Via Ferrata Brigata Tridentina

From the small parking lot below Passo Gardena, a gently sloping trail leads to the base of the first cables in about fifteen minutes. The via ferrata consists of three distinct sections, each offering an escape route to a bypass trail, which is useful in case of fatigue or deteriorating weather.

The first section is short and consists of a series of cable crossings and a few metal rungs on a moderately angled rock face. It serves as a warm-up and gives a good idea of the required skill level. After an intermediate passage that runs alongside the Pisciadù waterfall—which has a good flow in July but may dry up later in the season—the second section tackles the main wall. This section is the longest, on well-bolted rock. It is never excessively difficult, but it is sustained and increasingly airy as you gain height.

The third section, around the Exner Tower, contains the most challenging passages: a vertical dihedral, a long metal ladder, and the famous footbridge connecting the tower to the final ledge. Short but impressive, it spans a vertiginous void of several hundred meters. A trail then leads to the Cavazza al Pisciadù refuge in about ten minutes. While the technical difficulty remains moderate (B/C), the elevation gain and steep terrain require good stamina and a head for heights.

The descent follows trail no. 666 in the Val Setus (Alta Via 2). The upper section is equipped with a handline: few passages actually require clipping in. The trail then plunges into a wide gully of scree and loose rocks. Numerous tight switchbacks make the descent manageable, but caution is advised because the terrain is slippery.