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

Morgins, a chocolate box mountain village, nestled between pine forests and meadows on the Swiss French border, has been welcoming visitors for over a hundred years.

Morillon it's the choice between two little villages interlinked by a ski slope and a 10-seater ultra-fast gondola: - Firstly, the traditional village of Morillon which is home to 500 permanent residents.

Morzine is one of 14 resorts in the massive Portes du Soleil ski area, which spans the Franco-Swiss border.

BASE: 2326ft
SUMMIT: 3428ft
VERTICAL DROP: 1102ft

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

BASE: 1804ft
SUMMIT: 2296ft
VERTICAL DROP: 492ft

NO. OF. LIFTS: 4
Gondolas: 0
Chairs: 0
Surface: 4

The Mottarone situated between Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta, is considered one of the most beautiful natural balconies in the whole Piedmont, and not only.