Medium difficulty hike ascending from Passo del Tonale passing by the small artificial Valbiolo basin, until reaching the homonymous malga. From here it will be possible to admire Cima Presanella, Adamello, and the Brenta Dolomites.
This ski mountaineering ascent has a medium-low difficulty and climbs along an ancient glacial moraine that develops along Monte Tonale Orientale. The path intersects with the original road to Tonale and passes aside the Hospice San Bartolomeo, built in 1200. Finally, it reaches Malga Valbiolo, where you can enjoy a well-deserved break, tasting typical dishes from the Trentino tradition, while gazing at Cima Presanella (the highest in Trentino), Adamello to the south, and up to the Brenta Dolomites, Gardena Dolomites, and the Rosengarten to the east.
The stability of the snow cover is subject to sudden and unpredictable changes. Always check the avalanche bulletin (on www.meteotrentino.it or other websites if available for your area) and inform yourself well about the current weather conditions at the Val di Sole Alpine Guides Office. GPX tracks are purely indicative of the route but cannot be followed without a prior evaluation of the slopes at the time you intend to do the excursion.
Since January 1, 2022, it is mandatory for ALL skiers to have an insurance policy that covers liability for damages or injuries caused to third parties. The revision of the mountain safety code requires all minors to wear a helmet and imposes a ban on skiers consuming alcoholic beverages.
The route starts from Passo del Tonale, more precisely from the Valbiolo parking lot. From here, you ascend along the ancient moraine that develops on Monte Tonale Orientale and pass by the Hospice San Bartolomeo, built back in 1200. From there you continue to climb with a steady elevation gain until the new artificial Valbiolo pond, then reach the homonymous Malga, open in winter, where it will be possible to stop for lunch. From the malga, it is also possible to enjoy a splendid panoramic view, ranging from Cima Presanella to Adamello and the Brenta Dolomites and the Rosengarten. The descent is very easy and follows the path beside the Valbiolo slope.
You can reach Passo del Tonale with the TRENTO - MALE' - MEZZANA train to the town of Mezzana (download the departure and return timetables) and then with the Trentino Trasporti line bus to Passo del Tonale (download the departure and return timetables).
Follow state road SS42 until reaching Passo del Tonale.
You can leave your car in the Valbiolo Chairlift parking lot.
For all ski mountaineering excursions, appropriate clothing is recommended even in case of sudden temperature drops. It is necessary to wear suitable technical clothing that does not get wet in contact with snow (such as Gore-Tex), gloves, hat, sunglasses, and protective sunscreen.
It is mandatory to have with you the self-rescue kit consisting of transceiver-shovel-probe (which can possibly be rented, see the shops where it is possible to rent it here). Wearing a helmet is also recommended (for minors, wearing a helmet is mandatory) or other active protection systems (e.g. backpacks with ABS-Airbag systems).
In case of hard or icy snow, using crampons is recommended.
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