The mighty Mount Cevedale towers prominently amidst the peaks of the Ortles-Cevedale group in the Southern Rhaetian Alps. This majestic mountain straddles the border between Lombardy (SO) to the west and Trentino-Alto Adige (BZ to the west and TN) to the east.
Here are the peak elevations: Our main target, the primary summit, soars impressively to 3,769 meters, tantalizingly close to the 4,000-meter threshold. It’s likely that this peak sees fewer hikers because it falls just short of that coveted “4,000-meter peak” status. Additionally, there’s the southern subpeak, widely recognized as “Cima Cevedale” or Cevedale II, which stands at 3,757 meters. It serves as the convergence point of Sondrio, Trento, and Bolzano provinces. Lastly, there’s the northern subpeak, towering at 3,700 meters.
To reach this majestic mountain, we embarked on a captivating journey in stages. Starting from the Niblogo parking area, we headed to the Quinto Alpini refuge, then continued through the Zebrù Pass to the Pizzini refuge. Here, we met our certified alpine guide, who led us through the last and most thrilling leg: the ascent first to the Casati refuge and then, across the glacier, to the summit of Mount Cevedale. In the same day, we descended the valley to the Forni refuge parking lot, concluding an unforgettable adventure among the peaks of the Alps.
From Niblogo to rifugio Quinto Alpini
The first leg of the journey is mostly enjoyable. It’s a very straightforward trail that gradually ascends in its initial part. Only when you reach the base of the refuge, you’ll encounter a truly notable slope, where your pace inevitably slows down. However, reaching the refuge will more than make up for the effort. Here, we found a wonderful, welcoming atmosphere and had the opportunity to enjoy the company of the famous mountain fox, a true mascot of the refuge. We also had the privilege of witnessing the majestic gipeto and a few ibex, all while taking in the breathtaking scenery.
From rifugio Quinto Alpini to rifugio Pizzini
The second stage is relatively easy, and perhaps it’s just right considering the need to have enough energy for the following day. However, the trail is still magnificent, and the view of the valley is something truly special. It’s definitely worth taking this leg of the journey.
From rifugio Pizzini to Cevedale (round trip)
Following best practices, we woke up at 3:30 AM and began our journey at 4:00 AM, accompanied by an Alpine guide and equipped with a good headlamp. We followed the trail from Pizzini to Casati. By 6:00 AM, with the visibility provided by the rising sun, we tackled the ascent of Cevedale, which, from a technical standpoint, wasn’t too demanding. In a short amount of time, we reached the summit, and after the customary photos, we started our descent.
From rifugio Pizzini to rifugio Forni
After regaining our strength and setting aside the tremendous emotions from conquering the spectacular glacier, we gathered our belongings and followed the trail that led us back downhill, on a leisurely descent to the Forni refuge.
Some pics
