minutes
Difficulty: E (hikers) until Eastern Mount Tonale (2 h); from Eastern Mount Tonale to Torrione d’Albiòlo EE (expert hikers)
Signs: well-signed (local signs, SAT Path no. 161, “Sentiero degli austriaci”)
Note: a long and challenging itinerary; it can be shortened by only going as far as Eastern Mount Tonale, thus reducing the difficulty and time considerably; from Eastern Mount Tonale to Torrione d’Albiòlo the route is only recommended for expert hikers. At the beginning it climbs the left bank of the saddle of Tonale, then continues on well-equipped sections of the rocky ridge between Valbiòlo and Val di Strino.
Recommended period: from June to September.
From Velon to Passo Cercen
Departure point: S.P. 94 di Stavel, at the crossroads for the Denza Mountain Hut (1,320 m a.s.l.)
Arrival point: Passo Cercen (3,022 m a.s.l.)
Height difference: 1,702 m
Time required: 5 h 30 minutes
Difficulty: E (hikers) up to Vedretta Presanella (4 h 30 minutes); from Vedretta Presanella to Passo Cercen EE (expert hikers)
Signs: well-signed (SAT Path no. 233, SAT Path no. 206)
Note: a challenging itinerary above all due to the length; it can be shortened by only going as far as the Denza Mountain Hut, thus reducing the difficulty and time considerably; at the Mountain Hut or the adjacent bivouac it is possible to book an overnight stay and continue the next day. The last part from Vedretta Presanella to Passo Cercen the route is over a glacier with a difficulty that is more environmental than mountaineering and it is therefore recommended only for expert hikers. The itinerary climbs the whole of Val Stavel up to Passo Cercen, the communication point with Val Genova.
Recommended period: from July to September.
From Velon to Alpe Presena
Departure point: S.P. 94 di Stavel, at the crossroads for Forte Velon (1,400 m a.s.l.)
Arrival point: Alpe Presena (1,820 m a.s.l.)
Height difference: 420 m
Time required: 2 h 30 minutes
Difficulty: T (touristic)
Signs: partially well-signed (SAT Path no. 268) Note: An easy itinerary suitable for everyone. It winds mostly through conifer woods in an environment that is rich in water between Velon and the north-eastern slopes of Conca di Presena.
Recommended period: from May to October.
From Passo del Tonale to Passo Paradiso
Departure point: S.S. 42 del Tonale, at the crossroads for the road to Alveo Presena (1,820 m a.s.l.)
Arrival point: Passo Paradiso (2,573 m a.s.l.)
Height difference: 753 m
Time required: 3 h
Difficulty: E (hikers)
Signs: well-signed (local signs and SAT Path no. 281)
Note: an itinerary suitable for everyone without any particular difficulty, by respecting the usual rules of prudence to be observed at high altitude. After having circumnavigated the north-east terminal of the Monticcelli range climb alta Val Presena up to Passo Paradiso.
Recommended period: from June to September.
From Passo Paradiso to Corno di Lagoscuro
Departure point: Passo Paradiso (2,573 m a.s.l.)
Arrival point: Corno di Lagoscuro (3,166 m a.s.l.)
Height difference: 593 m
Time required: 5 h 10 minutes (total time required given that the return journey is on a completely different route)
Difficulty: E (hikers) until Passo del Castellaccio (1 h 30 minutes); from Passo del Castellaccio until the Bivacco Amici della Montagna and from here on the return descent until the Western Vedretta di Presena (hanging glacier) EEA = Expert hikers with equipment
Signs: well-signed (CAI Path no. 44 and local signs)
Note: a challenging itinerary on the part that goes from Passo del Castellaccio until the Bivacco Amici della Montagna and then on the way down until the upper margins of the Western Vedretta di Presena. Given that it is an itinerary that is mostly above 3000 m above sea level with exposed parts and long parts equipped with via ferratas, it requires good physical preparation, familiarity with basic mountaineering techniques and the use of specific equipment (at least a harness, lanyards and carabiners). For the inexperienced an Alpine guide is the best choice. On the upper and most difficult part the route continues along the rocky ridge that ends at eastern part of Conca di Presena.
Recommended period: from July to September.
