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: 4855ft
SUMMIT: 8333ft
VERTICAL DROP: 3477ft

NO. OF. LIFTS: 19
Gondolas: 0
Chairs: 3
Surface: 16

The village of Campitello is massively overlooked by majestic Sassolungo and Col Rodella, where it is possible to admire one of the most breath-taking landscapes of the Dolomites.

A very modern and forward thinking resort with the latest snow-making and quad chairs. The wide variety of terrain within and above forested slopes includes an unusually high number of blacks.

BASE: 3740ft
SUMMIT: 5905ft
VERTICAL DROP: 2132ft

NO. OF. LIFTS: 3
Gondolas: 0
Chairs: 2
Surface: 1

Canazei is nestled in a conch surrounded by the best-known peaks of the Dolomite Mountains and is one of the most famous ski areas in the Alps.

private://Bellevaux, family resort of Leman Alps settled at 30 min from Thonon-les-Bains and 45 min fromde Geneva, offers many activities : alpine skiing and cross-country-skiing on Mass of Hirmentaz and the Chèvrerie, skishoes walks, ra