The "Alpini" Trail (Alpinisteig)

Dolomites of Sexten

• Difficulty: medium
• Valuation of the tour: medium complexity
• Details of the via ferrata: 50 % steel rope, 50 % track
• Duration: ca. 5 hours
• Ascent: 490m in altitude
• Descent: 1200 m in altitude
• Time of approach: ca. 1 hour
• Time on the via ferrata: ca. 2 hours – 340m of altitude

The Alpini Trail is one of the oldest and most spectacular fixed rope routes in South Tyrol and one of the most beautiful in the Alps.

Description:
From the parking place Fischleinboden in the Fischlein Valley we have to walk for about half an hour along a wide valley road until you reach the Talschluss Hut. From there, continue on Trail No. 102/103 into Altenstein Valley up to the fork (for Dreizinnen Hut, continue straight ahead). We turn left, and follow Trail No. 103, which isn’t difficult technically, over the river and high above the narrow Bacherntal Valley, mostly a moderate grade, up to the Zsigmondy Hut. From there, take trail no. 101/103 southeast up as far as the junction with trail no. 101 near the little frozen Eissee Lake, then continuing across rocky terrain and scree, without further problems, across all the way to the actual Alpini Trail, on the Salvezzaband, crossing vertical rocky faces, to a chimney-like ravine, via exposed ledges to a wide snow chute called the Äußeren Lochs. After this crossing across the exposed ledges, around the Elferturm, and then a slight ascent over scree and crags to Elferscharte wind gap on the north ridge of Elfer Peak. The less challenging, western segment ends here (and if you want to you can descend early to the Talschluss Hut crossing crags and scree, and through forest). If you want to continue along the eastern part of the Alpini Trail: on fixed ropes across exposed bands of rock and gravel and very steep, partially wet rock almost horizontally through the north eastern face of Elfer Mountain, then an iron ladder, and soon thereafter more than 40 iron braces, almost straight up, and another crossing of exposed rocky terrain, to a fork. Turn right up towards Sentinellascharte wind gap, and the descent begins to the left. Descent: First, over a well-equipped via ferrata, with fixed ropes but some vertical climbing, down to a large area of scree, where the trail from Elferscharte wind gap also comes out. Follow Trail No. 124 downhill to the crossroads, then Trail No. 122 down a steep, forested slope, partially in switchbacks, to the Talschluss Hut and continue out of the valley to Fischleinboden.

Specificity
Vertigo-free and surefooted hikers only. The Alpini Trail from Elferscharte wind gap (which can be omitted), however, is extremely difficult and should be attempted only by experienced mountain climbers.