Description

This spectacular itinerary, perhaps one of the most beautiful – landscape wise – single-day trail that can be done on the Pale di San Martino, develops in the extreme western corner of the Pala Group, starting and arriving at Valles Pass, “step brother” of the more suggestive Rolle Pass. The route crosses green pastures and rocky stretches to reach the hut of Rifugio Mulaz: first it crosses the unpopular gap of Passo Venegiòta, then it continues with the ascent to the summit Monte Mulaz, for then plunging into the beautiful Val Venegia, just before getting back towards Valles Pass. Although it is also possible to follow the itinerary in an anti-clockwise direction, we suggest the clockwise direction, as described here, which allows you to stay lower in altitude during the final part of the route.

The hike begins at Valles Pass (Passo Valles – 2,032 m asl), located between the Pala Group and the porphyritic mountain range of Cima Bocche, shaping the watershed between the valleys of Biois and Travignolo, formerly called Pas de le Stèle. The initial section of the route climbs along the Signpost No. 751 which runs along the pyramidal Cima Valles towards the south, leading directly to the panoramic gap of Forcella Venégia (2,215 m asl), where the view unexpectedly widens over the northern sub range of the Dolomites of Pale di San Martino (among all, on the peaks of Focobòn, Burelóni, Mulaz and Cimon della Pala) and on the underlying Val Venégia.

From Forcella Venégia, the trail continues high in altitude towards the gap of Passo Venegiòta, on the ridge that defines the border between the regions of Trentino Alto Adige and Veneto. After a short stretch through the pastures overlooking Val Venégia, you pass by the small lake of Coladora – next to the peak of Cima Coladora (2,313 m asl) -; then you continue on the southern slopes of Cima Venegiòta while approaching the gap. From Passo Venegiòta (2,303 m asl), where the surrounding environment begins to turn into the typical high altitude Dolomite environment, you walk through a relatively comfortable initial stretch of descent along the Signpost No. 751, on the north-eastern walls of Monte Mulaz. After the short descent, the path begins to climb towards the hut of Rifugio Mulaz. A remarkable feature of this uphill stretch is the conformation of the landscape behind you, which resembles, with a little bit of imagination, the famous snapshot of the Peruvian town of Macchu Pitchu.

Once reached Rifugio Mulaz (2,571 m asl), the route offers a variant, basically mandatory, which allows you to reach the top of the majestic and “pachydermic”, especially if compared to the surrounding peaks, Monte Mulaz (2,906 m asl). After the steep climb between the stones, from the summit you can enjoy one of the most classic all-round sights of the Pala Group and, in particular, over the nearby Focobòn group with all its spectacular peaks. As soon as you get to the top of Monte Mulaz, don’t forget to ring the bell set in the metal structure, with a pinch of enthusiasm!

The way back from the summit follows the path of the ascent, taking at the end along the Signpost No. 710 towards the gap of Passo Mulaz (2,619 m asl).

From Passo Mulaz you begin a long descent (Signpost No. 710), sometimes slippery, towards Val Venégia and Malga Venegióta. Just before arriving at the hut of Malga Venegióta, almost on the bottom of the Venégia valley, you begin the last uphill stretch on the Signpost No. 749 towards Passo Valles, which will let you avoid jumping straight into the heart of the tourist valley.

The ascent along the path of the Signpost No. 749 is simply beautiful, and gradually ascends the sunny right orographic side of the Val Venégia, passing through the alpine pastures of the Busa dei Làibi, at the base of the massive western wall of Monte Mulaz. The path leads directly to the gap of Forcella Venégia, where it resumes the initial section of the trail, along the Signpost No. 751, heading directly to Passo Valles.

Paths

• From Valles Pass (2,032 m asl), follow the Signpost No. 751 towards Passo Venegiòta / Rifugio Mulaz, passing by the first gap of Forcella Venégia (2,215 m asl) and the second one of Passo Venegiòta (2,303 m asl),
• From the hut of Rifugio Mulaz (2,571 m asl), proceed along the Signpost No. 710 towards Passo Mulaz / Val Venégia,
• [VARIANT] Before reaching the gap of Passo Mulaz, reach the summit of Monte Mulaz (2,906 m asl),
• From the gap of Passo Mulaz (2,619 m asl), descend along the Signpost No. 710 towards Val Venégia / Malga Venegiòta,
• Shortly before reaching the hut of Malga Venegiòta, at the crossroads, take the Signpost No. 749 towards Passo Valles,
• Arrive at Passo Valles, passing by the gap of Forcella Venégia. ✓

RIFUGIO VOLPI AL MULAZ

• Inaugurated in October 1907, the hut of Rifugio Volpi al Mulaz, known also as Rifugio Mulaz (as it was initially named), is a hut owned by CAI (Italian alpine club) located on the head of the basin of Val Focobòn, just below the gap of Passo Mulaz, at 2,571 meters of altitude.
• Between 1959 and 1960 the hut was renovated and enlarged, thanks to donations from the Volpi family of Venice. The project was completed in July 1960, meanwhile the hut was being dedicated to Giuseppe Volpi, or Volpi of Misurata (1877-1947), Venetian investor, industrialist and politician, founder of SADE (electricity society of the Adriatic), creator of the industrial pole of Porto Marghera (Venice), as well as governor of Tripolitania from 1921 to 1925 and Count of Misurata.

VAL VENÌA

• The Valley of Venìa (Venegia), which extends from Pian dei Casoni up to the Travignolo Glacier and is characterized by the large grassy basin that acts as a natural amphitheater on the northern block of the Pala Group, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful valleys of the Dolomites.
• In addition to the watercourse of Travignolo, the valley has two historical huts: Venìa (Venegia) and Veniòta (Venegiòta), historically managed – respectively – by the breeders of the villages of Transacqua and Tonadico.
• Apart from the west entrance at Pian dei Casoni, Venìa is a valley closed on all sides and it is possible to reach it only through high altitude gaps, in the past without trails and practically uncrossable. From the wise words of Samuele “Pape” Scalet: “this helps to understand the origin of the correct name Val Venìa which means Valley beyond which there is no nìa (nothing), and so it has always been called until a few years ago, until the invasion of the Venigie, which have no meaning at all. And it is a real shame to lose the original toponyms because these arose from precise meanings captured on the spot by the people who lived and worked in that place”.
• A second hypothesis that has been circulating in recent times, for which the name Venìa / Venegia derives from Venice because of the timber that was transported from Venìa to Venice, is geographically very unlikely.
• Until the 1960s, Venìa was also a place of military exercises and the erratic boulder, which now lies at the foot of the (former) Travignolo Glacier, was used as a target for light artillery.