The Adventure Begins: From Madonna di Campiglio to Rifugio Tuckett via Sentiero Alfredo Benini
Our via ferrata adventure kicked off in the mountain town of Madonna di Campiglio. This charming alpine resort, nestled deep within the Brenta Dolomites, served as the perfect launchpad for our high-alpine journey.
In winter, Madonna di Campiglio is a chic ski town, but come summer, it trades ski poles for trekking poles. The town serves as the gateway to the magnificent Adamello Brenta Nature Park, which includes the Brenta Dolomites mountain range—our highly anticipated destination for the first leg of our journey. After a day and a half of travel, we arrived in the late afternoon, settled into the charming Hotel Campiglio Bellavista, and immediately set off to explore. Its small town center offered a few tourist shops, an incredible chocolatier, and an inviting selection of hotels and restaurants. After stocking up on chocolate and enjoying an aprés travel, we headed back to the hotel for dinner and to check our gear, organize our packs, and turn in early, eager to begin our high-alpine traverse. As evening settled in around us, the mountains loomed majestically, hinting at the grand adventures that awaited.
Sunset begins to kiss the rugged peaks veiled by clouds under a blue sky surrounding Madonna di Campiglio, Italy
Hotel Campiglio Bellavista in Madonna di Campiglio
Madonna di Campiglio surrounded by clouds & mountain peaks
The Ascent Begins: Up the Grosté Lift
The next morning, after fueling up with cappuccinos, we made our way to the Grosté lift. A major advantage of starting our adventure in a ski town like Madonna di Campiglio was the ability to utilize ski lifts, quickly gaining significant elevation. Stepping into the cabin, we felt a surge of excitement as we began our ascent. Below us, Madonna di Campiglio quickly shrank into a miniature village, its buildings resembling tiny toy buildings. As we climbed higher, the views exploded around us – the lush green valleys giving way to rugged rock faces and the majestic peaks of the Brenta Dolomites drawing closer into sharp focus. The lift ride was a smooth, scenic prelude, carrying us effortlessly to the rifugio where our hike began.
Ski lifts carry hikers to high elevation trailheads during the summer months
Hiking trails in every direction
Rifugio Graffer accessed by the Grostè Lift
Trekking to Tuckett: Gateway to the Bocchette
Stepping off the lift, we were immediately immersed in high-altitude, rocky terrain. From the top, well-marked trails branched out, signs leading us towards our destination. This initial stretch was a beautiful hike, offering stunning glimpses of the terrain to come. The path wound through rugged sections and past sparse but resilient alpine vegetation, the sheer scale of the mountains becoming more pronounced with every step.
Our First Iron Path: The Sentiero Alfredo Benini
This initial stretch of our hike to Rifugio Tuckett brought our first taste of via ferrata with the Sentiero Alfredo Benini. This wasn't just a walk; it's the Italian way of moving on the mountain. The route led us along incredible, exposed ledges—sometimes wide and comfortable, other times narrow, demanding careful footing. We encountered sections where metal rungs were set directly into the rock face, allowing us to ascend steeper pitches, and even ladders that felt like staircases in the sky. All the while, a continuous cable provided security, allowing us to focus on the breathtaking panoramic views that unfolded with every turn. Looking out across the vast expanse of peaks and valleys, we felt completely immersed in the raw beauty of the Brenta Dolomites, a thrilling start to our high-alpine journey.
Our First Mountain Home: Rifugio Tuckett
Finally, after an invigorating and successful first day in the mountains, Rifugio Tuckett emerged into view, nestled dramatically against the imposing rock face of Cima Sella. This historic hut immediately invited us in. The atmosphere was buzzing with the quiet energy of fellow mountaineers—some just arriving, many sipping beers and sharing stories of the day, others already planning their next ascent. We settled into our bunks, cleaning up from the day and preparing for the adventures ahead.
The via ferrata leads to a short walk towards Rifugio Tuckett. It's just barely visible in the distance, perched on the ridge slightly off-center as the rocky slope on the right begins to flatten, a welcoming sight at the end of the faint trail.
Rifugio Tuckett stands proudly amidst the rocky terrain in the Brenta Dolomites. In the hazy distance, the majestic peaks of the Adamello-Presanella mountain range stretch across the horizon.
The charming exterior of Rifugio Tuckett, featuring its iconic blue and white striped shutters, the hut dates back to 1906.
Rifugio Tuckett, nestled between the Grosté Pass (from where we arrived) on the left, and the challenging routes leading towards Rifugio Alamonte (our next destination) on the right.
As the sun began its descent, we stepped outside to watch, camera in hand. The sky transformed into a breathtaking explosion of fiery oranges, soft pinks, and deep blues, painting the rugged peaks in a beautiful glow. It was a truly magical moment, capturing the raw, fleeting beauty of the Brenta Dolomites as they bid farewell to the day. These are precisely the moments why we willingly carry my camera gear into the mountains – to preserve and share such profound, natural artistry.
Sunset from Rifugio Tuckett
Dinner was shared with new friends in a large, family-style dining room, where every table buzzed with recounts of the day's experiences. Soon, we were tucked into our bunks, resting deeply in preparation for the next big day.
Check out this short recap video on the first day on the trail.
Stay tuned for the next post, where we'll hike even deeper into the Brenta Dolomites, tackling some of its most iconic via ferrata routes!
Cima Pressanella from Rifugio Tuckett
