Winter hike to the Rif. Alpino Micheluzzi

The “Rifugio Alpino Micheluzzi”, also known as “Duronhaus”, is located in the Val Duron valley at the foot of the Alpe di Siusi and the Catinaccio group. It is the destination of our winter hike starting in Campitello di Fassa

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The view from Campitello di Fassa towards the Sassolungo group is always a beautiful photo motif.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Passing the parish church, we follow the road to the mountain village of Pian, which lies on the slope below the Col Rodella.
Foto: AT, © Peer
From the path the view on the upper Val di Fassa with Canazei soon opens up.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Towards the south we see the lower valley with the Catinaccio group on the right side of the valley.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Soon we reach Pian di Campitello.
Foto: AT, © Peer
The small settlement is enthroned in a sunny position above the valley.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Campitello di Fassa liegt nun direkt unter uns.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Almost without gradients we continue into the inner Val Duron valley.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Here our path now joins the valley path, which comes up directly from Campitello and is also used as a sledge run. This is where the steep section of our hike starts.
Foto: AT, © Peer
At the wayside we come to the Baita Fraines. This mountain hut is also open in winter.
Foto: AT, © Peer
The view back extends to the Punta Penia, a peak of the Marmolada.
Foto: AT, © Peer
The valley path, also called “Strada de Fossel”, climbs steadily up the narrow valley.
Foto: AT, © Peer
You can also use the sledge for the descent later.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Foto: AT, © Peer
Foto: AT, © Peer
Where the Duronbach stream (Ruf de Duron) reaches the top of the path, the destination is not far away anymore.
Foto: AT, © Peer
At the turn-off we follow the sign “Passo Duron”.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Past the chapel we reach the mountain hut.
Foto: AT, © Peer
In the Rifugio Micheluzzi, also known as Duronhütte, we have planned our lunch break.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Behind the hut the snow-covered meadows of the Val Duron valley extend into the area below the Alpe di Siusi and the Catinaccio (in the middle of the picture the Denti di Terrarossa).
Foto: AT, © Peer
A short distance along the path brings us to the hut “Lino Brach” in the middle of the valley.
Foto: AT, © Peer
After a short break, we descend on the same path back down into the valley, to Campitello di Fassa.
Foto: AT, © Peer

We start in the centre of Campitello di Fassa and follow the road to the parish church (Streda de Col) and on to the mountain hamlet of Pian. The path leads along the sunny slope below the Sassolungo group towards the woods. In this section the path offers a view on the upper Val di Fassa with Canazei and the Marmolada and on the lower part towards Moena with the Catinaccio. The path pleasantly continues towards the inner part of the valley and merges with the somewhat steep valley road, which leads past the Fraines Hut and continues towards west.

Through the snow-covered forest the path leads us up to a plain, where the Rifugio Micheluzzi (Duronhütte) is located. After lunch in the mountain hut, we continue a little further into the valley. Through the snowy landscape with view on Molignon and Denti di Terrarossa we soon reach the hut Baita Lino Brach, where the track ends. Back to Campitello we take the same way. The route is also popular with tobogganists. By the way, there is also a snowmobile taxi, with which you can reach the destination without any effort. But we enjoyed the exercise in the fresh winter air.

Author: AT

difficulty: moderate