Today we decided to climb a peak in the eastern Val Sarentino Alps, that is to say the 2,585 m high Cima San Cassiano, rising above Lazfons and Valdurna in the Val Sarentino valley. On our way up we come by the highest located sanctuary of South Tyrol. Early in the morning, with good weather predictions, we drive to the Kühhof farm in Lazfons on a narrow mountain road. Already at the parking space we can see the sanctuary of the Croce di Lazfons and the adjacent mountain hut, but we are about 2 hours of walking away of this place. So we take the forested path towards the Rif. Chiusa/Klausner Hütte, leading through the forest. The view back makes us admire a fantastic mountain scenery including the Sassolungo, Cima Grohmann, the Sella mountains and the Catinaccio. After about one hour of walking we reach the Rif. Chiusa (Klausner Hütte).

This is where you need to stop if you walk with kids, as there is a lovely playground. Proceeding the way up, we walk past some mountain huts at the south-eastern slope of the Cima Lorenzi. Via a path that is getting steeper and steeper, we approach the Rifugio Croce di Lazfons with its black crucifix that has attracted a large number of pilgrims from all over the world to this place. After a little break we continue, past donkeys, cows and horses, towards the Cima di San Cassiano (Kassianspitze). A narrow path zigzags up the rocky terrain. Soon we reach Lake San Cassiano, where the path starts to become very steep, leading us the way to the highest point. Via the western slope we reach the highest point with a cross on the summit and a fabulous viewing table.

The view of 360° degrees is just fabulous and includes the Ortles mountain, the Dolomites and many more rocky giants. For the way back we take the same path. Not too difficult mountain tour with forested trail in the first part and a narrow and steep path in the second part. An absolute must-see is the sanctuary of the Croce di Lazfons and a stop in the mountain hut that is owned by the family of the extreme Alpinist Tamara Lunger.

Author: BS