EX Sentiero CAI Castelfranco del Grappa Occidentale→part 2 north

Premise

This route was traveled on March 26, 2022, and all subsequent observations and considerations may fully apply only to that day.

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From the junction of the CAI 935 trail rising from Londa with the detour to Pra' Ventore (or Praventore) to the junction with the CAI 934 trail

From the locality of Londa, climb the comfortable CAI 935 trail up to the junction for Pra' Ventore (or Praventore) where you enter the itinerary of the Sentiero CAI Castelfranco del Grappa Occidentale.

Continue on CAI 935 up to under the ridge dividing Val delle Ore from Val Sambuco.

At the arrival point there is a sign "Costa Alta m 634 a.s.l." and, a few dozen meters to the left, the ENEL pylon 431.

Continue right for just over 200 linear meters with a slight ascent until spotting a track crossing the ridge to the left with a red "432" (referring to the next ENEL pylon) painted on a rock.

In a few meters climb on the ridge crest and start the traverse of Val Sambuco with one of the most challenging parts of the itinerary.

It is a true "viàz": narrow, exposed track and potentially very slippery over loose stones.

Here the perception of difficulty can change greatly depending on the moisture or dryness of the ground.

Consider – as in other subsequent sections – the possible use of grass cleats.

After the first traverse (with a couple of switchbacks in between) the footprint on the ground improves, make a small descent and resume traversing with the large Carpanè quarry in sight.

Then enter the woods and find a junction with red ENEL markers also descending to the left: here continue straight on flat ground and soon find also the white-yellow markers.

Cross the depression of Val Pian dei Zocchi and reach another junction: here follow the left track indicated by an arrow and a red 433 painted on a rock on the ground.

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If you follow the other direction you reach Val della Corda and then CAI 934 via a variant not included in the Sentiero CAI Castelfranco del Grappa Occidentale.

By taking this variant you skip perhaps the most demanding and characteristic stretch of the entire route, which is OBJECTIVELY MORE DANGEROUS.

For this variant you can refer to the itinerary → Val della Corda→Val Pian dei Zocchi→EX Sentiero CAI Castelfranco.

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Following the arrow with 433 continue high on the right hydrographic side of Val Pian dei Zocchi to another FUNDAMENTAL JUNCTION: the red ENEL markers continue to the left in a marked descent, while towards the less marked track going straight on flat ground there are no signs: YOU MUST GO STRAIGHT.

Now there is the only (long) stretch of the entire Sentiero CAI Castelfranco del Grappa Occidentale without any painted marker, no cairns and only a few RARE and small cut branches.

The footprint on the ground varies from "viàz di razza" (like the first part of Val Sambuco tackled at the beginning) to faint trail with various alternations, and many truly exposed passages (in one trail stretch there are a couple of meters of landslide less simple than they seem on arrival).

Arrive thus (slowly) at the point marked as the most exposed in Scandellari's book opposite San Gaetano locality and with a beautiful view over the Valsugana.

It is certainly the most exposed in terms of side verticality (the SS 47 can be seen ... below your feet) but it is not the most exposed in terms of narrowness of the footprint on the ground: it remains delicate and ... be careful with movements when taking photos.

Here are several cut branches continuing up to the next panoramic viewpoint bypassing the ridge leading into Val della Corda.

The trail-track does not continue at the arrival point level.

It is advisable to climb directly on the ridge crest (basically going slightly back in direction) for 10 or slightly more linear meters and you find (finally restarting) a white-yellow marker painted on a small tree.

The trail-track resumes just below to the left of this marker, and intercepts by descending diagonally forward: DO NOT PROCEED towards the obvious ENEL pylon visible ahead and higher on the ridge.

Also this small trail in various points can be defined as viàz, but with fewer difficulties than before, and you reach another small viewpoint above Val della Corda from where you can see an old metal shack (former hunting shack) which is the next target to reach.

The viewpoint area is open field with very overgrown grass and there are several paths leading to areas too steep to be the right ones.

You must climb a few meters on the ridge crest behind the viewpoint and then find to the left a continuation track, traverse a little more than 50 meters and spot a fair trail descending steeply but without difficulties down to the depression of Val della Corda, with a large cairn at the crossing point.

From there quickly climb to the former hunter's shack where there is a large and bright white-yellow marker arrow.

Following the arrow, pass a first small saddle just above the shack and then ascend diagonally northwards still on a viàz trail to another small saddle, and then on the crest of a VERY steep ridge to be climbed eastwards.

