Bocchette Alte

The ascent route is secured with wire ropes and short ladders and leads along narrow ledges. Continue alternating between sections of the normal path and others that are equipped until you reach a wide detrital ledge (Cengia Garbari).

The trail now begins to descend. Ropes lead in a fairly exposed direction to two metal ladders that allow you to descend into a steep snowy gully. Proceeding along the trail, you reach a rocky terrace located below Cima Brenta. This observation point is ideal for a rest; it is about halfway along the path.

Descend to the Bocchetta Alta dei Massodi via very exposed ridges and rocky edges in the direction of the Spallone dei Massodi. To reach it, climb a long ladder and continue through equipped rock jumps with solid rock. Further metal ladders lead to the Bocchetta Bassa dei Massodi.

The track branches off: to the right you take the Oliva Detassis path, while to the left a narrow ledge leads to the snow-covered gorge and starts climbing again with ladders and ropes.

The last part of the trail leads across scree and easy rocks to the Vedretta degli Sfulmini. Keeping to the edge of the vedretta in 30 minutes, you reach the Rifugio Alimonta at 2580 m.

From Bocca di Tuckett, continue right from here following signs up stepped rocks to the obvious start of the ferrata. Cables and ladders follow steeply up the crest to vertical ladders that lead up to the main ledge system. Crampons and ice axes may be found necessary on this first tiring, cold and windy section, especially at the start of the season. The exposed but well-equipped ledge now leads off leftwards, along the eastern flank of Cima Brenta. After an easy zigzag ascent reach a plaque and the Via Normale that scrambles up, via cairns and a series of chimneys, to Cima Vallesinella and Cima Brenta (3151 m – 1 hour, care and attention required). The ferrata however continues on and descends into a dark and damp gully, past cables to a small icefield. This section is rightly considered the crux as the cable may be buried in snow at the start of the season and tends not to be taught. After having crossed this (queues possible) the ferrate leads up and down ledges to reach a wide terrace with a fantastic view south onto the flat Spallone dei Massodi and the impressive Cima Brenta to the north. Leave this panorama point and descend steeply via cables and ladders to the Bocca Alta dei Massodi and the famous Scala degli Amici. Thirty exposed vertical meters lead to the windy Spallone at 3000m.

Follow signs across this to duck down into a gully and a gravely path that descends to further ladders and the saddle (Bocca Bassa dei Massodi nestled beneath Cima Molveno (2917m). A variation leads off rightwards slightly beforehand down the Via Ferrata Oliva Detassis, but the Via delle Bocchette Alte continues left at the fork to the obvious saddle and then on up to Cima Molveno.

Descend easily to the Vedretta dei Sfulmini glacier and Rifugio Alimonta (2580m).