The Franchetti Refuge
Nestled between the Corno Grande and the Corno Piccolo, in the heart of what is known as the Vallone delle Cornacchie, at an altitude of 2,433 m is the Rifugio Franchetti.
Reachable only on foot in both summer and winter, it has three main access routes:
- La Madonnina via the Passo delle Scalette after taking the cable car;
- La Piana del Laghetto;
- Campo Imperatore.
In winter, the refuge remains open by reservation and is mainly visited by expert mountaineers and ski mountaineers equipped with the appropriate technical equipment for the ascent and with a good knowledge of winter mountains. During this season, if the cable car up to the Madonnina is closed, to reach it you must go to the main square in the Prati camping area, continue to the Piana del Laghetto, then climb along the wide Arapietra ridge, pass the old Albergo Diruto at 1,896 meters, reach the Madonnina, and finally continue to Franchetti.
The refuge is an important base for hikers who wish to explore the more classic routes and via ferratas that lead up to the "Due Corni." It is also an excellent base for mountaineers and free climbers who venture onto the rock routes of the Corno Piccolo and Corno Grande, with challenging climbs on the severe "Paretone" of the Vetta Orientale. It can It can also be an interesting destination for classic medium-difficulty trails, such as the Tre Vette Traversata.
From the refuge, it is also possible to reach, in about 40 minutes of trail, the small Calderone Glacier, the last modest remnant of the ancient ice ages.
Whatever season you decide to visit, the refuge offers visitors a spectacular panoramic view of the Teramo valley and evocative sunrises. Manager Luca has been taking care of the refuge and its guests for years, also with excellent typical high-mountain dishes.
