Ferrata Trentapassi

Introduction:

The Path Aided to the Trentapassi Horn is a beautiful trip to a summit of modest height (1248 m) but very satisfying from the point of view of the landscape on the underlying Lake Iseo. The trail is challenging for large stretches although never technically difficult. The term aided path is probably a little narrow on a route that still requires climbing some vertical sections. To avoid after heavy rains due to the presence of slippery and unprotected grassy sections.

Starting location:

The starting point of the itinerary is the small town of Tolino on the eastern shore of Lake Iseo, Brescia. You reach Tolino leaving the road that connects Brescia to Valcamonica. Coming from Brescia, exit the provincial road and immediately go up a ramp to the center of Tolino. After 50 meters on the left you will notice a playground for children with a small parking lot. It is worthwhile to park the car in this open space. If you want you could continue along the left for 100 meters, turn right into via Canale up to a small bridge where, before crossing it, there is a small open space (max 2 cars) in which to park. This saves 5 minutes, so it may not be worth it.

Directions for Google Maps available here.

Approach:

From the parking lot to the playground, take Via Costa until you turn right into Via Canale. Continue up to a small bridge before which a pole indicates some CAI trail markers. We will take path 212 to the right for Corno Trentapassi. The path continues well-marked westward, initially in the wood, then increasingly sloping over exposed rocky coasts. We return to the woods and continue the long and tiring climb up to a hut. We now begin to glimpse the ridge that will be the destination of our via ferrata. We will then reach a junction not signposted near a flat stone and a large chestnut tree: we could continue to the left along paths in the very exposed meadows that leads to the ferrata but by difficult path. At this junction it is worthwhile to proceed decidedly to the right and climb the wooded ridge. As soon as possible wear the harness and, go up some rocks, we reach the start of the Ferrata to the Corno Trentapassi with its yellow sign (1h 45 'from the parking lot).

Via Ferrata:

Shortly before the sign the chain begins to help us overcome a crack in the rock. Next to the sign of the beginning of the ferrata, go up a ladder with which we go up a short chimney with good holds for hands and feet. We go up a short jump and go up a ramp to the left. We climb diagonally with good holds then climbing some rocky spikes. The climb starts to have a good exposure now. We go around a corner and go up a small grassy path. We go around a spur using the balance cable in these easy stretches along a stretch of ridge. We go around an edge, we pass on a narrow saddle and we continue on the ridge on the right side. We now come under a vertical wall of about fifteen meters in which it is possible to climb with abundant holds for hands and feet. Leaving the wall we have a few meters of easy path to cross to the left for a short time and then climb over an exposed spur. We are now in the most adrenaline-filled stretch of the route. We go around another boulder in strong exposure and start a ledge. The trail now continues with stretches of rocks to be climbed up to the Northern Foresummit. The last stretch before the antimaima is an exposed oblique ledge and a quite smooth inclined slab beyond which we reach the cross. The aided part of the path ends here (1h from the start - 2h 45 'total).

To reach the top of the Corno dei Trentapassi you must continue on the right side of the ridge following signs for a few meters down to a saddle where we will continue to climb. We continue on the path until we reach a crossroads: we continue straight on to rocks (1st degree) up to the ridge or by track to the left, grafting onto the sweeter CAI path 205 which goes up on the other side. Regardless of the choice, we reach the top of this panoramic peak with a beautiful view of the underlying Lake Iseo (30 'from the front - 3h 15' total).

Descent:

From the peak we will follow the path 205/265 which extends towards the east. We go down on moderate slopes up to a first saddle in which we will keep the left (CAI 205) downhill at times a little steeper. We ignore a first saddle to the right (CAI 229) and at the next crossroads we keep the left again to take the CAI 206. We follow the CAI 2016 until we cross a small road where we can assess whether to take it downhill to the bridge route to the outward journey or if we follow it uphill where, in short, the CAI path 206 turns left and goes down more pleasant in the woods. Once in Toline, return to the car park (1h 30 'from the summit - 4h 45' total).

Notes:

The approach path is decidedly steep and in some places exposed. Hiking sticks are recommended and special attention should be paid in the event of recent rains. Pay attention to the approach path after the construction of the manger to continue, wrongly, on an exposed path but turn right as indicated in the report. Last note, pay attention to the humidity and the summer heat which requires abundant water. There are no springs or water sources along the route.

Opportunities:

The Aided path of the Trentapassi Horn is a route with a good gap that will leave us little energy for a new itinerary on the same day. That said the valleys of Brescia offer at least a dozen itineraries for each degree of technical difficulty and length of the itinerary. Remaining close to Lake Iseo we could consider the Aided path of the Waterfalls, the Aided path Benedetti or the most difficult Ferrate del Corno del Bene or move to the Via Ferrata Caspai or the Parco delle Fucine di Casto.