Mountain tour to the Rif. Lago di Pausa and the Cima di Terento

For this mountain tour we start in the early morning hours in order to enjoy to the fullest the alpine world of the Fundres Mountains. The starting point of our hike is the village of Terento, accessible by car via Vandoies. We turn left at a sharp right bend near a bridge and follow the signpost to the Rif. Lago di Pausa mountain hut (Tiefrastenhütte) for some hundred metres to a parking space. It's 6.30 am and we're not alone - the surroundings are a well-known and worthwhile hiking area.

After a 20-minute walk on a wide forest path along the course of the Rio Vena brook we reach the Astnerberg Mountain Hut at 1,641 a.s.l. The path no. 23 proceeds through a larch forest and gets steeper and more demanding. Arrived at the mountain pastures, we turn into the narrow trail to the left, marked with a red arrow - it leads us towards a waterfall and the Rif. Lago di Pausa mountain hut. Soon afterwards we reach the waterfall and the flatter section of the trail. We stop at a wooden hut at 2,026 m a.s.l. before walking over a steep level to the Rif. Lago di Pausa mountain hut (2,312 m a.s.l.) near the eponymous lake. The path up to the hut coincides with a section of the famous Fundres High-Altitude Trail (Pfunderer Höhenweg).

We enjoy a second breakfast at the hut and start the ascent to the 2,738 m high Mount Cima di Terento following a wide ridge towards north-west. After a 45-minute hike past a scree field near the Campofosso wind gap we reach the Lago di Campofosso lake (Kompfosssee). Above the lake the path no. 22 branches off to the right and snakes its way to the summit. This section is partly secured by ropes and stairs. In a zigzag line we finally reach the summit and enjoy the fantastic view on the Val di Fundres valley, the village of Terento and its surroundings. We follow the same trail back down into the valley with stops for refreshment and panoramic views at the Rif. Lago di Pausa and the Astnerberg mountain huts.

Please note: due to some steep, exposed and craggy sections, the ascent to Mount Cima di Terento requires mountain experience and a good physical condition - the trail is partly secured by ropes. The section to the Rif. Lago di Pausa mountain hut, however, is rather easy, the hike is especially beautiful in July when the Alpine roses blossom. The hut is a well-known starting point for further hikes, e.g. on the Monte Pausa (2,704 m a.s.l.) and the Monte Gruppo (2,809 m a.s.l.) mountains.

Author: BS