Gustavo Vidi Via Ferrata – Brenta Dolomites

Poste del Grostè

You start from Poza Vecia and climb on ski runs until you almost reach Rifugio Graffer (2261m/7416ft), with the start of the very famous Sentiero Costanzi (No. 336), that you will follow in its easy initial part. Through a long traverse you climb a crown of rocks up to a large amphitheatre formed by the western slope of Pietra Grande (2937m/9633ft). The path rises towards a pebbly chimney, then it progresses, almost level, on a rather exposed ledge. After going round a rocky spur, it resumes its climb up to Gli orti della Regina, a panoramic balcony at 2522m (8272ft) altitude, where you can see Sentiero Costanzi continuing uphill on the steep scree under Cima Vagliana towards Val Gelada. Here you leave Sentiero Costanzi to then tackle, in the opposite directions, the Gustavo Vidi equipped trail, going through a long ledge that traverses the entire western side of Pietra Grande. The trail runs halfway up the mountain, with minimal gradients. Technical difficulties, as said above, are almost nonexistent but the trail, about 40 cm wide and at times even less, runs almost on the edge of the precipice. It continues along one section equipped with fixed steel cable and rises over a few small crags with the help of ladders, to then go through a narrow chimney. You must now tackle a steep descent, facilitated by ladders and fixed cable.   You lose some altitude with no great difficulty through a few ladders and a small bridge with steel cable (approx. 2582m/8468ft). You descend again with a few exposed sections, then enter a final gully, quite steep, where you go down with no problems, finally reaching Passo del Grosté (2432m/7976ft) and the new Rifugio Stoppani. From here you carry on towards the valley on little paths, ski runs and a forest road until you reach the car park.