Super panoramic winter tour of the Corno del Renon by bike. Today I'll take you to one of the most panoramic peaks in Alto Adige, pedaling on the snow of roads groomed by snowcats for ski mountaineers and walkers.
In this article
Ascent from Pemmern to the Corno del Renon
We start just above Collalbo, already at 1500 m altitude. To avoid leaving your car in the paid parking lot of the Pemmern ski lifts, you can stop about a kilometre beforehand.
The biting cold of the first pedal strokes is swept away by the initial ramps in the woods that quickly help us acclimatise by following a path that climbs in bursts.
You soon leave the undergrowth to find the asphalt of via Tann and follow it for a couple of kilometres of climbing that help you take pace.
Towards the Adige Valley a blanket of clouds indicates the presence of the thermal inversion that is giving us a super day.
A fork on the right makes us start pedaling on the snow along a forest road that at times becomes very steep. We gain altitude among the fir trees but soon the high-altitude pastures replace the vegetation and the gaze begins to wander westwards to the Gran Zebrù, the Ortles, the Presena and the Brenta.
Behind us Roen, Penegal and Paganella pierce the white sheet of clouds. We continue to climb crossing the track that passes by the Corno di Sotto before reaching the last tremendous ramp that leads to the foot of the antenna that dominates the peak.
Dolomite panoramas
The freezing air reminds us that we are over 2200 m above sea level but we cannot help but stop and enjoy the panorama in front of us.
To the east, beyond the Isarco Valley, Latemar, Sciliar, Catinaccio, Sassolungo and Sassopiatto, Marmolada and Odle block the horizon together with dozens of other Dolomite peaks.
We are on the Corno del Renon, one of the most accessible and extraordinary panoramic balconies in the Alps.
Lago Nero summit loop
In front of the Rittnerhorn refuge (2261 m) which is closed at this time of year, the descent begins and becomes immediately challenging.
A quick dive takes us back to Corno di Sotto after crossing a first slope. Be careful, give way and stay in the crossing areas.
Just beyond the two refreshment points that are present in this basin, a loop that leads to the Lago Nero summit begins, with still extraordinary views of the Dolomites. Initially, you climb with a short ramp and then take you to the summit refuge next to the artificial lake.
The loop descends again to the east and then climbs again to the Corno di Sotto location.
Final dive
A final fast crossing takes us to the gates of the final dive which begins on the same route taken on the way up. A little further on, however, we keep left alongside the ski slope and descend rapidly into the snow which is already starting to melt in the afternoon.
You reach the Pemmern station from where it is a moment, on asphalt, to return to the starting point.
A tour that can also be done in summer with possible variations to lengthen it a bit.
