Sentiero Attrezzato Gino Badia

Overview

The Gino Badia Via Ferrata is a hiking route with some equipped sections that connects Passo delle Selle with Val Monzoni. While the route demands a fair amount of physical effort on its steeper ramps, it presents no significant technical difficulties; fixed ropes and stirrups installed near Forcella dell'Ort make progression smoother, keeping the experience enjoyable and accessible. The route runs mostly diagonally, with a series of ups and downs that adapt to the valley's morphology, offering a continuous and never monotonous hike.

Approach

The starting point is at Malga Crocefisso (1522 m) in Val San Nicolò. If the road is passable, you can continue by car along the Val Monzoni road and park at the first hairpin turn; alternatively, use the malga parking lot. From here, take the paved trail (marker 603) that enters Val Monzoni, until a junction where you keep left following trail 641. The climb becomes steep in the woods, then opens up into an alpine environment, leading to Forcella dal Pief (2186 m), reached in about an hour and thirty minutes from the car. At the crossroads, turn right, tackling steep scree slopes: this is where the Gino Badia Trail (marker 640A) begins. The route skirts the western walls of Sass del Pief and Punta dell'Ort, entering a wide, wild valley that climbs toward the clearly visible Forcella dell'Ort. The first equipped sections appear after about two hours from the start of the walk, in a setting of solid rock and natural ledges that hint at the character of the itinerary.

Via Ferrata

The equipped sections of the Gino Badia Trail are not prohibitive, but they require attention due to the increasing exposure. Progression begins on rocky ramps and gullies, where support ropes assist on the steeper stretches heading toward the notch. The pace is sustained but steady, with some stirrups easing the bigger steps. The climb continues with the aid of fixed ropes for technically unchallenging passages, until reaching the iconic passage through the notch, a narrow fissure between two dolomite pinnacles, overcome in about thirty minutes from the start of the equipment. Beyond the notch, the view opens onto Passo delle Selles, the final destination. Following obvious tracks over mixed terrain, you gain Passo delle Selle in about forty minutes, for a total of roughly three hours and thirty minutes from the start. The itinerary alternates moments of easy scrambling with exposed walking on ledges, maintaining a predominantly scenic and physical character rather than a technical one.

Descent

From Passo delle Selle (2528 m), you have two options for returning to Malga Crocefisso. The simplest and recommended option is to take trail 604 heading west, which descends without difficulty over a wide scree slope to Rifugio Talamelli (2046 m, about 30 minutes). From the refuge, follow marker 603, which leads back to Malga Crocefisso in about an hour and thirty minutes from the pass, for a total of roughly five hours and thirty minutes. A longer and more demanding alternative, which significantly extends the route, involves traversing a section of the Alta Via Bepi Zac to Colle di Costabella (about 2 hours from Passo delle Selle). From here, descend left (marker 637) down a steep scree slope to Baita delle Cascate in Val San Nicolò (1 hour). From the hut, walk the entire Val San Nicolò to the junction for Malga Crocefisso (1 hour), for a total of six hours thirty minutes to seven hours. This variant requires good weather conditions and excellent fitness, presenting prolonged physical effort over varied terrain.

Useful Notes

The Gino Badia Via Ferrata is a overall demanding climb in terms of length and elevation gain, but has the advantage of being less crowded than other routes in the area. From a via ferrata perspective, it qualifies as an easy and scenic trail that, for experienced and fit hikers, can be combined with sections of the nearby Alta Via trails. From Passo delle Selle, other equipped routes can be undertaken: to the left (marker 637) the Alta Via Bepi Zac; heading southwest (marker 616) the Alta Via Bruno Federspiel in reverse direction. The area also offers other via ferratas such as the Ferrata Gadotti at Cima Aut, the Ferrata Magnifici 4, and the Ferrata Kaiserjäger at Col Ombert, allowing you to tailor the experience to your abilities and desire for exploration.