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24237 Hits
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84.82% Score
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19 Votes
Page Type:
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Mountain/Rock |
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Lat/Lon:
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46.53220°N / 11.82590°E |
Activities:
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Mountaineering, Trad Climbing, Via Ferrata |
Season:
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Summer, Fall |
Elevation:
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9793 ft / 2985 m |
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What's New On This Page?
> February 6th, 2013 - SP V3 design updates
> September 2nd, 2007: New pictures embedded
> July 31st, 2005: Interactive Google map inserted.
![Cima Pisciadu (left) and the...]()
Cima Pisciadu and Exner towerSella Group is one of the most outstanding groups of Dolomites. From anywhere you look at it, it appears as a huge castle, surrounded by high defence walls and with up to 3000 m high peaks like towers above the walls. On the northern side of Sella Group one of such peaks is Cima Pisciadu.
Of course the Sella castle is not monolithic. Several valleys and gorges cut the outer walls and also Cima Pisciadu is surrounded by some of them: Val de Mezdi on east, Valun di Pisciadu on west and part of it the high valley of Tita on south. On the north-west side, on foothills lies a beautiful Lake Pisciadu (2564 m) with a mountain hut above it (Rif. F. Cavazza al Pisciadu, 2585 m).
Because of a marked route, a nearby hut, the panorama road over Passo Gardena (Groedner Joch) and well known Dolomites tourist resorts, Cima Pisciadu is often ascended, although it is far from being one of the most popular Dolomites peaks. The ascent still requires overcoming more than 1000 m of altitude and is on some parts also quite demanding. But you will be rewarded with astonishing views on wild scenery around and with a broad panorama from the top.
The best trailheads are Passo Gardena, 2121 m, and the parking place east of it (towards Corvara), on the altitude of 1956 m. The parking place is big enough and is free of charge. On Passo Gardena the Alta Via Dolomiti (High Dolomites Route) starts, crossing the northern slopes of Sella massif, on the parking place below the pass, the two ascent paths go directly up the slopes (joining Alta Via Dolomiti).
The third option is to park south of Colfuschg, 1640 m. There the marked path into Val de Mezdi goes (No. 651). That approach of course excludes the attractive Via Ferrata Tridentina, but allows us to do a broad round tour on Cima Pisciadu.
And finally, you can also approach Cima Pisciadu from the south, crossing the whole Sella massif. That would mean starting the tour on Pordoi pass, going up on the massif with cable car and then continuing the tour northwards (ascending Cima Pisciadu and then eventually sleeping in Rif. Cavazza).![Cima Pisciadu map]()
The first goal of ascent Cima Pisciadu from the north is to reach Lake Pisciadu (and the nearby hut). The options are the following:
1. Through Val Setus. If you start on Passo Gardena, a long traverse leads you into Val Setus, where you join the route from 1956 m parking place, which ascends more directly. Then you climb Val Setus, cross a broad ridge and descend a bit to the hut and the lake.
![Before the hanging bridge.]()
Tridentina2. By Ferrata Tridentina. The other, more beautiful but also much more demanding route is Via Ferrata Brigata Tridentina. From the 1956 m parking place you take a traverse around Torre Brunico and then climb almost vertically around the 2494 m high Exner tower, cross a narrow gorge by a shaky, hanging bridge and reach the hut.
3. Through Val de Mezdi. You can hike from Colfuschg into Val de Mezdi and then in the lower part of the valley deter right (westwards) and ascend by the path No. 664 to the hut.
4. From Lake Pisciadu. You take a marked path towards the south, ascend into Val de Tita (towards the SE) and then towards the north on Cima Pisciadu.
All paths are marked.
Map: Tabacco, 1:25000, No. 5 (Val Gardena) or No. 3 (Alta Badia).
> February 6th, 2013 - SP V3 design updates
> September 2nd, 2007: New pictures embedded
> July 31st, 2005: Interactive Google map inserted.
Overview
Cima Pisciadu and Exner tower
Of course the Sella castle is not monolithic. Several valleys and gorges cut the outer walls and also Cima Pisciadu is surrounded by some of them: Val de Mezdi on east, Valun di Pisciadu on west and part of it the high valley of Tita on south. On the north-west side, on foothills lies a beautiful Lake Pisciadu (2564 m) with a mountain hut above it (Rif. F. Cavazza al Pisciadu, 2585 m).
Because of a marked route, a nearby hut, the panorama road over Passo Gardena (Groedner Joch) and well known Dolomites tourist resorts, Cima Pisciadu is often ascended, although it is far from being one of the most popular Dolomites peaks. The ascent still requires overcoming more than 1000 m of altitude and is on some parts also quite demanding. But you will be rewarded with astonishing views on wild scenery around and with a broad panorama from the top.
Summit Panorama
 Click to run this one online |
Getting There
For the broader overview see group pages: Dolomites and Sella Group.The best trailheads are Passo Gardena, 2121 m, and the parking place east of it (towards Corvara), on the altitude of 1956 m. The parking place is big enough and is free of charge. On Passo Gardena the Alta Via Dolomiti (High Dolomites Route) starts, crossing the northern slopes of Sella massif, on the parking place below the pass, the two ascent paths go directly up the slopes (joining Alta Via Dolomiti).
The third option is to park south of Colfuschg, 1640 m. There the marked path into Val de Mezdi goes (No. 651). That approach of course excludes the attractive Via Ferrata Tridentina, but allows us to do a broad round tour on Cima Pisciadu.
And finally, you can also approach Cima Pisciadu from the south, crossing the whole Sella massif. That would mean starting the tour on Pordoi pass, going up on the massif with cable car and then continuing the tour northwards (ascending Cima Pisciadu and then eventually sleeping in Rif. Cavazza).
Routes Overview
To Cavazza Hut
The first goal of ascent Cima Pisciadu from the north is to reach Lake Pisciadu (and the nearby hut). The options are the following:
1. Through Val Setus. If you start on Passo Gardena, a long traverse leads you into Val Setus, where you join the route from 1956 m parking place, which ascends more directly. Then you climb Val Setus, cross a broad ridge and descend a bit to the hut and the lake.
Tridentina
3. Through Val de Mezdi. You can hike from Colfuschg into Val de Mezdi and then in the lower part of the valley deter right (westwards) and ascend by the path No. 664 to the hut.
On Cima Pisciadu
4. From Lake Pisciadu. You take a marked path towards the south, ascend into Val de Tita (towards the SE) and then towards the north on Cima Pisciadu.
All paths are marked.
Map: Tabacco, 1:25000, No. 5 (Val Gardena) or No. 3 (Alta Badia).
Red Tape
No limitations.When To Climb
Summer and autumn months are preferrable - July to October. In early summer there are chances that on several places snow rests can be very dangerous, Especially in Val Setùs and in Val Tita (there, they are not so steep). So, in early summer Ferrata Tridentina is a better option, because it is certainly snow free, but think also of a return - it is unlikely that you will use that ferrata to get down.Camping
Rif. F. Cavazza al Pisciadu (Pisciadu Huette), 2585 m, opened from mid June till end of September. Tel.: 04 71/83 62 92. Rif. Cavazza |  Rif. Cavazza |  Morning view |
1 Routes