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

BASE: 3444ft
SUMMIT: 7381ft
VERTICAL DROP: 3937ft

NO. OF. LIFTS: 6
Gondolas: 0
Chairs: 6
Surface: 3

Situated at only 4 km from Megève and 30 km from Chamonix, Combloux resort is a charming village overlooking Mont Blanc which has a large ski area particularly well adapted to the needs of families.

BASE: 3280ft
SUMMIT: 6561ft
VERTICAL DROP: 3280ft

NO. OF. LIFTS: 23
Gondolas: 3
Chairs: 10
Surface: 10

Cordon is a typical village of moutain, near the Aravis moutain range and face to Mont-Blanc range. That is why Cordon is called private://Mont Blanc Balconyprivate://.

Bramans, village of Haute Maurienne in Savoie, near the Italian border, settled on the antic Roman way which crossed the Small Mont-Cenis and the Col Clappier.

The ski area Rauris is located in the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park. The very appealing location of the ski area amidst the stunning landscape of the Raurisertal makes for interesting activities also away from the slopes.