GB www.valdisole.net PAGE 3-4 PAGE 5-6-7 VAL DI SOLE: PRECIOUS STEPS THE STELVIO NATIONAL PARK PAGE 8-9 PAGE 10 THE ADAMELLO-BRENTA NATURAL PARK IN THE MOUNTAINS WITH A GUIDE AS FRIEND RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT: ✔ Waterproof, light and warm clothes (we sug- gest that you wear a first polypropylene coat on your skin, an intermediate fleece or woollen isolating coat, and finally a water- proof nylon or gore-tex anorak, long trou- sers) ✔ Vibram sole trekking boots (do not wear gym shoes) ✔ Cap and gloves, and some spare clothes (socks, underwear, possibly a light tracksuit) ✔ Rucksack (do not overfill your rucksack with superfluous items ; a full bag’s max. weight should be 5 to 8 kg, depending on the trek time) ✔ Flask (this is a very handy and environment- friendly way of carrying beverages on you) PAGE ✔ Small first aid kit ✔ Sleeping bag (compulsory if you spend the night at an Alpine Hut, where they are on sale) • “LARCHER AL CEVEDALE” ALPINE HUT 12 ✔ Little things (torch, sunglasses, sun cream) • “MANTOVA AL VIOZ” ALPINE HUT 13 • “SILVIO DORIGONI” ALPINE HUT 14 • “LAGO CORVO” ALPINE HUT 15 MAPS, EQUIPMENT, RECOMMENDATIONS PAGE 11 • “FRANCESCO DENZA” ALPINE HUT 16 • “CAPANNA PRESENA” ALPINE HUT 17 • “ORSO BRUNO” ALPINE HUT 18 • “PELLER” ALPINE HUT 19 THE “SENTIERO ITALIA” PAGE 20-21 THE TRAVERSE OF THE NORTHERN BRENTA RANGE PAGE 22-23 THE PLASTIC MAP USEFUL ADDRESSES OF VAL DI SOLE PAGE 24-25 AND PHONE NUMBERS PAGE 27 COVER PICTURE: the Presanella peak - ascent to Rifugio Denza 2 al di Sole covers a tenth of Trenti- V no’s total surface, and is a concen- tration of its best features. Embedded amongst high mountain ranges (the Ortles- Cevedale range to the North, the Presanel- la-Adamello range to the West and the Brenta range to the South), the valley fea- tures gentle, wood-covered slopes dotted with small villages, mostly between 700 and 1,800 m a.s.l.. Inhabited since prehi- storic times, when it could be easily used as a passageway between South Tyrol and Lombardy, the valley has maintained many ancient traits both in its features and in its population. Modernity has sprung out of this background : roads, lift facilities, ski slopes, the railroad, hotel facilities, sports and entertainment centres. Extensi- ve conifer woodlands are interrupted by the mirror of several Alpine lakes, and Monte Cevedale - ascent to Rifugio Larcher crossed by streams flowing into the Noce river, a sought after training ground for one’s ability to understand and enjoy nature kayaking and rafting lovers. in its varied aspects. Breathe deeply the The valley’s environment is characterised fresh mountain air pervaded with wild per- by a nice variety of settings : from fumes, enjoy the view of an unspoilt envi- orchards to meadows and fields on the ronment, let yourself be enchanted by the bottom of the valley; from grazing land colourful wild flowers and by the unexpec- and Alpine pastures to peaks lapped by ted appearance of wild animals. Try to keep perpetual glaciers. The wild setting, thou- the measured pace of mountain people, who gh changing whenever you get over a rib, go up and downhill with no haste, elevating is always overlooked by magnificent snow- both body and spirit, senses and heart. The clad peaks. extent of your walking will only depend An environment of this kind cannot be upon your desires, strength, eagerness for appreciated in haste, wants no rush. We adventure and curiosity. No matter if you dare to suggest you trekking as a lear- are a youngster, an elderly person or a ning method, that is the peaceful, thou- youth, experienced or novice, the adventure gh appealing and satisfying conquest of of hiking in the mountains will free your the territory. The aim is to “walk throu- best feelings. To put it in old words, all you ghout Val di Sole” : following one’s common have to do is follow the exhortation: “Stand sense, weighing one’s forces, but expanding up and walk”. 3 trekking outing can last one or The routes described here under -complete A several days, and nights will be with suggested night stays in the Alpine spent in a shelter, outdoor, in the forest Huts of the Ortles-Cevedale, Presanella and next to the wildlife or, more comfortably, Brenta ranges, most included in the Stelvio in an Alpine Hut (Rifugio). National Park and in the Adamello-Brenta An Alpine Hut is a simple shelter, Natural Park - mainly follow offering unpretentious but suffi- pathways waymarked with red cient accommodation and hospita- and white signs by the S.A.T. lity, where your efforts will be (Society of Tridentine Alpini- rewarded by a warm atmosphere sts). and friendly hosts. Here you will Although the suggested find what you need: however, the routes do not demand