THE ROAD TO THE PACIFIC BORDER
The road to the Pacific border
(Ring itinerary)
Often ignored in favor of the more famous Dolomites, the Vétte Feltrine offer unique landscapes of extremely high environmental value, where the gaze can run towards the heart of the Pale Mountains on one side and the Venetian Pre-Alps on the other. In addition to that sense of isolation and silence, which the more touristic places have lost, walking on the ridges and the passes where the ancient border between the Republic of Venice and the Habsburg Empire passed, also means following in the footsteps of shepherds, smugglers, soldiers and botanists. A border that was always peaceful and, almost in spite of the idea of dividing, has always united the Feltre valley with the Primiéro.
“La via del confine pacifico” is a ring designed by Teddy Soppelsa who described it in the August-September 2017 issue of Skialper magazine. The purpose of this route, which has the advantage of joining some of the most suggestive CAI paths of the Belluno Dolomites National Park, is to walk in natural environments that are unique in the world and to promote the refuge as a place to live an authentic experience in contact with the mountain.
Depending
on the time available and physical preparation, "The path to the
Pacific border" can be completed in 2 or 3 stages, relying for overnight
stays in the shelters of the CAI Feltre Section (Rifugi Bruno Boz and
Giorgio Dal Piaz). The
route is conceived as a ring and it is possible to start both from the
southern slope (from Val Canzoi or from Passo Croce d'Aune) and from the
northern one of the Vétte Feltrine (from Val Noana).
The route here is described in a clockwise direction with departure and arrival in Val Noana.
1 day
Difficulty: E; overall difference in height uphill: 650 m; travel time: 3.30 hours.
Trail 733: Casina Forestale (1135 m), Valpiana di Sotto (1124 m), Valpiana di Sopra (1166 m), Rifugio Fonteghi (1100 m); Trail 748: Bridge over the Rio Nèva, Luz (1127 m); Leave the sentiment 748 and then on the forest road: la Vittoria (1132 m), Vaticano (1150 m), el Belo (1190 m); Trail 727 and then on the forest road: Casera Nèva Seconda (1741 m), Val Fonda (1670 m), Rifugio Bruno Boz (1718 m). Overnight at the Boz refuge.
2 day
Difficulty: EE; overall height difference uphill: 1100 m; journey times: 6/6.30 am.
Path 801 and Alta Via delle Dolomiti n. 2: Bruno Boz refuge (1718 m), Passo Finestra (1766 m), crest of Monte Zoccarè Alto, shoulder of Sasso Scarnia (2150 m), Costa Alpe Ramezza (2040 m), Col Veriol (c. 2200 m); Piaza del Diàol (1900 m), Piétena Pass ((2094 m), Busa delle Vétte (1940 m), Vétte Grandi Pass (1999 m), Giorgio Dal Piaz Hut (1993 m). Overnight at Dal Piaz Hut.
3 day
Difficulty: EE; overall difference in height uphill: 900 m; walking time: 6.30 am.
Path 817: Giorgio Dal Piaz refuge (1993 m), Passo Vétte Grandi (1999 m), Coston de le Vétte Grandi (2130 m), Sella delle Cavalàde (2060 m), Col di Luna (2295 m), Monte Pavióne (2335 m), Pavione Pass (2059 m). Trail 736: Malga Agneròla (1577 m), Rifugio Vederna (1324 m), Piàn Grant di Vederna (1254 m). Path 733: crossroads and junction on the right in path 733 (1230 m), Col Camoz, Frate di Dentro (1421 m), Val di Stua, Pian de le Vederne, Pian Pomer (1100 m c.), Val Boal dei Canalini, Pian Signor (1043 m), Conche Carbonere (1133 m), Casina Forestale (1135 m).
Recommended period: from June to October
Refuges: Bruno Boz Refuge ; Giorgio Dal Piaz Refuge; Vederna Refuge .
Cartography: Tabacco map, scale 1:25,000 on sheet 023; sheet 4 scales 1:50,000
Recommended equipment: complete layered high mountain clothing, sturdy boots with sculpted soles; sheet bag, trekking poles, large water bottle, crampons in case of icy sections or in the presence of snow. For overnight stays, sleeping bag (or sheet bag).