Dolomites: Backpacking on the Moon - Four day loop of the Pale di San Martino from Rolle Pass

Backpacking on the moonscape of the Pale di San Martino along and beyond Alta Via 2

Paneveggio - Pale di San Martino Nature Park
Trailhead: Passo Rolle

September 2023

Itinerary
Day 1: Passo Rolle, Baita Segantini, trail 710A to trail 710 Quinto Scalet in Campigol della Venazza. 710 to Passo Mulaz and Rifugio Mulaz, trail 703 (Sentiero delle Farangole) to Forcella Margherita, Passo delle Farangole, junction to Val Strut. Bivacco Giorgio Brunner in Val Strut.
11.7 mi / 18,8 km, 5534 ft / 1686 m elevation gain.

Day 2: Bivacco Brunner, return to trail 703. 703 to Rifugio Rosetta. Trails 707 and 709 to Passo Pradidali Basso, trail 708 to Passo della Fradusta, trail 711B to Passo delle Lede, trail 711 to Bivacco Carlo Minazio.
9.4 mi / 15 km, 2600 ft / 800 m elevation gain.

Day 3: Bivacco Minazio, return to Passo delle Lede and Passo della Fradusta, trail 708 to summit of La Fradusta, trail 708 to Forcella Alta del Ghiacciaio. Return to Passo della Fradusta, trail 711B to Laghi di Manna. Camp at Laghi di Manna.
7.25 mi / 11,6 km, 2848 ft / 870 m elevation gain.

Day 4: Laghi di Manna, trail 711B to trail 707 to Rifugio Rosetta, summit of La Rosetta, trail 701 towards Colverde to trail 712A to trail 712 (Sentiero dei Finanzieri) to Malga Fosse di sopra, road to Passo Rolle.
9.62 mi / 15,5 km, 2447 ft / 745 m elevation gain.

Trip total: 38 mi / 61 km , 13,425 ft / 4100 m elevation gain.

All Trails Map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/rec...

Hike Notes
The most distinctive feature of the vast and complex Pale di San Martino mountain group is its high alpine moonscape plateau. An amazing rock landscape with almost no vegetation. I wanted to hike up there for a long time. I finally had the opportunity.
It was a fantastic backpacking trip with perfect weather and no crowd even at the usually busy spots like the Rosetta cable car station.
The hiking on the first day was tough for my not so fresh legs and my jet lag. Over 5500 ft of elevation gain including the off trail final hike up Val Strut to the Bivacco Brunner. The hard work included the via ferrata up and down Passo delle Farangole, a known highlight of this section of Alta Via 2. Nonetheless, the hiking of the first day was superb, particularly the stretch from Passo Mulaz to the Bivacco Brunner with its rugged high alpine terrain. I was lucky to have Bivacco Brunner all for myself. Val Strut is truly up there, rugged and solitary. Loved it.
The second morning, down from Val Strut was the hike on trail 703 to Rifugio Rosetta on the plateau (Altopiano delle Pale). This section of 703 runs high above Val delle Comelle with many exposed trail sections and a good stretch of via Ferrata. Not a trail for everyone. I enjoyed it very much. Views were always top notch. The Pale plateau get closer and closer. The drop down to the Pian dei Cantoni offers amazing views on both directions of the valley.
I was behind schedule so I took the route across the plateau to make up some ground, but I did not proceed much faster because the scenery was amazing. With the early evening light I enjoyed filming and photography. Eventually I made it to bivacco Minazio with about half an hour of daylight. The bivacco was pretty busy. I enjoyed the good company for the evening. Golden hours were truly beautiful from the location high above the valley.
The morning of the third day I hiked back to Passo delle Lede and Passo della Fradusta and from there to the top of the Fradusta where I had lunch with a 360 spectacular view. From there I continued on 708 West to Forcella Alta del Ghiacciaio, then back to Passo della Fradusta. I cut across the plateau heading North until I reached the first two Manna Lakes. Up above one of them, I setup my camp. It was my last night on the Pale. It was magnificent and quiet with beautiful light. The morning sun lit up the Pale on the North-East side of the range in orange color.
The morning of the final day I reached Rifugio Rosetta and hiked up to La Rosetta. The view of the plateau from the top is great. Then the descent to Passo Rolle through trails 701 and 712 (Sentiero dei Finanzieri). The route was easy, with many spectacular views.
I had great expectations for this backpacking trip. They were all met and exceeded. I can't wait to be back, with M. next time. She will love it up there.

Music:
Where Galaxies Are Born by Ave Air Licensed by Epidemic Sound.

#Dolomites #backpacking #hiking #trekking #paledisanmartino

00:00 - Intro
01:04 - Trip Highlights: Four day loop of the Pale di San Martino from Passo Rolle
07:10 - Day 1: Backpacking Rolle Pass, Mulaz Pass, Rifugio Mulaz, Farangole Pass, Giorgio Brunner Bivouac
13:30 - Day 2: Hike to Rifugio Rosetta, Fradusta Pass, Lede Pass and Carlo Minazio Bivouac
22:42 - Day 3: Hike to Lede Pass, summit of Fradusta, Forcella Alta del Ghiacciaio, Manna Lakes
29:56 - Day 4: Hike to Rifugio Rosetta, top of La Rosetta, Finanzieri trail to Rolle Pass