Sentiero Roma is a hiking route that spans 54 kilometers and is primarily situated at an altitude of 2500 meters. It traverses the Val Codera, the entire upper part of the Val Masino, and concludes in the Valmalenco.
During this journey, you can admire prominent mountains such as Ligoncio, Badile, Cengalo, Cima di Zocca, Cima di Castello, and the imposing Monte Disgrazia.
To complete this trail, it takes several days of hiking, ranging from a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 5 days, depending on the chosen itinerary. It’s important to have confidence in using equipped paths and to have safety equipment such as via ferrata kits and helmets to tackle this trail effectively.
Since 1995, the Trofeo Kima, an awe-inspiring mountain running race covering 52 kilometers and boasting a total elevation gain of 8400 meters, has taken place along this magnificent high-altitude trail. This airborne contest is renowned as one of the world’s most stunning and demanding mountain running races. Victors conquer the route by circling counterclockwise, commencing and culminating in Filorera, with a remarkable finishing time of slightly over 6 hours, whereas I personally required a full 8 hours to complete just a single stage.
We chose to approach the trail counterclockwise, following the same route as the Trofeo Kima. This allowed us to start with the most challenging stage and gradually reduce the intensity in the subsequent stages.
In general, based on my personal experience, I can confidently say that this is undoubtedly the most demanding trail I have ever hiked. During the journey and afterward, my fellow adventurers and I experienced some leg cramping issues, which had never happened before. Among the factors contributing to the trail’s difficulty are its often steep and rocky terrain, requiring us to hop between large granite slabs. Additionally, our backpacks were inevitably heavier than usual, as they contained supplies for 4 days of hiking, including safety equipment for via ferrata.
From Preda Rossa to rifugio Ponti
On the first day of our adventure, we decided to leave our car in the Preda Rossa parking area. From there, we took the trail that led to Rifugio Ponti in less than two hours. The first day was rather straightforward and relaxing, but we were well aware of what awaited us in the following days. It’s worth noting that the refuge’s owner is exceptionally knowledgeable and can provide excellent advice and up-to-date information about the trail conditions. I recommend taking advantage of this resource to make the most of your journey.
From rifugio Ponti to rifugio Allievi
The second stage is as beautiful as it is challenging. The elevation gain is demanding (around 1,300 meters), but even more so is the nature of the trail itself, consisting of granite slabs, rocky plateaus, continuous ups and downs, and three equipped passes (Bocchetta Roma, Passo del Cameraccio, Passo Val Torrone), which are not particularly difficult if you are confident with using chains.
It’s important to keep in mind that there aren’t many opportunities to refill water bottles, except for the stream next to the Kima bivouac, before reaching the destination of this stage: Rifugio Allievi.
From rifugio Allievi to rifugio Gianetti
On the third day, the effects of the previous stage can still be felt in our legs, but inevitably, dawn arrives, and we must set off again, heading for Rifugio Gianetti.
The trail remains quite challenging, despite covering fewer kilometers and less elevation gain. There are also two equipped passes, one of which, Passo Camerozzo, is notably long and scenic, so it’s crucial not to have issues with vertigo.
Form rifugio Gianetti to Bagni di Masino
On the fourth and final day, my plan was to conclude the trail by passing through Rifugio Omio, which incidentally marked the least challenging stage of the entire route.
However, the precarious condition of my legs forced me to reconsider and “cut short” my journey, taking the descent trail directly from Rifugio Gianetti to the Bagni di Masino parking area. Certainly, in the future, it will be worth returning and retracing the entire Roma Trail once again.
Some pics
