Croz dell'Altissimo

2000m across, 1500m deep, the view into Val delle Seghe would be impressive enough. It is eclipsed, however, by the full view Brenta panorama as shown above.

Getting There

Take the Brenner Motorway A22 to the exit Mezzolombardo/San Michele all'Adige. Get on S43 through Mezzolombardo and after Rocchetta turn left onto S421 which leads through Andalao to Molveno. Molveno is pittorequely situated at the shore of the lake that carries the same name (868m). To get to the trailhead take the telecabina (a two person standup lift) to Rifugio La Montanara.

The first stage ends at the Rifugio Pradel from where you can take the long ascent route through the Valle delle Seghe and Passo dell Clamer. If you decided on the shorter but steeper ascent via Passo dei Camosci you should take the second stage of the lift which takes you up to the Rifugio la Montanara at 1525m of altitude (the area around the refuge is very crowded but 15 min on the trail will leave you alone).

The two ascent routes can be combined to form a neat circle. For the whole trip you must calculate 6 to 8h (depending on whether you can ignore the vistas or whether you have to stop at each viewpoint to take your photos).

Climbing the big wall

Gabriele Roth provided me with the following information on the climbing routes of the big wall of Croz dell'Altissimo (compare the routes with the routes on the pictures):

S wall of the shoulder
- Loss-Destefani - 650m - V,VI (200b)
- Laritti-Giogno-Rainis - 650m - IV,VI, A2 (200ba)

SW pillar of the shoulder
- Stenico - 650m - V (200c)

SW diedre
- Armani-Fedrizzi (the finest) - 650m - V+,VI (200d)

South wall
- Oppio-Colnaghi-Guidi - 650m - V+,A2 (200e)

W wall
- Dibona-Mayer-Rizzi - 800m - IV+,V+ (200f)

S wall variants (joins to Dibona 300-400m under the summit)
- variant Fedrizzi - 400m - V+ (200fa)
- variant Steger - 350m - V+ (200fb)
- variant Detassis - 450m - IV,V+ (200fc)

SSW wall to NW summit
- Pilati-Chini - 800m - V+,A2 (200g)
- Detassis-Giordani (looks like Solleder to Civetta) - 820m - V+ (200h)

SW wall
- Pianta-Mazzoleni - 850m - IV,V (200i)

Red Tape

There are no limitations. You have to remember, though, that Croz dell'Altissimo is situated in the Parco Adamallo Brenta and thus you should behave as required within any natural park. Camping is allowed only in the vicinity of the refuges but you should ask the proprietors first.

When To Climb

You can climb Croz dell'Altissimo all year round the best season should be May through October though. Both hiking routes are open for tour skiing in winter.

Accommodation

Camping
There is a campground in Molveno near the lake.

Hotel rooms and Apartments
You can chose among a variety of accomodations (hotels/rooms/B&B) in Molveno.

Tourist office:
Azienda di Promozione Turistica
Piazza Marconi, 1
38018 - MOLVENO (TN)
Tel: 0461 586924

Web Site Molveno:
www.molveno.it

Refuges:
At the base of Croz dell'Altissimo you find the Rifugio Croz dell'Altissimo:
Altitude 1430m
Beds 19
Tel.: 0368 989242
Open: 01 July – 30 September

Weather Conditions

Weather and avalanche conditions in Trentino: www.meteotrentino.it

Maps 'n' Books

Maps
An excellent map is:

• Gruppo di Brenta
  Kompass Map WK 688
  1:25000
  Kompass Verlag
  ISBN: 3-85491-770-8
  
• Brentagruppe
  Alpenvereinskarte No. 51
  1:25000

Books

• Hiking
  Brentagruppe (German)
  Kompass Hiking Guide 957
  Dr. G. Wagner
  Kompass Verlag
  ISBN: 3-85491-410-5
  
• Vie Ferrate
  Klettersteige Dolomiten / Via Ferrata Dolomites
  W. Höfler
  Rother Verlag
  ISBN:
  3-7633-3096-8 (German)
  3-7633-4815-8 (English)
  
• Climbing
  Dolomiti di Brenta (Italian)
  Gino Buscaini
  CAI-TCI

External Links

• Map of the Brenta taken from DAVlifeAlpin
  Map taken from the german Alpenverein
  
• Brenta maps from kompass.at
  Two Maps from the Kompass company, scaled 1:30000 and 1:50000 respectively
  

Images

View Croz dell'Altissimo Image Gallery - 23 Images