Maroccaro Pass, from Tonale Pass

Access

At the Ospitaletto exit of the [A4] motorway, follow the local signs for Valle Camonica following the SP19 and SP510. Near Pian Camuno, go up the valley on the SS42 del Tonale e della Mendola road to Edolo, turn right towards Passo del Tonale, pass Incudine, Vezza d'Oglio, Temù and Pontedilegno. Continue along the SS42 in the direction of Passo del Tonale. Park on the right at the Paradiso cableway departure station, about 7/800 metres before the Tonale Military Memorial. Take the gondola to Passo Paradiso (or the Monticello Pass).

Note
The Tonale Pass can also be reached with the SS42 from Valtellina - via the Aprica (SS39) and Gavia (SS300) passes - or from Trentino - going up the Val di Sole and Val di Vermiglio

Introduction

The proposed itinerary leads to the Maroccaro Pass, a splendid panoramic balcony over the Adamello glacier. The surrounding area, including the Presena basin, was the scene of military clashes during the First World War. Given the progressive retreat of the Vedretta Presena glacier, it is not unlikely to spot old and abandoned war ordnance. If this should happen, my personal advice is not to touch anything, to photograph both the details of what you have seen and the surrounding area so as to facilitate their subsequent location and to proceed to hand over the photographic material to the local Carabinieri station (which will send bomb disposal experts to the site as soon as possible to remove the ordnance and secure the area).

Note 1: According to some people's opinion, the found ordnance should be hidden and/or masked with the surrounding stones and boulders, and it should be reported to the Carabinieri station after erecting some cairns in the vicinity. In my personal opinion, however, this procedure is improper because there is a risk of touching dangerous ordnance and, with the erection of cairns, increasing the likelihood that hikers/mountaineers will walk right towards them. Note 2: on the glacier section, crampons must be worn.

Description

From the arrival station of the Passo Paradiso gondola (2573m), head south along the dirt track: you will pass by a rock commemorating the brotherhood festival with the KAISERSCHÜTZEN, then the Giardino di Roccia M.llo Ivo Barbacovi at the Piazza della Fratellanza (the granite sculpture is valuable), and finally the Monumento alla Fratellanza (Brotherhood Monument), right near Lake Monticello (2599m, 0h10'). In a landscape of mounded rocks, go around the lake to the east and, still on an easy track, climb up to the basin where the Capanna Presena (2729m, 0h40') is situated (Note: the Capanna Presena can be reached, even in summer, by the chairlift that leaves from Passo Paradiso).
Now go up the gully to the right of the ski lift to the end of a ridge of rocks. Turn right and, keeping centred, climb up the Vedretta Presena to the base of a band of fine detritus and granite boulders. With the aid of a cable, climb up the last slippery section to the Maroccaro Pass (3034m, 1h50'). From the pass the view opens out over Lake Scuro and the Adamello glacier.
The return is along the same route: descend to the Capanna Presena (2729m, 0h55') and, bypassing the lake, reach the Passo Paradiso (2573m, 1h25').

General information

Path:from Passo del Tonale
Signposts: -
Type of route: a/r
Recommended period: July, August, September
Objective hazard: take care when crossing the glacier
Sun exposure: north-east

Bibliographic references

• Brenta Dolomites Adamello-Presanella Val di Sole, Carta Topografica, foglio 10, 1:25000, Casa Editrice Tabacco, 2006
• Ponte di Legno, Alta Val Camonica, Passo del Tonale N. 107 - Kompass 1:50000