Alta Via "Bepi Zac" is a spectacular equipped trail along the ridge of Costabella Peak, in the north of the San Pellegrino Pass, dedicated to the mountaineer Bepi Pellegrin (called Zac), in love with nature and passionate about local history and, once, owner of the Passo delle Selle Hut (2530 m), the "Bergvagabunden Hütte" (shelter dedicated to the "vagabonds" of the mountain), now managed by his son Floriano. Recently renovated, the war route offers breathtaking scenery ranging from the Marmolada to the Pale di S. Martino, from the Sella to the Sassolungo, from the Catinaccio to the Latemar. Costabella was an important defensive stronghold of the Austrian front in the Marmolada during the Great War. Along the itinerary you can meet, in fact, numerous historical testimonies such as the trenches, the piling, the caves and the fortifications.
Route
The high route is a path equipped with cords, taps, stairs and wooden walkways of medium difficulty with some sections, even if short, exposed and insidious without protections on steep ridges, not advisable for those suffering from vertigo. Starting point is the San Pellegrino Pass, for those who want can use the ski lifts to reach the top. Then take path 637b towards Forcella Ciadin (2664 m), which is reached by a steep scree after crossing the Campagnaccia pastures. From the fork, always following the path 637b, you face a crossbar of a few hundred meters without guards, then you get to the attack of the street, a large fireplace equipped with large wooden stairs and lanyard. The itinerary winds along the tormented ridge of Costabella among chimneys, ledges, ridges, peaks, caves and tunnels. After the first part equipped with a saddle, the path continues in a narrow gorge at the foot of the Sasso di Costabella (2730 m). It is slightly lowered to cross a series of basins. After briefly ascending a small peak, it still descends slightly at the foot of the Costabella Peak (2759 m), which climbs with a stretch equipped with a rather exposed lanyard along the east edge. Follow other ups and downs to reach the Cima della Campagnaccia (2727 m). Before ascending to the Lastei Grande (2716 m) and Picol, it is possible to interrupt the excursion by lowering the valley to the east. The long crossing ends by crossing the rugged buttresses of the Lastei up to the summit of Lastei Picol (2697 m), north of the Passo delle Selle hut (2528 m), reachable after a steep descent. You then return to the pass in about an hour along path 604, passing through the Paradiso hut (2170 m). For those who want to go down the valley with the chairlift.
