Sentiero Attrezzato GER

Overview

The Sentiero Attrezzato GER (Gruppo Escursionisti Rancesi) is a highly rewarding route that takes on the entire southern flank of Monte Coltiglione in the Lecco Prealps. While it doesn't present extreme alpine difficulties, it is an extremely demanding undertaking due to the total elevation gain and duration, featuring exposed sections and a few unroped passages. It requires excellent physical fitness and should be absolutely avoided in bad weather or when the rock is wet.

Approach

The starting point is the hamlet of Rancio Alto, above Lecco. From Lecco, follow the road toward Ballabio until you reach a pronounced double hairpin turn in a residential area. At the second hairpin, turn left onto Via Quarto and continue for about two hundred meters. On the right, you'll spot a narrow, steep asphalt lane marked by an open, rusty white barrier. Follow this lane, passing a left-hand hairpin; at the next fork, keep right and continue uphill to a parking area with a barrier.

There are several ways to reach the start of the Sentiero Attrezzato GER on Monte Coltiglione, listed here in order of increasing difficulty.

The technically easiest option follows the normal route to Monte San Martino. From the parking area, ascend the paved road to a hairpin, then continue straight along the mule track marked CAI 52 toward Rifugio Piazza, ignoring all deviations to the right for climbing routes or the Ferrata Corno del Medale. At a junction, you can either turn left for the Sentiero Attrezzato della Vergella or continue straight on the normal path; both converge at the Cappella della Madonna del Carmine (about 1 hour 15-30 minutes from the parking area). From here, you can take the steeper Sentiero Attrezzato Silvia (to the right of the chapel) or continue straight on the normal path. Either way, you'll reach a saddle below San Martino, where you follow signs northeast toward Coltiglione until the left-hand junction for the trail (total about 3 hours from the parking area).

A second option also starts from the parking area, ascending the paved road to the former Rifugio Medale, then following the Sentiero Attrezzato del Medale on the northeast face of Corno del Medale to a saddle below the summit. Here, keep right until you reach the right-hand junction for Coltiglione (about 1 hour 30 minutes from the parking area).

The most challenging but rewarding approach involves climbing the Ferrata del Gruppo Alpini on Corno del Medale. After reaching the summit of Corno, descend northwest, ignoring the first trail to the right, until the second junction where the Sentiero Attrezzato GER begins (total about 3 hours from the parking area).

Via Ferrata

The route begins with an unremarkable rock step, overcome with a few free-climbing moves. The trail then drops slightly toward the Dente del Coltiglione, before continuing along a flat but highly exposed section protected by ropes and chains. This first sector, developed across ledges and limestone slabs, introduces the route's character: continuous progression, often traversing, across an open and airy face.

After these sections, the most distinctive part of the climb begins: ascending a long, steep gully. The terrain changes dramatically-you enter a debris-and-rock groove whose gradient steadily increases, making progress physically exhausting and the pace demanding.

Follow the red markers up the gully until you reach a cave clearly visible during the ascent. Here begins the technical heart of the route. Climb a wall diagonally from left to right, exiting from the cave's roof: this is the technically most challenging passage of the entire via ferrata, exposed and vertical. Continue along a ledge, then ascend a sloping ramp of mixed earth and rock, equipped with cables, before tackling a protected rocky gully that emerges onto the summit ridge. Follow this equipped ridge, at times narrow and panoramic, to its end, reaching the grassy, wooded summit of Monte Coltiglione (about 1 hour 45 minutes from the start of the via ferrata, for a total of about 3 hours 15 minutes from the parking area).

Descent

The simplest option from the summit of Coltiglione is to descend along the trail leading to the Piani dei Resinelli, reach Rifugio SEL, then follow the easy path of the Val Calolden, which returns toward the parking area (about 2 hours 30 minutes from the summit, for a total of about 6 hours).

A longer alternative follows signs for the Sentiero del Belvedere. At the junction for the Calolden summit, turn left toward Forcellino, then descend along the steep and not always well-marked trail of Val Verde (marked AA). At a junction, head toward Rifugio Piazza (2 hours from the summit). From the refuge, you have several options: return to the Madonnina del Carmine and from there to the parking area, or descend via the Sentiero Attrezzato dei Pizzetti or the Sentiero Attrezzato della Vergella. These variants take roughly 3 to 4 hours for the return.

Finally, there is the more challenging option of retracing the entire Sentiero Attrezzato GER in reverse, reaching the saddle below Medale and descending via the Sentiero Attrezzato del Medale.

Useful Notes

Although not technically difficult, the route is very long and physically draining. The itinerary unfolds in a rugged environment with a complete absence of water sources along the ascent: it is therefore essential to bring an abundant supply of water, commensurate with the significant elevation gain and duration. The choice of approach and descent should be carefully considered based on your fitness and available time, keeping in mind that the Sentiero Attrezzato GER is already a demanding route where the physical component clearly outweighs the technical one.