Climb about 100 meters elevation on loose stones, and at some point you must bypass some emerging rocks, after which you "free yourself from the loose stones" and with less effort reach an intersecting trail where, on the left, there is immediately a tree with a very faint white-yellow marker: compared to my last passage, someone thoughtfully cut some branches (you can see the "fresh cut") to make the continuation to the left clearer.

Finally about 350 linear meters of easy flat trail to reach the junction with CAI 934 with some not difficult bypasses of fallen trees at the end.

The junction takes place opposite ENEL pylon 434.

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Variant from the former hunting shack in Val della Corda to the junction with the CAI 934 trail

Here too you can refer to the itinerary → Val della Corda→Val Pian dei Zocchi→EX Sentiero CAI Castelfranco (which also shows a possible early exit from the excursion towards the Valsugana outlet of Val della Corda).

From the shack continue on a thin diagonal track for a few meters up to a group of 4 tall birches standing to the right of the first saddle of the other variant.

There is a white-yellow marker on the trunk of one of the birches, then another on the trunk of the next small tree and another a little further on a rock on the ground.

Cross the small canal-valley just after on small rocky slabs emerging from the grass, and ascend on a track on the steep loose stone slope a few meters above an isolated fir tree.

Now climb the slope with turns up to the ridge crest where continue for a few meters on the line of maximum slope on hard ground without loose stones.

Exit to the right where starts the most treacherous section.

It is a long, VERY VERY EXPOSED traverse on a viàz track where the biggest problem is the frequent alternation of substrates: rock slabs dirty with gravel and inclined, loose stones on soft ground, loose stones regrown on the side and "resting" over hard ground with gravel, and any other combination that doesn't let you decisively choose if it is worth using cleats.

In this traverse, you find other white-yellow markers, and reach a low cable of a forest cableway with a faded white-yellow strip.

Pass the cable and then go back to meet it a little higher again (still faded white-yellow strip) and from here is the final PULL on loose stones, with minimal turns almost on the maximum slope line.

Finally, intersect the trail that to the right goes towards Val Pian dei Zocchi and to the left towards CAI 934.

Turn left and reach a stretch with a safety cable on the side: however, this is easy compared to those just traveled without cables.

Encountering still some white-yellow markers, continue with gentle ups and downs until the junction with CAI 934.

Overall (according to my GPS) from the end of the steep and difficult ascent from the former hunting shack to reach CAI 934 there are about 670 linear meters of walking.

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Which variant is better from the former hunting shack to the junction with the CAI 934 trail?

ASCENDING CASE

The first variant appearing in this GPS recording is simpler logically and also less dangerous especially if cleats are used, which YOU MUST have in your backpack for this route.

In optimal ground conditions you can ascend even without cleats, and I did it three times without because ... I always seek optimal conditions for this type of routes.

DESCENDING CASE

The Sentiero CAI Castelfranco del Grappa Occidentale, for many reasons, is more logical south→north direction and the descending problem does not arise.

You can try descents within shorter reconnaissance hikes with plenty of time to think.

Both ways are VERY difficult and delicate.

Attention!

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From the junction with the CAI 934 trail to the final San Marino parking

From the junction with CAI 934 ascend right for about thirty linear meters, and find the track exiting to the left.

The first part up to a viewpoint over Val di Rivalta is very comfortable.

Then proceed with some not difficult narrow passages up to the crossing of a valley basin happening on a flat wet rock slab.

Climb up the other side, brief ascent and with some careful steps reach to bypass a ridge with terrace fields and dry stone walls visible in the Col Anzini area.

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From the Col Anzini area a couple of easy early extra-CAI descents towards the Valsugana are possible: see itinerary → Val di Rivalta and Scendaore from Rivalta to Strada Moschina.

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After the terraces of Col Anzini continue without problems until the junction with CAI 933, from where descend to the left hairpin bend where is the ENEL pylon 436.

Here exit on a beautiful trail bypassing Val Grottella: cross the depression and climb regularly up to a flank where the good trail footprint almost fades, and you are guided to ENEL pylon 437 (at times on a twisting path) by a multitude of close red markers: you definitely will not get lost.

From under the pylon descend a few meters on rough ground and find the trail again (still red and white-yellow markers).

Encounter a descent with narrow switchbacks and traverse tending down to a spring below the walking plane.

Here is a main rubber pipe (presumably for aqueduct use) descending valleywards and a secondary one which at my last passage was open with the possibility to refill water: today it was closed and missing the faucet handle.

Finally, another steep but not too much descent to cross the depression of Val dell'Asta.

Climb 5 or a few more meters without track on the other side and find a comfortable trail that continues lightly descending on the right hydrographic side.

