Sentiero Attrezzato della Cresta Giumenta

Overview

The Sentiero Attrezzato della Cresta Giumenta is an airy, scenically dramatic route that traces the border between Monte Magnodeno and Passo Fò, offering commanding views over the northern flank of the Resegone. It unfolds as a ridge traverse, characterized by exceptional panoramas and sections with considerable exposure, and is entirely equipped with a solid continuous steel cable for self-belaying. Although technically feasible in either direction, the canonical progression from Magnodeno toward Passo Fò is smoother and more logical, allowing you to tackle the key passages on the ascent, where control over your progression is greater.

Approach

The most popular starting point is the large parking lot for the Piani d'Erna cable car in Lecco. To reach the start from the Monte Magnodeno side, take Trail 1 heading toward Rifugio Stoppani. After about thirty minutes, at the junction, bear right following signs for Rifugio Azzoni and Campo de Boi. Continue straight on Trail 25A at the next intersection with Trail 1, cross the Torrente Brione (via a small bridge), and finally climb up to Rifugio Magnodeno, with a total approach time of roughly 2 hours. The equipped route begins right at the summit of the mountain.

For those intending to start the traverse from Passo Fò, you can reach it from the top station of the Piani d'Erna cable car by following Trail 5 in about 50 minutes. Alternatively, you can climb directly from the parking lot along Trail 1 to the junction with Trail 6, taking around one hour and thirty minutes.

Via Ferrata

From the summit of Monte Magnodeno, descend a few meters aided by cables to a junction for the Capanna Alpinisti Monzesi. Briefly following this direction leads to a fountain with a bench; from here, turn left onto the trail marked for the Cresta Giumenta. After a traverse section that exits the woods, you reach the sign marking the start of the equipped path.

The route begins with a first section descending over rock slabs that are sometimes smooth, followed by an ascent and another equipped descent. You then arrive at a long and captivating ridge section, not technically complex but markedly exposed, accompanied by the continuous cable. The pace becomes more rhythmic, and the walk proceeds along a narrow limestone spine, offering a wonderfully airy sensation. After passing a rocky tower, you enter the most challenging and rewarding part: a succession of gendarmes leading toward Cima del Fò. Here you tackle a couple of short, steeper walls, more vertical and climbing-like than the rest of the route, bypassing or surmounting various towers with the aid of cables and sheathed ropes.

After a particularly exposed tower, you reach a narrow gully that represents the technically most difficult passage of the entire itinerary. The morphology changes here, presenting a constriction carved into the rock. Once past it, a continuous up-and-down over saddles and small rock steps engages you for about fifteen minutes until you reach Cima Fò (1348 m), crowned by a cross and offering an exceptional view of Rifugio Azzoni on the summit of the Resegone.

From the summit, a descent leads to a key saddle: to the right, an escape route branches off to bypass the final difficult passages; to the left, you continue on the equipped path. You proceed along the ridge to the final key passage: a gully that progressively narrows until it becomes a chimney to be climbed for about ten meters. This represents the last technical effort, in a closed, vertical environment. Once past this section, you tackle a few short rocky pillars, pass by the monument to the Fallen Mountaineers, and finally emerge at Passo Fò (1284 m). The time on the equipped path is about 1 hour and 30 minutes, for a total of roughly 3 hours and 30 minutes from the start, on a route that constantly alternates between horizontal and vertical passages, maintaining a medium but steady technical commitment.

Descent

Descent options vary depending on the direction chosen for the itinerary. Generally, you can return by retracing one of the two approach routes described, keeping in mind that descent times are roughly twenty percent less than the ascent.

Useful Notes

Although the Sentiero Attrezzato della Cresta Giumenta is not extremely difficult from a technical standpoint, the presence of very exposed sections and a sometimes crumbly rocky surface makes the use of a via ferrata kit essential for clipping into the cable, which is always present. Progressing in descent would require greater attention and security, which is why the Magnodeno-to-Passo Fò direction is strongly recommended. The two trickiest passages (the tower near Passo Fò and the gully) can be bypassed via a detour trail that branches off to the left just before the tower itself. The route is not recommended after heavy rain due to a marked reduction in grip on the rock.

Passo Fò serves as the starting point for other famous routes on the Resegone, such as the Ferrata del Centenario and the Sentiero Attrezzato del Caminetto, allowing for logical link-ups. For a loop hike that includes one of these ferratas, it can be strategic to traverse the Cresta Giumenta in the opposite direction (from Passo Fò to Magnodeno) and then descend via the cable car from Piani d'Erna.