Fassa Valley is in the heart of Dolomites Alps at the east end of Trentino, at the borders of Bolzano and Belluno counties.
Mountains and sites full of enchant, of legends, culture and traditions, reign of the legendary king Laurino, called “The pale mountains” because of the light rose colour of its rocks.
Both in summer and winter these places have much to offer: kilometres of paths, via-ferratas, steep peaks and splendid rock walls to practice climbing and in winter ski runs and fantastic snowy slopes. And for lazy people cosy promenades, a lot of rest and relax and an excellent cuisine.
When we say Dolomites we intend that mountainous geographic area in Italian north-east, characterised by a prevailing dolomitic rock presence, which expands between the provinces of Belluno, Bolzano, Trento, Udine and Pordenone. Gardena's and Fassa's Dolomites are a sub-section and the higher mountain is Marmolada (3.432m).
Among the main centres of Fassa Valley are Campitello di Fassa and Canazei. The first, at the mouth of Duron valley at the foot of a spectacular balcony on Rodella hill, is a village with narrow alleys and characteristic little houses; the second, Canazei, is in a wonderful bowl between the most important mountain groups of the area.
Itineraries
Sella Group: Pitz Boè
Leave your car at Pordoi Path (2239m) connecting Fassa Valley with Cordevole Valley. From here take the cable way to Sass Pordoi (2950m). Down from the cable way you dip down towards the refuge of Pordoi Col (2829 m). The surrounding landscape is very strange: a wide debris terrace which looks like a moon landscape.
From the refuge go on towards the Pitz Boè. The path goes across these debris landscape then goes up on a series of rock big steps to arrive at last on the top of (3152m). Here and there the path is equipped, but nothing peculiar (Piz Fassa).
Going down you can follow the same track or go direction refuge Boè so going down on the other side of this mountain. You quickly reach the refuge Boè (2871m). From the refuge take the path going to Pordoi Col and from here the path going down directly to Pordoi Path (if you don't prefer to go down by cable way).
Marmolada – Point Penia
Marmolada is the higher peak of Dolomites and of Veneto region, and is also the only one to boast a true glacier of a certain extension.
This itinerary requires an mountaineering equipment (ice axe and crampons) and of course some experience in this sort of sport.
Leave the car near Fedaia lake, in the large square before the chair way station, then go up with the chair way to Pian dei Fiacconi refuge (m2626).
You'll ignore the track leading to the nearby Capanna al Ghiacciaio, and following red signs on teh rocks you go straight on towards the glacier. Then follow the track winding on the glacier to reach the end of it in correspondence with the northern crest of Penia Point, the higher of Marmolada. Then you pass over a rocky stretch equipped with fixed ropes, to arrive to the snowy slope (mule back), from here you reach the cross on the peak and to the small refuge situated on the top of the mountain.
The way down is the same as the way up.