NOW A FUNDAMENTAL ORIENTATION POINT.

From the meet point of the small trail just after crossing the depression, walk for just under 300 linear meters (including curves, not air line, my GPS recorded 285) until a pine on the left with a LARGE RED MARKER REPAINTED OVER A WHITE-YELLOW THAT IS BARELY VISIBLE (about 70 meters before the pine, along the trail, there is the base-terminal of a forestry cableway).

Just after the pine, the trail descends with a right curve and soon leads towards some small secondary ENEL pylons and the San Marino Cemetery: wrong!

Where this right turn is, there is a fainter track turning more internally still to the right on flat ground, leading almost perfectly northwards, crossing (with reappearance of a small trail) a meadow stretch (with various small trees) about 30 meters long.

At the bottom descend a two-meter embankment and still on small trail, turn right, pass under a wet rock slab and start a diagonal climb on faint track.

On March 26, without seasonal grass regrowth, the track is followed with its turns just moving a few somewhat regrown branches in the sparse woods: in full summer the right line should be harder to keep.

Anyway, with a last diagonal leftwards move toward a mostly grassy small valley bottom and reach a rock with a yellow triangle marker in "alta via" style.

Among a series of faint tracks continuing left, it is not easy to locate this marker, but it is important because exactly at its altitude begins the faint track that leads out towards the ex CAI 32 trail.

Once you identify the right track, a few meters viàz style you meet a white-yellow marker on a transverse twig and then others up to the forest valley junction with the ex CAI 32.

(Those who want to follow the entire ex CAI 32 can refer to the itinerary → Val Caprile and Val di San Lorenzo – ex CAI 32 and 31 dismissed.)

Now the last ascent of the day, easy up to ENEL pylon 439.

Beyond the pylon continue easily up to an elongated forest saddle at about 600 meters altitude.

On the other side of the saddle abandon ex CAI 32 to the left at a red 440 painted on rock on the ground indicating the next ENEL pylon, which, however, is not to be reached.

Start this section on an unproblematic trail to bypass the ridge leading in sight of the Cengia della Val Caprile on the opposite side of the valley.

Now continue with some delicate stretches until passing the bottom of the two high branches of Val Caprile and, once on the right hydrographic side, the ledge in the form of a bench begins: it is not difficult compared to the more complicated stretches already passed.

Reach a ledge stretch where a landslide has brought down large rocks from above but pass without leaning too much on the sharp rock edges.

Then continue nicely with some recesses up to a hollow very useful as an emergency shelter.

After this, again WATCH the orientation.

Reach a junction with double red ENEL arrows on the ground: ignore the one on the right uphill and continue straight on flat ground.

Now walk for another 50/60 linear meters keeping an eye down-left where is a fainter track that descends steeply with a sharp switchback reversing direction.

You notice only a couple of small red dots from above, perhaps more noticeable is a group of cut branches, but, just descended, there are various arrows and ENEL numbers painted on a rock with a white-yellow marker in the middle: don't miss this turn, as it is the only one that leads down to the valley.

Now it is useless to give explanations because the slope is very irregular and does not give a general view of the descent.

However, going slowly there are no problems.

There are many red markers almost always in sight of one another and many cut branches that in some points are more visible than the red marks: before starting to descend "you must also activate the cut branch recognition mode".

All the white-yellow markers (except one) I remembered in this stretch have been covered by the red ones.

With many small turns and hops reach a longer diagonal to the right that leads above a meadow area where immediately you turn left and continue (re-entering the woods) up to a steep somewhat slippery drop, and then the easy final valley floor.

In the final part stay on the right hydrographic side of the nearby depression, and pass to the left about forty meters before the concrete dam encountered towards the exit.

If you miss this crossing (marked by a couple of red dots but perhaps not very clearly), you still end up in San Marino via other tracks and only miss the last few hundred meters of the Sentiero CAI Castelfranco del Grappa Occidentale.

If you guess the crossing point pass the dam on the left hydrographic side, reach the concrete construction where practically begins the ex CAI 32 trail and continue descending shortly after into the paved channel.

Then cross the road at the Cemetery entrance and reach the first hairpin bend of Via Col Moschin where is the final white-yellow marker painted halfway on a concrete pole.

Finally, with a short asphalt stretch that ... does more than good to relax the muscles, reach the parking of Trattoria Impero: today return to the start by bicycle with just over 7 km to Londa.

I followed the right Brenta road because it is safer for cyclists and for a refreshing stop at the fountain in the locality Costa. 😊