Punta del Lago Gelato (Eisseespitze) and Passo del Lago Gelato (Eisseepass)

Premise

This route was traveled on April 7, 2025, and all subsequent observations and considerations can apply fully only for that day.

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Ascent to Punta del Lago Gelato (Eisseespitze) from the end-of-valley parking in Val Martello

From the end-of-valley parking, follow an easy path to Rifugio Corsi, then (on trails 103-150) ascend by traversing and bypassing the ridge that leads onto the long and gentle plains where, at the beginning, you find the old Bau dam.

Ignore the summer trail deviation to Rifugio Martello and also pass beyond the other deviation that enters the steep slope, which is the winter route to Rifugio Martello.

Continue for a long time gaining little altitude, with gentle undulations and as many lines as possible, until the area called “IN DER KACHEL” which on the 4LAND map is translated as Debris Lake.

Here on the right is the entrance to Valle del Pozzo leading to Cima Madriccio, and in front is the first real change in slope of this excursion.

It is a slope change that, with good snow, is quite compatible with snowshoes and can be overcome with some zig-zags on the right side in the ascent direction.

After this, there is a very long plateau leading, on almost flat undulating slopes, toward the Vedretta Lunga area.

Arrive under a more pronounced slope change than the first, divided in two by a central rocky body: to the right would lead towards Cima Pozzo, but for this excursion, take the left valley.

To "enter more efficiently and effectively" the left valley, one should leave the plateau before its end and start ascending on the left in a gentle diagonal.

Today, however, I went along the entire plateau under the valley that goes to Cima Pozzo, then cut sharply to the left: on descent, I followed the more optimized line.

Follow the left valley until just before the steep final ridge, then divert right onto a short terraced slope followed by a small valley: there are several hollows in this slope that create snowshoe-friendly passage lines.

Exiting the slope-valley, find a noticeable cairn with a painted trail marker, which is an excellent reference for the descent.

Looking ahead on the gentle slope after the cairn is directly the Passo del Lago Gelato.

Proceed easily, ignoring the possible left deviation to Rifugio Casati and Cima di Solda, and go almost below Passo del Lago Gelato, where the final ascent to Punta del Lago Gelato starts on the right.

Pass under a band of rocks and immediately reach a flat plateau (with a small memorial Cross on the right), then with an easy diagonal reach above a basin-depression.

If the snow is excellent as today, you can avoid descending into the depression and continue traversing below the broad and not difficult final slope.

With suitable zig-zags, climb this last slope up to the short final flat area where, finally, you can see the various summit cairns and, above all, the panorama unveils.

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From Punta del Lago Gelato (Eisseespitze) to Passo del Lago Gelato (Eisseepass)

From Punta del Lago Gelato, I returned to the plateau with the small memorial Cross: here it was possible to see a couple of ski lines cutting directly towards Passo del Lago Gelato, but I judged them incompatible with snowshoes.

So, I descended a few more meters and tackled the short ascent to the pass from below the vertical.

The first part’s slope is not difficult and ascended by the usual zig-zags until a short final spike, which is still fine for skis but a bit less so for snowshoes.

Here you can widen to the right where there are passages on snow between rocks that soften the ascent: however, I imagine everything should be evaluated case by case depending on the snow condition.

As I see it, if it seems difficult with snowshoes on, it should not be difficult without them, still with good snow.

Great views also from Passo del Lago Gelato where the (few) remains of the former Rifugio del Lago Gelato or Hall’sche Hütte are found.