trekking-etc

Hiking

MOUNT PELMO

via Normal Route, from Refuge Venezia

South shoulder

Superb climbing with stunning scenery and breathtaking views, on one of the most beautiful peaks of the Dolomites.

In a magnificent combination, the hike includes an exposed crossing along the Ledge of Ball, a rise in the beautiful Van - a large natural basin situated between the south shoulder, the peak and the east shoulder - and a climb along the exposed summit ridge.

You need to be surefooted and have no fear of heights. At the beginning of the season, the Van is likely to be covered with snow; in this case you need crampons and ice ax. In case of snow and fog, it can be difficult to orientate yourself without a GPS track.

Author's Notes: I thank for the company my friend Armando, who appears in many pictures. Description and track updated on 2020-08-24.


Route

You start from the Refuge Venezia, taking the trail that climbs steeply to the north-west:

/treks/europe/it/bl/pelmo/pelmo/pelmo-normale/sentiero.jpg

You reach a large boulder; there, or slightly before, you turn left, heading towards the ledge:

/treks/europe/it/bl/pelmo/pelmo/pelmo-normale/bivio-6/image.jpg

Shortly after you reach the start of the ledge:

/treks/europe/it/bl/pelmo/pelmo/pelmo-normale/attacco/image.jpg

You climb shortly up, following a couple of zig-zags:

/treks/europe/it/bl/pelmo/pelmo/pelmo-normale/attacco.jpg

then you easily locate the ledge to the left, and follow it:

Ledge of Ball

/treks/europe/it/bl/pelmo/pelmo/pelmo-normale/dscn5044/image.jpg

/treks/europe/it/bl/pelmo/pelmo/pelmo-normale/dscn5047/image.jpg

The most exposed sections of the ledge are equipped with nails or other useful aids for a possible progression with a rope. A particularly delicate step, the Passo del Gatto, requires crawling, or walking with the aid of a fixed rope, usually present:

Ledge of Ball
step called Passo del Gatto

At the end of the ledge, the view opens on the wide basin called Van:

Entering the Van

You climb up, following the trail, sometimes on rocks, sometimes on steep gravel:

/treks/europe/it/bl/pelmo/pelmo/pelmo-normale/van-1.jpg

In the highest part you climb along easy rocks, following cairns and trail traces, or on a snowfield:

/treks/europe/it/bl/pelmo/pelmo/pelmo-normale/dscn5062/image.jpg

After climbing up to about 2800 m elevation, the track bends left, pointing directly to the summit ridge between the south shoulder and the summit, at an altitude of about 3000 m:

/treks/europe/it/bl/pelmo/pelmo/pelmo-normale/dscn5072/image.jpg

The summit ridge appears on the right:

The ridge

You climb it up, following traces and cairns:

Climbing up the ridge

In some places you pass very close to the edge of the north wall, which plunges vertically:

/treks/europe/it/bl/pelmo/pelmo/pelmo-normale/cresta.jpg

You climb a short passage of II degree:

/treks/europe/it/bl/pelmo/pelmo/pelmo-normale/dscn5092/image.jpg

and shortly after you reach the summit:

/treks/europe/it/bl/pelmo/pelmo/pelmo-normale/vetta/image.jpg

From the top, you can anjoy a vast panorama of dolomitic groups and valleys. Here is, for example, a view towards the northwest, with the Pelmetto, the Val Fiorentina, and on the horizon the Sella group:

Panorama from the ridge


Return

Same trail.

gb, 2014-06-22

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22637783

Mount Pelmo
via Normal Route, from Refuge Venezia

Refuge Venezia
and fork
Distance: 0 m
Altitude: 1946 m

Fork
Distance: 570 m
Altitude: 2110 m

End of ledge
Distance: 1590 m
Altitude: 2257 m

Mount Pelmo
Distance: 4402 m
Altitude: 3168 m

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