Ferrata delle Trincee al Padon

Overview

The Ferrata delle Trincee is a long and highly evocative route that traces the border ridge between the majestic Marmolada and the imposing Sella Group. The itinerary combines an exceptionally scenic high-altitude landscape with a rich historical legacy, scattered with remains and military structures from the First World War. Its initial section, characterized by challenging technical passages, makes it unsuitable for inexperienced hikers.

Approach

The standard starting point is Passo Fedaia, the pass that separates the Val di Fassa from Malga Ciapela. On the Trentino side, near the dam, you park and locate the white-and-red trail markers for path 698, heading toward Porta Vescovo. A valid alternative to reduce the elevation gain on foot is to start from Arabba, in the Veneto region, using the lift that goes directly to Porta Vescovo.

From Passo Fedaia, take trail 698, which is well-marked but steep, quickly gaining altitude. Without deviating, you reach Porta Vescovo (2486 m) in about an hour. From here, turn right toward the rock face that marks the start of the ridge, and follow the trail traces until you intercept the start of the via ferrata, indicated by a white plaque at 2580 meters (about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Passo Fedaia). The environment is typically Dolomitic, with wide scree slopes and outcrops of light rock that foreshadow the exposed character of the ridge.

Via Ferrata

The start of the Ferrata delle Trincee is the most demanding passage of the entire traverse. The first wall, about fifty meters high, can be classified as difficult and requires good physical and technical preparation. After a few horizontal meters, the cable runs vertically up a smooth slab, where you need to move using friction. Once these initial 15 meters are overcome, the difficulties ease, allowing for smoother progress. You ascend a dihedral using some fixed aids, make short traverses, and after passing a corner, you are faced with the Marmolada glacier. A subsequent vertical climb and some rocky steps finally lead to the spectacular ridge crest, offering a breathtaking view of the Sella Group on one side and the Marmolada on the other.

The route continues along the exposed ridge, goes around a corner, and crosses a wide suspension bridge with no technical difficulty. You stay on the left side of the crest, walking along a comfortable ledge, descend to a notch, and climb back up on the opposite side. After overcoming a chimney that progressively narrows, you switch sides again. You advance along a ledge until a long descent section equipped with metal rungs, which leads to the junction marking the end of the first ferrata section (2676 m, about 1 hour and 30 minutes from the start). The pace is uneven, with continuous ups and downs that engage both arms and legs, in an environment that is always airy and panoramic.

From this point, you can take the variant for the Torre dell'Eremita, an independent equipped route, short but challenging and exposed, leading to a panoramic summit (about 30 minutes round trip).

Then begins the second section of the ferrata, less physical than the first and rich in historical interest. Easy trail sections, descents, short climbs, and exposed protected ledges alternate. At a marked junction, you can choose to descend to Porta Vescovo, visit a stone hut, or continue on the equipped path. This leads to the first tunnel (about 25-30 meters), which opens onto the north side, and subsequently to the second tunnel, much longer (150-200 m). This last one absolutely requires the use of a headlamp and has steps and short equipped sections inside; it is essential to follow the main tunnel, well-marked with reflectors. The experience changes radically: you move from the light and exposure of the ridge to the dimness and claustrophobia of the tunnel, carved into the living rock during the war.

Continuing, you glimpse and reach the Bivacco Bontadini (2550 m, about 2 hours and 30 minutes from the start), a panoramic point that marks the end of the ridge section. Ignoring the equipped deviation for the summit of the Padon, you descend with protected passages to the Rifugio Padon (2390 m, about 3 hours from the start, for a total of about 4 hours and 15 minutes). The final descent, on loose, equipped terrain, requires attention and concludes the technical part of the itinerary.

Descent

From Rifugio Padon, follow the CAI trail 680, marked in yellow and red, which runs along the mid-slope, retracing the itinerary and offering a stunning panorama of Lago Fedaia and the Marmolada. You reach the junction encountered on the way up in about an hour. From here, descend to Passo Fedaia by retracing the approach trail 698 (about 45 minutes from the junction, for a total descent of 1 hour and 45 minutes from the refuge and a total hike of about 6 hours). The return path, though not technical, maintains an alpine character, winding over debris slopes with continuous views of the south side of the Marmolada.

Useful Notes

The Ferrata delle Trincee is a scenically exceptional itinerary that can be divided into three sections: a first physically demanding section due to the scarcity of holds; a central adrenaline-filled part for the exposure but without major technical difficulties; a final section that includes the tunnels and the loose descent toward Rifugio Padon, to be traversed with caution. It is essential to bring a reliable headlamp to tackle the second tunnel. For cartography, a detailed map of the Val di Fassa area is recommended. The itinerary uniquely combines the mountaineering aspect, with vertical passages on solid rock, with the historical-exploratory one, in a continuously panoramic ridge environment.