Description

This amazing route, immersed in its entirety in a wild, silent and unexplored Dolomites landscape, develops around the iconic peak of Sass de Mura (2,547 m asl), in the heart of the Dolomites of the Cimónega Group. At times technically and physically demanding, the itinerary passes through some of the lesser known and explored areas straddling the border between the regions of Trentino-Alto Adige / Südtirol and Veneto, such as Val Giasinozza, Val d’Alvis and Nèva. A remarkable advantage of this route is given by the fact that it draws a complete loop around Sass de Mura, staying close to the mountain throughout the whole journey; however, carrying a map or a GPS device is anyway recommended.

The route starts by the small bridge over the stream of Torrente Noàna (Torrente Giasinòzza) located shortly after the cottage of Baita Cogolate, in the wild Val Giasinòzza. The first section of the route, which leads to the gap of Forcella Cimónega, follows an old track, not very visible but quite “logical” in its lines, which from the bridge enters the forest, climbs the northern part of the valley and leads directly to the gap, in a first section immersed in the forest, a second that alternates dense pines with gullies and a last stretch that goes up the highest part of Val Cimónega, never exposed, but requiring first-grade climbing skills.

Once at Forcella Cimónega (2,145 m asl), where the sight opens to the east on the Province of Belluno side, with Col del Mul, Pian del Re and Val Canzói, to the south on Sass de Mura and to the north on Monte Pizzoc (Piz de Mèz), Sasso Largo and Piz di Sagrón, the route continues, fully entering the territory of the Province of Belluno, along a small track that descends the valley towards SE, at the foot of the side resembling a wall of the so-called “Parete Piatta” of Sass de Mura – left towards S – and Col del Mul – right towards NE -. The track leads to the wide path of the Signpost No. 801 (Alta Via delle Dolomiti No. 2 / AV2), which you take to the right, towards SE, following the contour in a particularly rocky and desolate environment that turns towards the hut of Casera Cimónega ( 1,637 m asl). The path then faces a short uphill stretch that leads to a saddle near the top of Col dei Béchi (1,960 m asl). From the saddle that separates the peak of Col dei Béchi from Sass de Mura, the path turns to W. Here begins the section, called Trói dei Caserìn, immersed in the green of the meadows on the slopes overlooking the Val d’Alvis. The Signpost No. 801 leads directly to the gap of Pass de Mur (Passo di Mura) (1,867 m asl).

Once at Pass de Mur, the Signpost No. No. 802 (AV2) proceeds downhill towards the hut of Rifugio Boz (which can be reached in just a few minutes); however, the track continues keeping at altitude, following the path of the Signpost No. 748 towards the mount of Colle San Pietro / Col de San Piero. Once on the summit of Colle San Pietro (1,954 m asl), from which the view towards Primiero and the Pala Group leaves you simply breathless, the route continues along the path on the ridge until it crosses a small track on the right, which descends to the N towards the Val Giasinozza. After a steep but not particularly demanding descent into the forest, the track leads directly to the bed of the stream of Torrente Noàna (Torrente Giasinòzza) and reaches the gravel road, which you follow going up the right bank of Val Giasinozza until you return to Baita Cogolate, in a final stretch maybe a bit boring, but necessary.

Paths

• From the small bridge over the stream of Torrente Noàna, near the cottage of Baita Cogolate, follow the barely visible track that goes up the northern part of the valley and leads directly to the gap of Forcella Cimónega,
• From Forcella Cimónega (2,145 m asl), descend along the hardly visible track towards SE, up to the intersection with the Signpost No. 801 (Alta Via delle Dolomiti No. 2 / AV2),
• Follow the Signpost No. 801 to the right, towards SE, up to the mount of Col dei Béchi,
• From Col dei Béchi (1,960 m asl), continue west along Signpost No. 801 (Trói dei Caserìn) until you reach the gap of Pass de Mur (Passo di Mura),
• From Pass de Mur (1,867 m asl), follow Signpost No. 748 towards the mount of Colle San Pietro / Col de San Piero,
• From Colle San Pietro (1,954 m asl), descend along the path on the ridge until you cross a small track on the right, which descends N towards Val Giasinozza,
• Go up along the forest road at the bottom of Val Giasinozza until you return to Baita Cogolate. ✓

NÈVA

• Depending on the version, the name Nèva – “the mountain of Eve” – derives from the dialect of Feltre and e(g)ua (tr. Water, water-rich area). From June to September, it was tradition to go to montegàr (tr. to pasture) in Eva; as time passed it became inEva, mutating to Nèva. For this reason, the whole area is called Nèva, with Cadìn di Nèva indicating the highest basin of glacial origin, from which the stream of Rio Nèva starts, dominated by Monte Nèva and its peaks.
• From the historical cartography, the “Mountain of Eve” was divided and assigned by the Bishop of Feltre into two distinct fiefdoms: the mons de Eva maiori to Feltre and the mons de Eva minor to Primiero. The territory remained used only by people from Feltre until the XVIII century, even if, from the end of the XIV century, the two territories became part of the two different states: the Republic of Venice and the Austrian Tyrol. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the states border crossed the Nèva basin. Today, it is still possible to see some of the border stones, dating back to the 19th century. The territory of Nèva went under a further division with the purchase by Transacqua of a part of the Eva minor, which gave the name of Nèva Prima, resulting in the formation of the middle Nèva, today Nèva Seconda, and of the Eve major or Casera di Nevétta, on the Feltre side.
• In the Feltre territory, during the Second World War, the Casera Nèva was renovated for use as a mountain hut. Purchased later by the Municipality of Mezzano, in 1970 Casera Nèva became Rifugio Boz, rented to the Italian Alping Club (CAI) of Feltre, to the memory of Bruno Boz, which was a climber and partner of the CAI of Feltre, who died during while he was hunting.