Monte Cristallo

TomassoRizzi's picture

Location

Cortina d'Ampezzo
Italy
46° 34' 59.9988" N, 12° 10' 59.9988" E
IT
General info: 

Monte Cristallo (3,221 m) is the highest peak of the Cristallo mountain group in the Italian Dolomites. The mountain group is a long, indented ridge with four summits higher than 3,000 metres. Cima di Mezzo (3,154 m) and Cristallino d'Ampezzo (3,008 m) can be reached by via ferratas, while Monte Cristallo and Piz Popena (3,153 m) both require climbing skills.

ACCESS
A cable lift system starts from Rio Gere in Cortina d'Ampezzo, first a lift to Rifugio Son Forca at the upper end of Val Padeon. The gondola lift up to Forcella Staunies (2919 m), close to Rifugio G. Lorenzi (2.932 m), was built for the Winter Olympics in Cortina in 1956.
Through the eastern part of the massif goes the Dolomite Highway number 3.

VIA FERRATAS
The two via ferratas VF Ivano Dibona and VF Marino Bianchi both start from the top of the cable car at Forcella Staunies. VF Marino Bianchi can be followed to the peak Cima di Mezzo.[4]
VF Ivano Dibona follows the Zurlon-ridge. It is a historical route used in World War I, and later restored and made safe for tourists.[5][6] At the beginning is the longest via ferrata suspension bridge in the Dolomites, the 27 metre long Ponte Cristallo.[4][6]

CABINS (RIFUGI) AND RESTAURANTS
Some of the cabins and restaurants available are the Rifugio Son Forca at 2,235 m; Capanna Guido Lorenzi at 3,003 m (Auronzo di Cadore); Ristorante Rio Gere at 1,680 m; Ristorante Lago Scin at 1,336 m; Ristorante Staulin at 1,370 m; Ristorante Son Zuogo at 1,800 m.

In 1993 the film Cliffhanger was shot on and around the bridge on the Zurlon-ridge, as well as some of the other peaks in the area.

Getting there: 

A cable lift system starts from Rio Gere in Cortina d'Ampezzo, first a lift to Rifugio Son Forca at the upper end of Val Padeon. From there you can take a gondola lift up to Forcella Staunies (2919 m), close to Rifugio G. Lorenzi (2.932 m).

Interesting places nearby

Chaillol est une station de ski familiale dominant la vallée du Champsaur dans les Hautes-Alpes. La station de ski se détache sur un panorama remarquable avec pour toile de fond le pic du Vieux Chaillol et ses 3163m.

Loire's only downhill ski centre has a recently refurbished telecabine at its heart.

BASE: 3707ft
SUMMIT: 5360ft
VERTICAL DROP: 1653ft

NO. OF. LIFTS: 8
Gondolas: 0
Chairs: 1
Surface: 7

Chamois is a magic spot, especially in winter. When the snow covers roofs and nature you feel an unforgettable atmosphere. It seems that time has stopped and with a little imagination that dreams come true.

Chamonix is the place to go for alpine thrill seekers wanting to push themselves to the extreme. The resort is known the world over for its steep, challenging runs, off-piste powder, and dramatic mountain scenery.

The charms of the village, the pleasures of a great ski area! Nestling in Savoie, Champagny en Vanoise is one of 10 ski resorts of La Plagne skiing domain : 225 km of marked runs, 108 lifts between 1 250 and 3 000m in altitude.

Between Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc, two regions have merged across the Franco-Swiss border to form a single region known as Portes du Soleil.