The Torri del Vajolet are slim, near-vertical spires standing at the core of the Catinaccio group, and for anyone who loves the mountains they're far more than a pretty view. This is where the great names of classic climbing made their mark, from Tita Piaz to Georg Winkler, leaving routes that climbers still repeat today like chapters of history. At their base stand Rifugio Vajolet, built as early as 1897 by the Leipzig section of the German-Austrian Alpine Club and extended several times since, and next to it Rifugio Re Alberto I, looking out over the Gartl cirque right below the towers.
The most popular way in starts from the Gardeccia area, reached from Vigo di Fassa by gondola to Ciampedie and then a short stretch on foot or by shuttle. From there a well-marked path climbs to the Vajolet and Preuss refuges, and if you want to go higher you can carry on to Re Alberto I at over 2,600 metres on a harder scree trail. It's a walk for fit legs, but it needs no technical skill. That's only for people who actually want to put their hands on the towers.
Frequently asked questions
How do you reach Rifugio Vajolet?
Take the gondola from Vigo di Fassa to Ciampedie, make your way to Gardeccia, and from there a trail leads to the Vajolet and Preuss refuges in just over an hour of uphill walking.
Do you need to be a mountaineer to reach the refuges?
No. For Rifugio Vajolet and Rifugio Preuss, good hiking fitness is enough; the stretch to Re Alberto I is steeper but still a trail. Climbing the Torri del Vajolet themselves is for experienced alpinists only.