Vani Alti

The spectacular trail of “Vani Alti” falls among those itineraries that were opened between the 1920s and 1930s thanks to the intuition of the president of the Treviso Alpine Club, Giulio “el dotór” (tr. the doctor) Vianello (1874 ✝ 1955), lover of the hut of Rifugio Treviso – Canali Hütte and key-figure of mountaineering in the area in the early twentieth century, as well as enthusiast and promoter of the Pala Group.

Traditionally, this loop is proposed in a counterclockwise direction, opposite to the one described here, so that the Via Ferrata “Fiamme Gialle” can be approached from the bottom. However, the trail of “Vani Alti” is a climb that – from a hiking point of view – is technical and exposed (if you have a rope and do not feel safe, there are some permanent pitons which to protect yourself), so the route proposed here is counterclockwise and tackles the Vani Alti uphill.

This itinerary develops in one of the lesser-known parts of the Pale di San Martino, on the Croda Granda Subgroup, NE of Rifugio Treviso – Canali. Given where Vani Alti is placed, the views of the summits of the Pala Group and all the surrounding groups make up for the technical effort that this relatively short loop requires. 

The route starts near Malga Canali (1,300 m asl), proceeding on the most classic access route to Rifugio Treviso, along the main trail of the Signpost No. 707; initially a gravel road, the trail later approaches a final uphill section in the forest before reaching the hut. From Rifugio Treviso (1,630 m asl), the route continues along the SIgnpost No. 707 towards Passo Canali for another kilometer, until it reaches a (barely visible) crossroads where a trail marked as “Vani Alti” starts. 

The initial part of the trail of “Vani Alti”, which faces a steep gravel ascent, is relatively easy, although care should be taken due to the slippery surface. The trail leads directly to the base of the wall, where you begin an easy climb that lasts about half an hour along what was an old Via Ferrata, later removed because it was deemed too dangerous (probably not so much because of its technical difficulty, but because of the dangers related to falling rocks and to discourage inexperienced hikers to face it). Throughout the ascent up the wall metal rings and pitons from the old Via Ferrata are visible, which can be used by hikers as additional safety. An exposed passage followed by a sharp bend, in which it is always prudent to pay attention to the dimly visible signs on the wall, lead to the gap of Forcella Vani Alti (2,529 m asl) at the edge of a wide rocky plateau.

Once the climb is over, after a pause to enjoy the view with the summits of Cima Sant’Anna (2,374 m asl), Croda Granda (2,839 m asl) and Sass d’Ortiga (2,391 m asl) in the foreground, the trail continues on the E side of the peaks of Cime Vani Alti (2,633 m asl) and, after climbing over a saddle, descends to Bivacco Renato Reali, located in a remote and secluded corner of the Pale di San Martino, above the gap of Forcella del Marmor.

If the day permits, it is recommended to take a detour (1h 30 total) to walk to the summit of Croda Granda, on the visible trail that runs along for saddle of Forcella Sprit and climbs the W face of the peak.

From the Bivacco Renato Reali (2,595 m asl), to return towards Malga Canali, the route faces the Via Ferrata Fiamme Gialle – one of the most beautiful Via Ferrata of the Pale Group – downhill, not particularly difficult but rather vertical, which begins a few hundred meters from the bivouac, on the gap of Forcella del Marmor (2,600 m asl). Once the Via Ferrata is finished, it is sufficient to descend along the track that leads back to the main path of the Signpost No. 707, and then to resume the descent to Rifugio Treviso, retracing the path taken in the initial part of the itinerary. 

As a whole, this beautiful route is not particularly popular, and it remains suggested only and exclusively to experienced hikers, with the necessary equipment.

Paths

• From the hut of Malga Canali (1,300 m asl), follow the Signpost No. 707 towards Rifugio Treviso [1h 00],
• From the hut of Rifugio Treviso (1,630 m asl), continue along the path of the Signpost No. 707 towards Passo Canali [1h 30],
• At about 1 km far from Rifugio Treviso, take the track on your right, heading east, towards Vani Alti [2h 00],
• Continue while paying attention to the red signs that indicate the path on the mountain wall [2h 15],
• From the small plateau of Vani Alti, head north towards Bivacco Reali [3h 00],
• From the bivouac named Bivacco Reali (2,595 m asl), take the path towards Ferrata Fiamme Gialle / Rifugio Treviso, descending along the Via Ferrata [4h 30],
• From Rifugio Treviso, follow the path of the Signpost No. 707, returning to Malga Canali [5h 30]. ✓