VIEL DAL PAN

To get to this refuge on the southern slopes of Sasso Cappello (which separates Passo Pordoi from Passo Fedaia) you’ll walk along the (easy!) ancient path once used by flour traders from Belluno on their way to the Valle di Fassa. But aside from the novelty of retracing the steps of the ancient mountain people there is another (good) reason why it’s worthwhile coming to the Rifugio Viel dal Pan (meaning the Path of Bread) in the summer, which is the spectacular views: in good weather the Marmolada glacier is right there in front of you, across the valley. There is no better refuge to contemplate the Queen, and - why not? - maybe the next time to actually climb it. Open From 20 June to 20 September Before leaving for your hike, always contact the manager to verify the actual opening of the mountain hut Walks The refuge is mid-way between the Ladin valleys of Fassa and Fodom. From the Viel dal Pan you can take a short detour to climb up Sasso Cappello, where you can admire the Marmolada (to the south) and the Sella Group (to the north) and catch a glimpse below of the hairpin bends of Passo Pordoi, designed by Austrian engineers in the early 20th century (20 minutes, difficulty E). The mountainside is steep so be careful, especially when the grass is wet. With a via ferrata kit you can also follow the Via delle Trincee (Path of the Trenches) from Porta Vescovo to Passo Padon in about 3 hours (difficulty EEA).