The ‘Giro dei Pozzoni’ Route - The Great War Itineraries

This itinerary leads to the former Austro-Hungarian Pozzoni positions, which were once a strategic hub of the front during World War I, set in a distinctive glacial environment. Once covered by the ice tongues of the Vedrette di Làres glacier, the area is now scattered with pools and small lakes, surrounded by a stark rocky desert.
Embark on a journey to the Vette dei Pozzoni peaks, a pilgrimage back in time, leading to the Austro-Hungarian positions that once formed the beating heart and strategic nerve centre of this sector of the front during the Great War. Here, between 1915 and 1917, the destinies of men, supplies and the crucial cableway converged, becoming inextricably intertwined.
Along the path skirting the Cima Pozzoni peak, countless traces of that era reveal their story, while the surrounding landscape bears witness to geological time. A harsh glacial environment, shaped by the dramatic retreat of the Vedrette di Làres glacier, which has left behind a rocky desert scattered with pools and small lakes. Only a faint memory remains of the glacier’s ice tongue, now hundreds of metres higher up, almost out of reach.
Near the vast Sella di Niscli saddle, the echo of the conflict becomes tangible. On the rocky slopes of the Cima Pozzoni peak, the traces of history are plain to see: the remains of barracks, kitchens and storehouses rest on the ridges’ terraces, next to the upper station of the cableway that once ran up from the Rifugio Carè Alto mountain hut.
It's a journey of memory within memory: from this extraordinary vantage point, history and nature merge into an immense panorama that leaves a deep and lasting impression.
Please note that, in order to take this route, you must first walk the section leading from Pian de la Sega (1,250 m) to the Rifugio Carè Alto “Dante Ongari” hut (2,450 m). This 5 km long section involves a 1,200 m elevation gain and takes approx. 3 hours of hiking. For further details, see: Val di Borzago - La Via delle Valli.