Aided path Gino Badia

Introduction:

The Aided path Gino Badia is a partially aided itinerary that connects the Passo delle Selle with Val Monzoni, a valley perpendicular to the Val di Fassa. The itinerary is pleasant with some steep and tiring but not difficult sections. The aided sections help in the progression in the more demanding passages near Forcella dell'Ort.

Starting location:

The starting point is Malga Crocefisso in Val San Nicolò, valley perpendicular to the Val di Fassa at Pozza di Fassa, province of Trento. If the road is not closed you can proceed in Val Monzoni and park near the first bend, otherwise you can park at Malga Crocefisso. Directions for Google Maps available here.

Approach:

Leave the car in the parking lot of Malga Crocefisso (1522 m) and follow the paved path that goes into Val Monzoni. These first meters are paved with signpost 603 until you come to a junction where we will keep the left with path 641. The path now goes up more decisively in the woods to get out of it and take us to Forcella dal Pief (2186 m 1h 30 'from the car). At this crossroads of paths we will keep the right going up in the direction of steep scree, starting in fact the Sentiero Gino Badia with signpost 640A.

Walking along the west walls of Sass del Pief and Punta del'Ort we enter into a valley ascending towards the obvious Forcella del'Ort until it meets the first aided sections (2h from the car).

Via Ferrata:

The aided sections of the Sentiero Badia are not prohibitive. The first sections take place on aided ramps and colanders where some ropes support the progression towards the saddle. We continue without too much difficulty also meeting some brackets in the most pronounced leaps. Then it continues uphill with the rope that helps passings not binding until you reach the iconic passage in the saddle, literally squeezed between two rocky bell towers (30 'from the attachment of the equipment).

In front of us is clearly visible the Passo delle Selle, destination of our path. In about 40 minutes of walking, following the tracks you reach the Passo delle Selle (ca 3h 30 'total).

Descent:

From the Passo delle Selle (2528 m) we have two return options to Malga Crocefisso:

• the easiest and most recommended option is to travel westbound path 604 which without difficulties descends on the scree will lead us to the Talamelli Hut (2046 m - ca 30 '). From the hut we will keep the 603 trail that will lead us to Malga Crocefisso (about 1h 30 'from Passo delle Selle - about 5h 30' total).
• The longest option that extends the itinerary is to partially cover the Alta Via Bepi Zac up to Colle di Costabella (about 2h from Passo delle Selle) where on the left with trail marker 637 you go down steeply to the Baita delle Cascata in Val San Nicolò (1h). Once you reach the Baita delle Cascate, you will have to go through the entire Val San Nicolò to the junction that leads you to Malga Crocefisso (1 hour from the Baita delle Cascate - around 6h 30 '/ 7h total). This option requires good weather and training.

Notes:

The Aided path Gino Badia is a path that overall will be a bit tiring uphill and, pleasant note, little beaten by the large masses of tourists who crowd the most popular paths in the nearby areas. From the climbing point of view, it is an easy and panoramic path that, for experienced and trained hikers, can be combined with stretches of the nearby Alte Vie.

Opportunities:

From Passo delle Selle it is possible to take the 637 signpost on the leftAlta Via Bepi Zac which will follow a long and suggestive ridge itinerary up to the slopes of Cima Uomo. Proceeding instead in a south west direction with trail marker 616 you can go along theAlta Via Bruno Federspiel in the opposite direction with respect to the direction usually traveled. In the report that we offer of the Alta Via Bruno Federspiel, we propose the Gino Badia Aided path as one of the return routes to Malga Crocefisso. At Forcella della Costela (along the Alta Via Bruno Federspiel) comes the end of the Ferrata Gadotti at Cima Aut. From Val San Nicolò, parallel to Val Monzoni, we can also undertake the Ferrata Magnifici 4 and the Ferrata Kaiserjager at the Col Ombert.

Photo by Sara Sentimenti.