any respect for nature and the wildli- climbing skills, they fe, as well as the altitude, pre- require a certain amount vent man from bringing what is of physical training due not essential. In this quiet atmo- to the distance and dif- sphere, comforts will therefore be ference in height of at a minimum level, and this some stages. requires some spirit of adapta- You should not start on a hike unless you tion. On the other hand, in are sure of good weather and have told a an Alpine Hut people friend or someone in the hotel exactly learn to live next to each where you intend to go. Each trekking rou- other unselfishly and to te described provides information as to the savour the taste of friend- starting and arriving points, the walking ship - and therefore avoid time, the vertical ascent and/or descent. making noise at night, when You will personally have to book for an the mountains are silent and accommodation at the Alpine Hut in time. somebody may be resting before facing some demanding ascent. Alpine Huts usually open from June throu- gh September (normally operating from the second Sunday in June to the last Sunday in September). However, since they are situated at high altitudes, their opening time depends to a great extent upon the weather conditions - the minimum opening time provided for by The minimum opening time of Alpine the local regulations is from June 20 to Huts is from June 20 to September 20. September 20. It should also be considered However, they are usually operational that some repair is normally necessary at from the second Sunday in June to the the beginning, as well as at the end, of last one in September. the opening time ; you’d therefore better We suggest you to check that the hut is ask first if the Alpine Hut is actually open before starting a hike. operating. 4 he Stelvio National Park, set up in 1935 and regu- T lated in 1951 is currently managed by a Board including State, Regione Lombardia, Provincia Autonoma di Trento and Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano. The Chair- men of the Managing Committees, one for each Park section, bring to the attention of the Board of Directors the opinions of the local populations. After its extension in 1977, that allowed to establish a link with The Swiss Park of Engadina, the Stelvio National Park covers an area of 134,620 hectares, spread among 24 municipalities and 4 provinces : Bolzano (41%), Brescia and Sondrio (44%) and Trento (15%). The Park boar- ders run along Val Monastero and Val Venosta to the North, Val d’Ul- timo to the East, running parallel to Val di Sole, Val Camonica to the South, Valtellina and Val Livigno to the West¸ The centre of the whole area is the Ortles - Cevedale mountain range. From a geological standpoint, the Stel- vio National Park territory is quite varied, Edelweiss. including sedimentary and eruptive rocks, with a predominance of metamorphic rocks, like gneiss and granite, forming a great number of peaks and typical Alpine valleys, with an abundance of watercourses: torrents, streams and little Alpine lakes. The Park’s altitude is ranging between 650 m and the 3,899 m of Monte Ortles. Its vegetation features several, subsequent ranges, changing in aspect and compo- sition depending on the height as well as on other environmental parameters. At lower heights, various combinations of broadleaf are present, but conifers are mostly widespread, featuring spru- ces and, at greater heights, larches and Cembran pines. The shrub range mostly features mountain pines, rhododen- Cembran pine. Right: Saènt waterfalls in Val di Rabbi. 5 drons, junipers, blueberries and alders. Higher up, you will find grazing land with several her- baceous species. 12 The Park’s wild animal population includes about thirty mammal species, 131 bird species, several reptiles and amphibians, some fish and numerous invertebrates. Deer and roe deer are the most numerous species, as well as chamois at greater heights - widespread throughout he Park area ; rock goats can be found in Val Zebrù. Other mammals in the Park are mar- mots, squirrels, Alpine hares, stoats, martens, beech-martens, badgers and foxes. Fowls inclu- de capercaillies, black grouses and hazel hens, whereas rock ptarmigans and rock partridges can be found at greater heights. Last, but not least, comes the royal eagle, chosen as Park symbol, along with the recently re-introduced Alpine vulture. 5 If you wish to get a full immersion into this 6 wild setting, there is a wide choice of clearly waymarked routes, starting from simple itine- raries for kids and elderly people, to the more demanding ones for experienced mountaineers. GUIDED WALKS “Park Guides” are available for guided walks in the Park’s Lombard and Trentine sections.