This stage has been documented thanks to the contribution of Iaia & Salvo.
Definitely, a long and moderately demanding stage, when it comes to differences in altitude. Without particular difficulties except for a stretch with felled trees by Vaia, in the climb after the town of Fontanefredde.
The highlight of the day is the detour to the beautiful Bletterbach Canyon, an open-air geological museum.
The optional detour to Bletterbach Canyon is a variation of the Sentiero Italia (that descends from Passo Oclini directly to Redagno) and it is highly recommended due to the extreme naturalistic and landscape interest of the gorge.
To visit the Canyon you need to buy a ticket and have a protective helmet.
Those who are tired can break the stage in Redagno.
Several fallen trees in the section of path 7, after Fontanefredde: some parts require great attention and cold blood.
Risk of ticks.
From Passo di Lavazè we walk for the first 3 km on a slightly uphill paved road (about 200 m height difference), towards Passo di Oclini. Once at the pass, embedded between Corno Nero and Corno Bianco, we continue a little more on a flat stretch and then take the path on the right side, towards the Bletterbach Canyon. We descend rapidly and soon find ourselves in the narrow gorges. Anyone wishing to fully explore the canyon (absolutely worth it: here you can read the geological history of the last 40 million years!) must first go to the Visitor Center, buy a ticket, and get a protective helmet.
After passing some old copper mines, from the canyon we go up the path up to the characteristic village of Redagno di Sopra, from where we see the Adige Valley: it is the right place for a bite (those who are tired can break the stage here).
After the harsh dolomitic panoramas, the landscape is now hilly and seems to be in Bavaria. We start the descent (about 400 m drop): we cross Redagno di Sotto and, alternating road and path, we reach the town of Fontanefredde. We continue to climb (approximately 500 m height difference ) entering Monte Corno Park. In this stretch, we have to overcome several fallen trees, with some difficult moments. After the initial climb, we continue up and down on a comfortable and wide carriage path, continuing through the woods until we slightly lose altitude near Passo Cisa.
The last climb (about 200 m height difference) on the hairpin bends of the road, that can be cut through the path, leads us to the beautiful Malga di Monte Corno, located under the summit of the same name.
Passo Oclini, located between Corno Bianco and Corno Nero, inhabited in the prehistoric period, was a hunting and sheep farming area: the very hot climate turned the Val d'Adige into a swampy and uninhabitable area, where the arboreal vegetation reached up to 2,500 m.
Numerous artifacts have been found: the archaeological remains on the top of the Corno Nero suggest the existence of a sanctuary where ritual sacrifices took place.
Canyon Bletterbach, an 8 km gorge at the foot of Corno Bianco, is a geological jewel: it is one of the nine Dolomite systems included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Along the gorge, it is easy to distinguish the different overlapping layers, which contain numerous fossil finds: an open book where we can leaf through more than 40 million years of the history of the Earth.
One of the most famous products of Trentino Alto-Adige is speck: of ancient origins, it comes from the need for the less wealthy classes to store meat for the winter.
It is produced by curing the pork leg in salt and other spices, then it is cold smoked (with juniper or beech wood) and left to mature.
In Redagno there are several hotels.
Malga di Monte Corno, near Monte Corno. Tel. +39 338 102 2342
Starting point reachable by car.
Departure point NOT reachable by bus.
The nearest location reachable by bus is Varena, starting from the city of Trento with a change in Cavalese.
Here the LINK to check the timetables.
Departure point NOT reachable by train.
Va' Sentiero is a grassroot project, thanks to the spontaneous contribution oft housands of people.
Even the most complicated dream, a 7,000km uphill dream,
can be achieved... together.
Grazie!
