Description

The climb that, starting from the village of Imèr, allows you to climb up to the top of Monte Pavione is one of those routes that are considered by locals to be a classic, since it starts from the bottom of the valley and can be faced without issues even during the mid-seasons. The summit of Monte Pavione (from the Latin “papilionis” = pavilion) is the main peak of the mountain range of Vette Feltrine and is easily recognizable by spotting its iconic pyramidal tip. This classic itinerary, quite popular but with a rather not elementary climbing shift, leads to the top of Monte Pavione, from which you can enjoy a superb all-round view of the Valley of Primiero and all the surrounding peaks.

The route starts from the location of Cappuccetto Rosso, by the town of Imèr (650 m asl). The first stretch of the itinerary takes the mule track that leads to the pastures of Vedèrne (Signpost No. 736). Those with a car can park near the roundabout, by the entrance of the town or directly at the location of Cappuccetto Rosso. The itinerary climbs along the steep military mule track of the Signpost No. 736 which, despite being a car road, features remarkable slopes. After passing by the shrine named Capitello della Pausa, dedicated to the Madonna of the Rosary, the mule track continues to climb and, after passing by a hamlet (farms of San Paolo, 1,011 m asl), it reaches the fascinating fortified crossing at the height of the ravine with the waterfall named Saltón de la Càora. By the ravine, a series of hairpin bends carved into the rock, built by the Italian military genius after the advance on May 15, 1915 to protect the Morósna outpost, make it easier to climb the head of the gully of Val Càora. Once passed the ravine of Saltón, after a mandatory break by the water pipe of Acqua de Cioda (about 1,200 m asl, with the – translated – inscription “whoever drinks beer lives a hundred years, who drinks this water never dies”), shortly before reaching the pastures of Vedèrne (Pian Grant), the trail turns left towards Malga Agneròla. The path in the forest, which goes up the valley of Avedón, is well marked and allows you to quickly reach the eastern edges of the pastures of Malga Agneròla (1,543 m asl). From the hut, the route continues towards Monte Pavione on the well-marked path that crosses the highest part of the pasture, to the east of the building. Then, the route enters the forest again, following once again the Signpost 736. On the western slopes of the summit of Monte Pavione, the path of the Signpost No. 736 crosses a series of small valleys; from one of these the so-called “direttissima” starts: the shortest access route to the top, which branches off from the Signpost No. 736 and climbs vertically on the slopes of Monte Pavione. The track of the “direttissima”, which we do recommend, is not very visible, but marked with an arrow at its departure and with red marks on the few rocks available, where it is important to find the right passage. Between basins and grassy ridges, the “direttissima” leads directly to the top of Monte Pavione. Clearly this shortcut is reserved for the more adventurous, since it requires a certain degree of experience and the use of hands in some parts of it; alternatively, you can reach the top simply by following the Signopost No. 736 and then the Signpost No. 817.

The peak of Monte Pavione (2,334 m asl) is the highest peak in the Dolomite mountain range of Vette Feltrine, watershed between the regions of Trentino Alto Adige – Südtirol and Veneto. Furthermore, because it is easily recognizable by its characteristic almost perfectly geometric pyramidal shape, Monte Pavione is capable of attracting the attention and curiosity of those who observe it. In fact, Angelo Michele Negrelli of Primiero says he was attracted to that strange regular-shaped mountain, so much so that in 1780, long before pioneering mountaineering began, he decided to climb it with his friend Ferdinando Egger. The Negrelli – Egger ascent is the first documented ascent to Monte Pavione, although the grassy summit was probably already climbed by shepherds and hunters. As a side note, near the top, according to an unverified legend, the largest silver mine in Primiero stands, silver that was used for the construction of the Gothic monstrance of the church of Pieve (Fiera di Primiero).

Considered a “must” for many inhabitants of Imèr, the ascent to Monte Pavione is always an emotion; the landscape offered by the summit extends from the Dolomites of the Pala Group to the nearby peaks of Vette Feltrine and, to the south, to Venetian Laguna.

For the descent, the route follows the more popular Signpost No. 817. The route crosses the beautiful grassy ridge – quite exposed – which connects the summit of Monte Pavione with that of Monsampiano (2,280 m asl) and then descends to the gap of Passo del Pavione ( 2,059 m asl). Once you reach Passo del Pavione, the trail proceeds downhill along the Signpost No. 736 towards the hut of Malga Agneròla, from which, crossing the entire pasture climbing the small hill north of the meadow, you take a beautiful path that descends into a depression in the forest on the side of the ridge called Spizzo Fagotto, which leads you directly to the hut of Rifugio Vedèrna (1,324 m asl) with its typical church. From Rifugio Vedèrna, the trail runs slightly downhill along the gravel road that completely crosses the plateau called Pian Grant, from the edges of which the steep descent on the military mule track of the Signpost No. 736 resumes until it heads back to Imèr.

Paths

• From the location called Cappuccetto Rosso (650 m asl), by the village of Imèr, take the steep mule track of the Signpost No. 736 towards Vedèrne,
• Once passed the shrine of Capitello della Pausa and the ravine of Saltón, turn left and take the track towards Malga Agneròla,
• From the edges of the pastures of Malga Agneròla (1,543 m asl), continue on the Signpost No. 736 towards Monte Pavione,
• Leave the Signpost No. 736 and go up on the track called “direttissima”, on the left, until you get to the top of the summit of Monte Pavione,
• From the summit of Monte Pavione (2,334 m asl), follow the Signpost No. 817 downhill to the gap of Passo del Pavione (2,059 m asl), then continue, always downhill along the Signpost No. 736 towards Rifugio Vedèrna, passing again through the pastures of the hut of Malga Agneròla,
• From the hut of Rifugio Vederna (1,324 m asl), descend along the gravel road that crosses the plateau of Pian Grant and then take the mule track of the Signpost No. 736 downhill, heading back to Imèr. ✓

ALPE VEDÈRNA

• With the characteristic plateau called Pian Grand (tr. big plateau) at 1,330 mt of altitude, Alpe Vedèrna with its pastures has been historically the main reserve of hay for the livestock of the Primiero Valley.
• Alpe Vederna is governed by a self-standing authority, called Consorzio Vederna. This institution is one of the few remaining examples of the Maso Chiuso law, where only the firstborn male child of each family would inherit the property, usually a small cottage and the right to use the surrounding land. This rules are surprisingly still effective nowadays and used for allocation of the small mountain huts you will see in the fields of Alpe Vederna.
• At the edge of Pian Grand, the hut named Rifugio Vederna was built in 1970, between the farms and the church dedicated to Madonna della Neve.

References

• Tissot, L. (1996). Dizionario Primierotto. Editore Manfrini.
• Floriano Nicolao, La chiesetta della Madonna della Neve sul monte Vederna, Imèr-Trento, 1998, pag. 11