Way of the alpine troops - Fork Giralba
Introduction
Take the Alpine Road is not just a matter of "hiking in the mountains", but above all an exercise of deep mental and psychological significance, and historical and cultural experience of a unique flow. In my opinion you can not try on this path without adequate preparation not only by reading at least part of the vast bibliography on the subject and, in particular, on the Italian war 1915-1918, but by going first in the valleys surrounding the groups of the Sesto Dolomites limestone to capture, at least in the wide circle of the horizon, the characteristics of the places where the war took place and visiting, where possible, the many small museums dedicated to it throughout the Pustertal, the Sesto Valley and in the Comelico. The epic of the Great War in the mountains affects many other important and famous mountain ranges (especially the Adamello and the Ortler Alps) where you can live unforgettable experiences of historical memory, but no route can, like this, so make live and complete the meaning of effort, courage and even the resignation with which the men who lived there summers and very hard winters of war, illustrated this particular time of great conflict. You can remain incredulous, crossing paths for the daring, the created works artificially with offensive and defensive purposes, but what it leaves more amazed is the observation how the men, though brave, were able to challenge, in addition to their opponent, the elements of nature in a land that, with an obvious and common euphemism, you can simply define as "inhospitable". The author refers therefore also to other routes from him last on the list of Top trips, particularly to those of Mount Piana Mount Paterno High Street Carnica] ], [[Croda Rossa di Sesto Refuge Berti and Tofana of Rozes, which are enclosed in a universe where the rocks accomplished the feats of arms in the period 1915-17 up to the retreat of the Italian army on the river Piave after the defeat of Caporetto in October 1917.
Description
From the arrival station of the cablelift, take the trail nr. 100 in direction of the "Via Ferrata of the Croda Rossa di Sesto". At the foot of the ridge of Croda Rossa abandon it and continue on the path initially flat, then downhill, until you cross the path nr. 124 that rises from the bottom of Fiscalina valley. Follow it (ignoring is an uncertain track on the left that goes to the Pass of Sentinella) walking on debris in a desolate terrain pointing to the very steep ridge that culminates with the fork Undici (2650m). The ascent of this tract is extremely difficult, due to the strong inclination, and because of the terrain landslide that doesn't facilitates the proceeding. When you reach the fork in a landscape of rocks and steep severe walls, follows the signals that start the Alpini Way itself, marked with nr. 101. The track on left leads to a section that includes the Pass of Sentinella and then to the Refuge Berti, our path, however, continues on a system of partly equipped ledges that grow along the western flank wall of dizzying Cima Undici (Elfer ), one of the most disputed Dolomite crags during the First World War. Passing by the remains of barracks and works of war, with the aid of artificial equipment you proceed in this bleak amphitheater deeper and deeper, with stunning visual effect, while the view opens to the right towards Cima Una (theater of the impressive rocky precipitated an avalanche downstream October 12, 2007), the Fiscalina valley, with the Refuge Comici and the plateau at the base of Paterno and the Three Lavaredo Tops with the Refuge Locatelli. It then bypasses the Tower Undici at its base, and with quite a living descent points to the characteristic passage known as the "Busa di fuori" which is a very steep gully where, early in the season you can also find snow and ice, because of low exposure to the sun. Again along the ledge, now wider, you continue to follow the contour of the mountain: frequent changes of scenery make this feature very exciting: you must be careful because in some places the ledge is shrinking and requires great caution to proceed. Pass then the famous "Ledge of Salvation" where is the characteristic shift to semi-circle that goes into a deep split in the wall and comes out on the opposite side with a bold track where it is necessary to proceed almost on all fours for a while. (Again, pay attention to the eventual snow and ice). Beyond this step, you go in the direction of the Busa continuing between the inside wall of the works on artificial "Sword." After surrounding its base, and getting into the "Busa di dentro" we meet again on open ground at the end of the major difficulties. With a little elevation do regain share in front of the goal, the wide fork Giralba (at 2431 m.) where the route ends. On this step, substantial and impressive remains of the fortifications and works of war. From the Pass you can go down in about 20 minutes with the path 103 to the beautiful and welcoming refuge Carducci owned by the soction of CAI Auronzo .
To return in Sesto (Sexten ) and San Candido (Innichen ) in Pustertal, you must go back to Fork Giralba and then, still following the trail nr. 103, first down gravel in the vast basin at the base of Tower Eleven and climb briefly to Refuge Comici-Zsigmondy (CAI section of Padua ) from which you return at the valley road of Fiscalina through the normal route of access described in the excursion of Mount Paterno.
ATTENTION!
The artificial equipment (ladders, fixed ropes, bridges) along the Way of the Alpine troops are usually on site from late June to mid September, then they are removed. Find out from the Refuge Comici (Tel. 0474/710358) or in the info-point of Sesto, San Candido or Moso or the actual condition of the course.
Author
- Check the page of Giovanni Consigli
Bibliography
- Giovanni Cenacchi, Dolomiti di Sesto e di Braies e dintorni. Il grande libro delle escursioni a piedi e in mountain bike in Alta Pusteria, Zanichelli editore, 1998
Cartography
- Dolomiti di Sesto, Carta Topografica, foglio 010, 1:25000, Casa Editrice Tabacco, 2001
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