Aided path of the Direttissima

Introduction:

The Path Aided with the Direttissima alla Grignetta is one of the most rewarding trails in the Alps. The path is never difficult, aided where it is needed and offers a wonderful view over the rocky pinnacles and pinnacles that have made the Grigne such a famous place. From the end of the Direttissima you have many opportunities to continue along other routes.

Starting location:

The starting point is Piani dei Resinelli in the province of Lecco. From Ballabio you climb up the left slope uphill and, after the many hairpin bends, near the big brown welcome sign, you go uphill for another hairpin bend. Go up briefly and at the next junction keep left continuing on the narrow paved road to a parking lot near a barrier.

Directions for Google Maps available here.

Approach:

From the parking lot follow the path that leads to the Carlo Porta Hut (5 'from the parking lot) from which we take path 8 uphill along the wood. We will reach a crossroads: on the right we will continue towards the Cresta Cermentati and the Cresta Sinigaglia (possible return routes), we will take the left towards the Direttissima. We will pass close to a gully and we will continue along a path that gradually becomes steeper until we reach the first wall aided with chains (30 'from the parking lot).

Via Ferrata:

The trail begins to climb on some rocky spurs where you often climb diagonally and where you can use the rock to climb without sticking to the chain. It starts with some rocky outcrops to be climbed with the help of a cable to reach a traverse exposed with some brackets for the feet before going into a rocky gully with some rocky leaps. We go up the Caminetto Pagani with the help of two metal ladders, the first overhanging and the second leaning. At the end of the second staircase we find ourselves in the narrow passage of the chimney (watch out for bulky backpacks). We continue along the path between up and down in the middle of a series of stupendous pinnacles in which we will have to ignore the crossroads we will encounter. In this section we will find a detour (Path 8a - Sentiero Giorgio) which leads us to Rifugio Rosalba. We continue straight and we will find ourselves at a crossroads near the Angelone Canalone:

• If we continue on the path of the Direttissima we will go on to graft later to the Cecilia Path in its upper part after having climbed towards Colle Valsecchi along some aided sections in a wall resting along a gully on which we will have to continue laterally. We thus reach Colle Valsecchi where we could continue following the Aided path Cecilia (see below) or keeping the right in the direction of Val Scarlettone. At the next junction go left towards the Val Scarlettone and the Canalino Federation. We now cover a stretch in a deep valley with several aided sections and spiers that rise above us. We leave the valley and after a stretch of open path we find ourselves at the base of the narrow and steep gulley Federation. We go up it following the red signs until it is under the last wall before reaching the Grignetta. This last wall, a little exposed but aided with chains, leads us to the top of the summit with its characteristic shelter (3h 45 'total).

• If we continue uphill in the Canalone Angelina we graft to the upper part of the Aided path Cecilia. If we had reached Colle Valsecchi and embarked on the Cecilia aided path, we would still have grafted ourselves into this section. The Aided path Cecilia is a challenging, rocky path that moves mainly through traverses and aided walls. The most complex passage will be the descent into a rocky gully with chain. We will continue on the Cecilia up to graft to the more comfortable Cermenati Ridge that will lead us to the top of the Southern Grigna (3h 30 'total).

Descent:

The two alternatives for the descent are:

• the descent to the wider and more beaten Cresta Cermenati. The path is steep and in some places slippery, but not difficult and brings us back to the parking lot (1h 45 'from the summit - 5h 15' total), or
• the descent a little more daring is for the Aided Path of the Sinigaglia Ridge with some exposed and aided sections. Along the Sinigaglia ridge you could also take the crossroads 3 for the Canalone Porta.

Notes:

The Direttissima is marked as a path EE and probably for many experts it is in fact a path where the cable serves mainly as a handrail. However never skimp on safety and some traits being very exposed it is right to consider them EEA.

Opportunities:

For the descent a possible alternative, a little longer and more difficult but rewarding is to go down for the Aided path Cecilia first and then for the Aided path Foppe or the Aided path of the Dead, divided between them by Rifugio Rosalba. This itinerary is to be considered in the order of 8 hours and to be faced with stable weather since the Cecilia Aided path has some exposed sections not protected.