Sentiero Attrezzato Olivieri

Overview

The Sentiero Attrezzato Olivieri is a mid-mountain alpine route that traverses the southern flank of the Tofane group, connecting Rifugio Pomedes to Rifugio Ra Vales. The path unfolds across dolomitic rock, alternating between airy ledges and short vertical pitches, while maintaining a predominantly hiking character with a few easy climbing moves. Its geographic position in the heart of the Dolomiti Ampezzane makes it a strategic and panoramic link, often used as a descent route after more demanding itineraries such as the Ferrata Olivieri on Punta Anna or the Ferrata Aglio on Tofana di Mezzo.

Approach

The logical starting point is the parking area at Baita Pie Tofana (1675 m), near the base station of the chairlift to Rifugio Duca d'Aosta. From Cortina d'Ampezzo, follow the road toward Passo Falzarego; shortly after leaving the town, look for signs on the right for the Tofana cable car. Take the uphill road, turn right at the first junction, and continue until you reach the hut.

To access the route, you must reach Rifugio Pomedes (2303 m). There are two options: a hike up along trail 405 (Sentiero dei Camosci), which passes Rifugio Duca d'Aosta and takes about 2 hours, or using the chairlift. A third, less practical option for a loop trip starts from Rifugio Dibona, then uses the chairlift to ascend to Pomedes.

Via Ferrata

From Rifugio Pomedes, the route initially runs along a mid-slope traverse over scree at the base of Punta Anna's eastern wall. After a short climb, you intercept a dirt road; follow it left until you spot a track branching off left across the scree, heading toward the rocky base below Torre Pomedes. Here, about 30 minutes from the hut, a commemorative metal plaque marks the official start of the via ferrata.

The itinerary opens with a few steps over rock slabs, then commits to a long and spectacular equipped ledge. This slender, moderately exposed ribbon of rock rises progressively on a diagonal, offering a continuous and pleasant progression. After this airy section, you face the first more challenging passage: a descent down a well-holded small wall leading to a gully, which must be crossed with caution (watch for residual snow). Beyond the gully, you enter a new debris-covered ledge that climbs to the right. This stretch narrows progressively to a key point, where you round a corner before exiting the equipped section and joining a normal trail. From here, enjoy a sweeping backward view of Rifugio Pomedes, Nuvolau, and Averau.

Now begins the most characteristic and varied part of the route. Climb a first leaning slab, bending left, traverse a ledge, and reach the first exposed ladder-a short vertical step that offers a breathtaking panorama over Val Costeana. After surmounting it, tackle a series of well-climbable but exposed rock slabs, which lead to a ledge descending slightly to the left. After rounding a gorge, the trail changes character, becoming a steep, winding scree path that, bending right, skirts the eastern flank of Torre de Pomedes with a more distinctly hiking rhythm.

The path leads to a rocky spur, overcome with a second ladder. Just beyond, a scree slope gives access to a well-equipped chimney, with the steel cable on the left; the first step may require a bit of momentum, but holds are abundant. Exiting the chimney, traverse a final ledge beneath a rocky roof, round a corner, and descend on the opposite side, concluding the equipped section at about 2580 meters. The time from the plaque is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes (1 hour 45 minutes total from Rifugio Pomedes).

You now face a broad debris-filled valley, bounded on the left by the majestic wall of Tofana di Mezzo and on the right by the Ra Valles ridge. Keeping to the right side of the valley and following obvious tracks, a straightforward, steep descent of about 15 minutes brings you to the final destination: Rifugio Ra Vales at 2470 meters (2 hours total from Pomedes).

Descent

For the return to the starting point, there are two main options. The first, longer but more complete, involves descending from Rifugio Ra Vales northward along trail 407, passing through Forcella Ra Vales (2300 m) and then down a steep gully that gradually eases, eventually rejoining trail 405 in sight of Baita Pie Tofana. This option takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes from the hut, for a total loop of roughly 5 hours and 30 minutes without using lifts on the ascent. The second, quicker option is to take the cable car from Ra Vales down to Rifugio Col Druscè, from which a short 15-minute trail leads to the parking area.

Useful Notes

The Sentiero Attrezzato Olivieri is frequently traveled in reverse, as a descent route from more challenging via ferratas. This can cause some waiting or congestion on the ladders and the few vertical passages, though these are short. It is a very versatile itinerary, well-suited to being combined with other nearby equipped routes, such as Ra Bujela, Ra Pegna, the Ferrata Olivieri, the Ferrata Aglio, or the Sentiero Attrezzato Astaldi, allowing you to create loop trips of varying difficulty. The path is dedicated to the memory of Giuseppe Olivieri, a Venetian mountaineer and decorated war hero who was a great enthusiast of the Tofane.