Via Ferrata of Pizzo Badile Camuno

Introduction:

The Ferrata al Pizzo Badile Camuno is a wonderful trip that extends on one of the southern peaks of the Adamello Group in the upper Val Camonica in the province of Brescia. The itinerary is challenging, with a long approach and return, but the via ferrata does not present significant technical difficulties. The view from the top is beautiful and will repay the long journey and the climb uphill.

Starting location:

The starting point of the itinerary is near the town of Cimbergo in the upper Val Camonica in the province of Brescia. Once in Cimbergo we will see on the right a road with signs for Volano and Redole. We take this road that heads towards the two hamlets. The road is initially in good condition. We ignore the secondary crossroads and continue on the little road until it becomes a dirt road. Here you can park or if you want you can continue until the next widening taking into account that the road is now more bumpy.

Directions for Google Maps available here.

Approach:

Regardless of where we decide to park the car, we continue on the dirt road (which is also the CAI path 16) until we reach the Rifugio De Marie. From the hut we will leave path 16 and take the CAI path 77 to the right with obvious signs indicating the directions. The path climbs steeply into the woods and after about 30 minutes we find ourselves on the first sections aided: a fairly supported slab is aided with a loose chain. We continue following the white-red signs climbing steep and slippery sections with some rocks. We continue along the path going up some boulders with the help of brackets and we walk towards the path that now comes out of the wood. Continuing among boulders we reach a second stretch aided with chain. This leaning wall is about 30-40 meters long and is not trivial to go back to, due to the lack of grips and the loose chain in different sections. We continue the ascent path arriving near a shelter. From this point we will travel along a path exposed to stretches half-coast that between easy but aerial passages leads us to the start of the Ferrata to Pizzo Badile Camuno (2h 30 'from the parking lot).

Via Ferrata:

The Ferrata al Pizzo Badile Camuno begins by climbing a fairly leaning wall where it is possible to proceed climbing in almost all the sections. The climb is pleasant, a logical ascent follows and the cable serves in many parts as a handrail and balance during the progression. After a first stretch of linear climb we bend slightly to the right into a comfortable and panoramic ascending ledge. From this pulpit the cable starts to climb more vertically first to the right then to the left. The rock is very stable in this part and continues mainly diagonally. We continue for a few minutes and arrive at another terrace where you can enjoy the view behind us. From this stretch the slope increases and we go up a couple of leaning but more hanging walls and then a vertical wall that goes up an unmarked groove. We turn to the right and find ourselves on the ridge of some rocks beyond which the equipment ends. We are now on the wide ridge that we follow towards the Madonnina just below the summit (2435 m) where the ferrata ends (30 'from the start - 3h 30' total).

Descent:

The descent and the return path are the same as the first leg. A lot of attention must be paid to the descent of the via ferrata and also to the rocky stretches along the first leg. Long itinerary with a demanding descent that must be taken into account for the energies (2h 45 'from the summit - 6h 30' total).

Notes:

The Ferrata with Pizzo Badile Camuno is a traditional via ferrata: few metal supports for the progression, logical ascent without the search for the grade, reach a summit. It takes place in a beautiful setting and the ascent has, despite the relatively low altitude, the character of a difficult, alpine trip. The approach and the return are full of challenging, exposed sections. Some stretches in the forest require I passages both in climbing and in climbing when returning. Specified this, we are talking about a via ferrata that from a purely technical point of view does not present significant difficulties. From the top you can admire a wonderful panorama like the Adamello Group to make a beautiful show of itself, in addition to the more distant Gruppo della Disgrazia and Volano.

Opportunities:

The Ferrata the Pizzo Badile Camuno is a beautiful itinerary, long, challenging with a via ferrata that should be considered a parenthesis in a respectable trip. With these premises it is difficult to imagine linking other routes on the same day. That said, the high valleys of Brescia offer many itineraries aided for via ferrata enthusiasts. Going up Val Camonica we will meet in the la Ferrata Arosio at Corno del Grevo, the Ferrata Terzulli and at Passo del Tonale il Ferrata Sentiero dei Fiori and Sentiero degli Alpini a Punta d'Albiolo. If you wanted to proceed in the direction of Sondrio, you could meet the easy one Ferrata del Cuore alla Croce of Monte Palabione.