Monte Frerone, from Bazena

Introduction

Beautiful excursion to be made preferably in the autumn, perhaps to be combined with a search for rocks and minerals or an examination of the geological conformation that make the area one of the most studied in the world, due to the interaction between granitic magma and limestone rocks that occurred between 42 and 29 million years ago (for a first idea of the phenomena that can be observed, consult the geology page of my personal website). Instead of the route described here across the hills, it is possible to ascend directly to Frerone from Val Bona (a route followed by ski mountaineers in the winter season), but the first route is more comfortable, restful and also more beautiful; if necessary, we will opt for the second, more direct, downhill solution.

Description

From the edge of the Bazena car park (1805m), take the beautiful path (marker ) which climbs up to the Malghe di Val Fredda (possible shortcut along the carriage road). With a wide semicircle to the right, gaining little altitude difference, you pass below the peaks of Monte Mattoni and Monte Cadino, finally climbing to the Val Fredda pass. Along this stretch, one can observe, right along the path, at first dark to black rocks (gabbros and hornblendites), the first product of the parent magma of all the other granite rocks of the massif, and then contact phenomena between the magmatic rocks of intrusion (tonalites) and the encrusting limestone rocks. When you are almost at the Val Fredda pass, instead of reaching it, continue to the left, keeping to the south slope (Val Bona), on a beautiful path carved out among marvellous rocks thickly folded and crossed by strands of various kinds; you thus cross the entire south-west flank of Monte Frerone (a short section equipped with chains), and then climb up, with a few hairpin bends, the upper part of the valley (various minerals in the detritus) and, keeping to the right, the terminal detrital slopes. The ridge just to the right of the summit is thus reached in a short time and is easily reached.