Pasubio Ring: Road of Heroes

Climb to Cima Palon 2232m in a splendid late spring morning. Climb from Pian delle Fugazze through Val Canale, descent through Strada degli eroi and Val di fieno. Snow still persistent in various sections of the route above 2000 meters.

Today's original idea was to do the Val Canale and then climb the Pasubio ridges and then go back via the heroes' road. Once at the top of the Pope however since it was early we decided to take a walk to see other places so we arrived just at time to eat, once finished we realized that it took too long to climb the ridges so we decided to postpone them until the next time. We descended normally along the road of the heroes, cutting a little, once at Pian delle fugasse we rejoined Val Canale to descend. If you go I recommend eating mountaineering dishes, I think they're super good and the refuge sweatshirt is really beautiful and excellent.

Interesting alternative to go up to the Gen. Achille Papa refuge compared to the better known Road of the 52 tunnels. You start from the paid car park at Passo Pian delle Fugazze and follow a short stretch of asphalt road towards Valli del Pasubio until you come to a gate indicating the start of the CAI 300 - Val Canale path. Constantly climbing, first through a beech forest and then on scree, you reach the Gen. Achille Papa refuge without technical difficulties. From here begins a tour of the sites of the Great War, visiting the former Brigata Liguria cemetery, the small Pasubio church, the Dente Austriaco and the Dente Italiano with the possibility of reaching Cima Palon through the Galleria Papa (a torch is necessary). From the summit you descend in the direction of the refuge on an easy path. You return to the valley with the Strada degli Eroi which can be easily shortened thanks to path 179. N.B. The Val Canale path 300 is included in the Alta Via della Grande Guerra as a connecting path between the Pasubio military memorial and the Gen. Achille Papa refuge. https://avgg.provincia.vicenza.it/

As soon as you set off on the trail, you ask yourself: "Isn't everything like this?" The crests of Pria Favella always seem fun, quiet, and intimate to me. A relatively short stretch, but full of character. And then, once you reach the flag, you can say, yes, the trail was completely vertical, and maybe a little more. The rest of the tour is less dramatic, but still engaging. After all, Pasubio has its own character, its own weight.

Direttissima del Pasubio, from the base (Pian delle Fugazze) to its highest point (Cima Palon), and beyond. The Sentiero di Pria Favella is a ridge trail that climbs the large southern ridge of the Pasubio massif, from Pian delle Fugazze to the Galleria d'Harvet, between the Val di Fieno and the deep Val Canale, passing through several rock spurs. It is spectacular, with breathtaking panoramic points, but definitely not for everyone: vertical, challenging, very exposed, not equipped, more mountaineering than hiking... you often climb between the rocks, clinging to the mountain pines and the ledges, often brushing the abyss! A couple of passages are rather difficult and technical: not to be underestimated. From the Galleria d'Havet you continue towards the 'Creste del Pasubio': a very stony path, also challenging and with some exposed sections, but definitely more manageable. The environment at the top of the massif changes radically, becoming harsh and bare, arid and bare, majestic and fascinating, with a magnificent panorama that reaches as far as the Dolomites! Everywhere you come across evocative testimonies of the Great War, which here had one of its bloodiest and most decisive nodes. The passage between the Denti Italiano and Austriano is striking, so close and yet so far away, walking on the chasm caused by a gigantic mine in 1918. For further information, I will leave everything to the highlights. Long return passing by the 7 Croci, the Arco Romano, the Rifugio Papa and along the scenic Strada degli Eroi, overlooking the Val Canale: all in the shade due to the eastern slope and the early setting autumn sun. End of the tour in the dark.

Starting from the Casa Alpina, we go up the Val Canale: beautiful path, quite steep where you can meet chamois. From the bottom you can see the destination to reach: the Papa refuge. Once you arrive here, by extending the path by 10 minutes, you can reach the Bivacco and admire the sunset here. We went up in the late afternoon and then returned to the Pian delle Fugazze car park via the Strada degli Eroi after having dinner at the refuge For this tour it is mandatory to have a torch for the return