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Snowshoes
· Pala Group
Malga Campigàt, Vallón dei Camosci and Sasso Negro from Capanna Cima Comelle
Little Fish Trek
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Snowshoeing route at Sasso Negro on January 23, 2018.Photo: Mario Briotto, Little Fish Trek
Pale di San Martino: Forcella Cesurette, Malga or Casera Campigàt, Vallón dei Camosci, Campo Boaro and Sasso Negro from Capanna Cima Comelle (locality Pian delle Giare in Valle di Garés).
Sasso Negro is a peak on a ridge next to the large plateau of Campo Boaro encountered on one of the ascent routes from Capanna Cima Comelle to the Pale di San Martino Plateau.
On the opposite side to Campo Boaro, Sasso Negro "drops" into the valley with a black "big wall".
It is a route (not the only one) worth knowing for those who, sooner or later, will want to climb the Pale di San Martino Plateau starting from Valle di Garés.
The track itself – in terms of elevation difference, slopes, and exposure – is almost basic, but it should not be underestimated because due to its geographic exposure (more or less all north or northwest) and surrounding walls/slopes it can be a nice puzzle to interpret regarding snow conditions – and for this reason I indicate difficulty "WT4" which may seem exaggerated considering only the "walking planes" or, better, the "snowshoeing planes".
Author’s recommendation
Some photos are in vertical or panoramic format and do not display well in previews: switch to full view to get a more complete idea of the excursion environment.
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For a complete overview of the routes traveled and described in the Pale di San Martino and San Lucano, you can refer to the link → Pale di San Martino: hikes, climbing trails, snowshoe routes.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Rest stops
Capanna Cima ComelleSafety information
This snowshoe excursion – given the development and exposures of the route – requires a careful assessment of the snow cover risk level for the chosen day.
It is advisable to consider the following:
- "Learn by heart" the snow avalanche bulletin.
- In my opinion, it is not enough to look at it the day before, but you should check it every day throughout the winter season to understand well the evolution of the snow cover.
- At least one experienced person in the group who also knows the type of ground under the snow to better judge local situations.
- Assuming that a book can never replace a course held by professionals, my favorite on the snow-avalanche topic is: "SNOW Compendium of Snow Science" by Renato Cresta – Mulatero publisher.
- Excellent for risk reduction evaluation techniques is: "AVALANCHES – How to reduce risk" by Philippe Descamps and Olivier Moret – EDIZIONI VERSANTE SUD.
- I quote, from another book, a phrase that must always be remembered: "Often random events are attributed to skill; snow is stable 95 percent of the time, but we confuse the absence of avalanches with our ability to make good decisions."
- Snowshoes and skis are "two different worlds": do not blindly follow previous ski tracks.
Carry all the necessary equipment.
Roadbook
Premise
This route was traveled on January 23, 2018, and all subsequent observations and considerations can fully apply only to that day.
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Considerations on the snowshoe route
If you do not wait for the perfect day in the right season – when everything will be quite simple – you need to take into account the following peculiarities:
- First stretch on a comfortable path, up to the CAI 756 761 junction, which should not present snow problems.
- Second stretch up to Forcella Cesurette which runs "within reach" of a wall that easily releases (see published photos) onto a gully that must be crossed twice before and after a hairpin; then often the snow covers the comfortable summer path in an unstable way, forcing (as today) to look for fairly safe different lines by observing the terrain meter by meter and advancing rather slowly.
- Then fairly easy to understand snow conditions up to the entrance of Vallon dei Camosci – from this point, going straight you would head towards the SUMMER route of "Cor di San Lucano" which, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful gems of all the Dolomites.
- "Forgetting the Cor di San Lucano", you climb Vallon dei Camosci which is not too steep but is bordered by small walls that somewhat "release"; you can stay in the gully as I did today if you notice that the walls are clear, or a little more to the left (climbing direction) in the initial stretch where there is a small ridge emerging from the bottom.
- Campo Boaro is easy, just don't be tempted by the idea of returning to Malga Campigat by the steep slope that descends directly avoiding Vallon dei Camosci: it is a slope very often unstable (today a real sample of various types of spontaneous small avalanches was visible) and with snowshoes it is a Russian roulette.
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All the above said, in season and on a good day it is a more than frequented route and it is nice to do: you have to know how to wait.
Today was an "almost ok day" and you could reach with some difficulties up to Sasso Negro, but it was really not the case to go further.
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Those interested in the above-mentioned summer route of Cor di San Lucano can refer to the itinerary → Cor di San Lucano-Pale dei Balconi-Cima della Fradusta-Cima della Rosetta.
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MANEGGIO: Dolomiti Ranch
Geostop #37.3 - DWHG - A volcanic cover
Directions
You need to go to Valle di Garés and continue to the end at the locality Pian delle Giare where Capanna Cima Comelle is located.
Parking
Parking lot of Capanna Cima Comelle at Pian delle Giare in Valle di Garés.
Coordinates
Book recommendation by the author
"Freeride Ski Touring and Snowshoes in the PALE DI SAN MARTINO"
by F. Vascellari - A. Cagnati - I. De Biasio - D. Favero - T. Forin
EDIZIONI VIVIDOLOMITI – MOUNTAIN GEOGRAPHIC SERIES
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"SNOW Compendium of Snow Science" (Formation and evolution of snow. Avalanche environment and dynamics. Prevention and rescue.)
by Renato Cresta
Mulatero publisher – SPECIALIST SERIES
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"AVALANCHES – How to reduce risk"
by Philippe Descamps and Olivier Moret
EDIZIONI VERSANTE SUD
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"KNOWING AND INTERPRETING AVALANCHE TERRAIN" (STAYING ALIVE IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN)
by Bruce Tremper
Mulatero publisher – SPECIALIST SERIES
Author’s map recommendations
Publisher TABACCO number 022 "Pale di San Martino" 1:25,000
Publisher 4LAND number 154 "PALE DI SAN MARTINO - PRIMIERO - VANOI" 1:25,000
KOMPASS number 622 "Pale di San Martino - Primiero San Martino di Castrozza, Paneveggio, Vanoi Valley" 1:25,000
Equipment
Standard equipment for snowshoe hikes plus all the safety devices required by current regulations.
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions