Ferrata Masarè

Overview

The Ferrata Masarè traces an exciting route along the southern crest of the watershed connecting Punta Masarè to Roda da Vael in the Catinaccio Group. Rated moderate difficulty, the route alternates technical passages with more walkable sections, unfolding in a grand alpine setting. The adventure starts from the Rifugio Paolina (2125 m), easily reached from Carezza at Passo Costalunga (BZ) via the Paolina cable car.

Approach

From Rifugio Paolina (2125 m) - served by cable car with ample parking at the valley station - take the CAI trail 539 to the right heading southeast. The gradient is moderate. Turning onto CAI trail 549, the path continues along the mountainside, offering panoramic views of Val di Fassa, the Latemar, and the Marmolada, until reaching the Christomannos monument. The trail, wide and easy, descends gently to reach the Rifugio Roda di Vael (2283 m) in about 45 minutes.

From the hut, continue with a slight ascent to the left. At the first junction, ignore CAI 541 to the right, keeping the direction for the Ferrata Masarè. At the next junction, take the left fork for the start of the climb (the right leads directly up to Roda da Vael). Following clear traces, cross a saddle and reach the beginning of the fixed cables. The approach from Rifugio Roda di Vael takes about 45 minutes, for a total of 1 hour and 30 minutes from Rifugio Paolina.

Alternative access from Val di Fassa: From Vigo, take the cable car up to Rifugio Ciampedie and follow CAI trail 545 to Rifugio Roda di Vael, about 1 hour and 15 minutes from the top station.

Via Ferrata

The route opens with easy passages on the western side of the ridge, over low-angle rock slabs and plates. The pace shifts quickly with a steep, well-equipped vertical section, more demanding, introducing the true character of the ferrata. Climb a sloping chimney and a series of steps and walls, all well protected. After rounding a corner, this first section concludes with a diagonal equipped traverse, rich in holds.

The route then moves onto a beautiful panoramic ledge at altitude, a horizontal stretch of great atmosphere. This is followed by a couple of slightly exposed, unprotected passages, including descending an easy chimney: sections that, while not technically difficult, require caution on wet rock. The technical heart of the route is the descent of a long equipped chimney, the most challenging passage when the ferrata is traversed in this direction. The terrain here becomes complex, with tight spaces forcing careful use of both natural and artificial holds.

Past the chimney, descend some equipped rock steps to a saddle, then climb back up on the opposite side. The route then alternates between equipped trail sections and short rock steps, before tackling a new vertical descent. After a ledge section and an exposed traverse - offering a backward view of the ridge just traveled - tackle a series of descending steps and two well-equipped chimneys. The ferrata concludes with a long ledge section where the cable serves as a simple handrail, until reaching the Torre Finestra in about 1 hour and 30 minutes from the start.

At this point, two options present themselves:

1. Complete the Ferrata Masarè: Follow an unprotected ledge section leading to a narrow crack, overcome with the help of a ladder. Descend one final vertical wall, ending the fixed cables after about 2 hours from the start (total 3h 30'). Following the obvious descending trail, return to the approach junction and, via Rifugio Roda di Vael, back to Rifugio Paolina for a total of about 5 hours.
2. Continue with the Ferrata Roda di Vael: From Torre Finestra, climb to the summit of the same name in about 1 hour, then descend to Passo del Vajolon (45') and from there, to the left, to Rifugio Paolina (another 45'), completing a magnificent loop in about 5 hours and 30 minutes from the start.

Descent

The descent varies depending on the option chosen. Completing only the Masarè route, follow the trail from the end of the fixed cables back to the junction below Rifugio Roda di Vael, then descend to Rifugio Paolina along the approach trail. If you opted for the loop with the Ferrata Roda di Vael, the descent goes from Passo del Vajolon directly towards Rifugio Paolina.

Useful Notes

This description covers the route traveled clockwise, the recommended direction, as the first section of the ferrata would be technically more complex if tackled in descent. This choice also makes it easy to combine the Ferrata Masarè with the ascent of Roda di Vael, creating a splendid loop itinerary.

The Ferrata Masarè is varied and, while not presenting extreme difficulties, includes exposed sections and tight descending passages that assume a minimum of experience. Combining it with the Ferrata Roda di Vael introduces further sustained difficulty passages (near Pian del Diaol), confirming the need for some familiarity with equipped trails.

For navigation, detailed topographic maps of the area are recommended, such as those dedicated to Val di Fassa or the Sciliar, Catinaccio, and Latemar groups.