The Path of Peace across the Adamello-Presanella

There are mountains that stay uncrowded not by chance, but by nature: the Adamello-Presanella is one of them. It is a world of high altitude, of glaciers, rock and bivouacs, where Sunday tourists never arrive and where even in summer you often walk in solitude. Along these slopes runs a stretch of the Path of Peace, the long itinerary that ideally follows the Alpine front of the First World War, here the theatre of the so-called White War: the highest combat in history, fought among the ice at over three thousand metres. To walk here is to cross a harsh landscape and, at the same time, a great open-air museum made of trenches, gun emplacements and the remains of barracks.

The route

The itinerary is no stroll: it unfolds at altitude, among huts and bivouacs, and demands mountain experience, fitness and proper equipment. You cross high-mountain terrain where snow can linger for a long time and where the presence of the Adamello glaciers, among the most extensive in the Italian Alps, calls for caution. Along the way you encounter the traces of the war: sections of trench carved into the rock, tunnels, memorial stones and the bivouacs that today offer shelter to hikers where a century ago soldiers held out against the cold and the avalanches. The Alpine huts scattered across the group are the natural support points for breaking up the walk and sleeping at altitude. All around opens a scene of rock spires, snowfields and high-mountain tarns, with the Presanella and the peaks of the Adamello dominating the horizon and reminding you how rare it is, today, to find yourself alone in such a grand and untouched setting.

The appeal of this itinerary lies precisely in its hardness. It is not a destination to tick off in a day, but a route to tackle in stages, linking huts and bivouacs together, with the awareness that at altitude the weather rules and plans must be adapted. Those who walk it seek absolute silence, the grandeur of the glaciers and the sense of history that soaks every stone, not services and entertainment. It is this natural selection that keeps the crowds away: the Adamello demands commitment, and repays it with a rare experience.

How to get there

To approach it, you set off from the valleys of western Trentino that cut into the group, such as the Val Rendena and the valleys that climb towards the base huts; from there you reach the trailheads by car, often followed by a long climb on foot to gain altitude. There is no easy way to move about in this environment: you travel on foot, from hut to hut, and every leg must be planned in advance by checking openings, beds and route conditions. For sections on the glacier or exposed terrain, mountaineering equipment may be needed and, if you lack the proper experience, the accompaniment of an Alpine guide is the wisest choice.

When to go

The usable window is narrow, in high summer, July and August, when the high passes are passable and the huts are open. Even in these months, which elsewhere mean overcrowding, the Adamello stays little frequented because the environment filters visitors on its own: the altitude, the physical effort and the presence of the glaciers discourage mass tourism. In this way you walk in the heart of summer finding very few companions on the trail, in a silence that at lower altitudes has by now become impossible to find.

A practical tip, which here is a matter of safety before comfort: plan carefully and do not improvise. Always check the weather forecast, set off at dawn to avoid the afternoon storms typical of high mountains, verify that the huts are open and book your beds, and bring clothing for the cold even in August. If you have no experience of glacial terrain, put yourself in the hands of an Alpine guide and choose sections suited to your level. The Adamello is a severe mountain: you truly enjoy it only by approaching it with respect and caution.

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