Forcella Del Cristallo February 2024 POV

Forcella del Cristallo, also known as the Cristallo saddle, is a stunning mountain pass located in the Cristallo massif of the Dolomites. This area is renowned for its challenging ski mountaineering routes and breathtaking scenery.
The tour to Forcella del Cristallo typically starts from the Marogna bridge near Carbonin/Misurina. The route takes you through the Val Fonda, a valley known for its long-lasting powder snow due to limited sunlight. The key passage of this tour is a narrow ravine that must be crossed on foot at its steepest point. After this, you reach the Circo del Cristallo, a beautiful cirque with wide slopes leading up to the saddle between Piz Popena and Monte Cristallo.
The ascent is quite demanding, with an altitude difference of about 1,335 meters, and requires ski crampons for the final steep slopes. The descent follows the same route, requiring careful attention at the lower chute/ravine.