Aided path Burrone Giovanelli

Introduction:

The Sentiero Aided to the Burrone Giovanelli extends in a wonderful environment, that is the gorge of Mezzocorona in the province of Trento. The aided path does not present particular technical difficulties, is exposed in some single passages and very pleasant. It can also be covered in the summer months even if it is at a low altitude, stretching out in many parts within a very characteristic gorge.

Starting location:

The starting point of the itinerary is the village of Mezzocorona in the province of Trento. Exit at the San Michele all'Adige exit on the Brenner motorway and reach the center of Mezzocorona, turn left into Via Cesare Battisti and before reaching Mezzolombardo keep a narrow but paved road on the right that goes through the vineyards until it reaches a parking lot. in which there is one notice board with information on the aided path at the Giovanelli ravine. Directions for Google Maps available here.

Approach:

From the parking lot we follow the signs of the CAI 505 to the Burrone Giovanelli that enters the wood. We will therefore reach a first crossroads (5 'from the car park) signposted with a CAI sign: CAI 505A on the left, CAI 505 on the right losing altitude. We will keep the left - more difficult variant that does not cut the first part of the route - and continuing in the woods we reach a bridge which goes over a stream and we continue to climb on the orographic right until we reach the red sign and one marble slab that indicate the beginning of the aided path (15 'from the parking lot).

Via Ferrata:

From the beginning of the equipment we travel an easy horizontal ledge until we reach the first waterfall where we cross the river and we find ourselves under a long metallic ladder divided into two sections. The stretch is exposed and vertical but does not present any technical difficulty, with the exception of the slipperiness of the soles if they were wet when crossing the stream. Once the long metal ladder is finished, if we turn around we will have a wonderful view of the flat Rotaliana. Let's now walk an easy stretch of aided path with some easy rocks. This section without difficulty leads us into the ravine after climbing one second ladder, this time shorter than the previous one. We cover a ledge to the left slightly uphill until we reach the entrance to the ravine after one narrow passage aided. Let's go down one short ladder and we are inside the ravine before ascending the ravine on the right orographic side. After crossing the river we will begin a stretch consisting of large and solid metal bracketa. We continue uphill without difficulty bending to the right, always supported by metal brackets. We go up a short ladder and find ourselves on a ledge to which one has been added wooden walkway before reaching one statue of the madonna. We are now in the narrowest part of the ravine with relatively little light except in the central hours of the day.

We enter the ravine uphill next to the river in a very suggestive environment going up on an average slope until it comes out of the narrowest part. We follow the trail track until we reach one beautiful waterfall of about 100 meters. Take the path again alternating some aided sections and easy uphill sections. Let's go up a couple of generally humid rocks to then come under one long and leaning staircase beyond which we continue on the path and reach the last staircase and with it we finish the equipment. We continue for about ten minutes and end the Aided Path of Burrone Giovenelli near a forest road (765 m - 1h 15 'from the start - 1h 30' total).

Descent:

Arrived at the end of the via ferrata and reached the forest in a few minutes, for the return we have 3 options in order of length of the itinerary:

• we keep to the left and we go down along a path (504) in the wood that in about 45 'takes us to the car (2h 30' total).
• we hold the right and in about an hour along the path 505 we reach the mountain station of the cable car - after passing by Baita Manzi - and we go down to the valley with the cable car. From the valley station we will have to walk about 30 minutes east going out of the village of Mezzocorona to reach the car (3h 30 'total).
• Still reaching the top station of the cable car, we continue staying on the 500 in steep descent with some ropes as a handrail descends along a scenic coast until we reach Mezzocorona near the valley station of the cable car. From the station in about 30 'we reach the car (2h 30' from the end of the ferrata - about 4h total).

Notes:

The first note we feel to share is that the term aided path is perhaps an understatement. Although we are talking about a route aided with relatively low difficulties, there are aided vertical sections that make the term via ferrata more appropriate. As is the case for aided routes in ravines and gorges, it is advisable to pay attention to the humidity and flow of the species, especially in spring and after heavy rains.

The Aided Path of the Burrone Giovanelli does not present technical difficulties and can be considered a good itinerary even for beginners. The stairs, in particular the first one, are quite exposed but solid and stable.

Opportunities:

The Path Aided to the Burrone Giovanelli is a very pleasant itinerary with a short approach. This could make the itinerary suitable for other aided routes in the Val d'Adige area, such as the Ferrata Rio Secco or the Ferrata di Favogna, both very close to Mezzocorona. Going up towards Andalo, one could go on the exposure Ferrata delle Aquile or descending in the direction of Lake Garda you could walk along the Ferrata Mori or the Ferrata di Preore, both medium difficulty via ferratas with relatively short approaches. In Val di Sarche they reach the Ferrata Pisetta, the Ferrata Che Guevara, the Casteldrena ferrata