Crossing the Brenta Dolomites, Trentino: from Molveno to Massimeno (Rendena Valley)

Molveno – Massimeno (Rendena Valley), via the Pedrotti and Dodici Apostoli Refuges (Ideale path). Itinerary to be undertaken in 2 days.

Start from the top station of the cable car that goes from Molveno up to the Altopiano di Pradel tableland (open every day from the last week in May to the end of September and at weekends from the beginning of May and in the first three weeks of October (check times and dates by phoning 0461-586981 / 586924). 
An alternative access route to the Croz Altissimo Refuge (1,430 m.) is the Seghe Valley, starting from Molveno near the Via Dolomiti hairpin bend, on path no. 322 (time from Molveno to the Croz Altissimo Refuge: 1½ hours). Starting from Pradel, on the other hand, you follow itinerary 340 up to the Croz Altissimo Refuge  which has the odd exposed stretch but you are protected by a metal barrier (a rope hand-rail). The route cuts across the western rock face of the Croz Altissimo peak and offers excellent views over the Sfulmini amphitheatre and over the peaks that bound the Perse Valley. From the Croz Altissimo Refuge it takes 30 minutes to get to the Selvata Refuge (1,630 metres).
 An alternative route to get from Molveno to this lovely refuge is to take path no. 322, or the Donini route which begins at the Bar Ciclamino in Pontesel, both of which go via the Malga Andalo Refuge (1,351 m.). From the Selvata Refuge you carry on along path no. 319 and after about 50 minutes, having passed two springs, you come to the former Baita Massodi alpine hut (1,985 m.). 
Crossing fields amid rhododenron and the last mountain pines you come to the Laghet depression; from here the peaks are so lovely that the view over the Sfulmini, Campanil Basso and Brenta Alta Group is quite breath-taking. The silence is broken now and again by the whirring noise of the Pedrotti Refuge cable way which stands out against the rocks, now close, now far away. 
In about 4 – 4½ hours you come to the Pedrotti Refuge (2,491 m.). From here you take path no. 304 which goes around the Cima Brenta Bassa peak and in front of the Cima Margherita and then begins to climb the Tosa hanging glacier with the Pozza Tramontana hollow lower down on your left. Carry on to the Sella della Tosa saddle (2,859 m.) and the Bocca della Tosa pass where the Ottone Brentari route with fixed rope supports begins. At the bottom, on the snowfield, turn sharp right and head for the Ambiez hanging glacier. 
Climb up the steep pass (2,871 m.) and mind the icy stretches. The view to the west encompasses the permanently snow-capped peaks of the Adamello and Presanella mountains. As you go down from the Agola hanging glacier, the Ideale path meets path no. 307 which goes to the Brentei Refuge along the Camosci hanging glacier (Martinazzi path). 
Continue straight on and in about 45 minutes you come to the Dodici Apostoli Refuge (3½ hours from the Pedrotti Refuge, 8 hours from Molveno). From here take path no. 307 to the Bregn de l’Ors Pass (1,848 m., 1 hour 40 minutes) and then paths 333 and 354 to the Gotro Pass (10 minutes); finally take path 354 and in less than 2 hours you will come to Massimeno (Rendena Valley).