Forcella de Popena, 2214 m

Wild rock scenery surrounding an old ruin: Anyone driving south through the Höhlenstein Valley will be captivated by the rugged Cristallo massif: the rocky tower of Piz Popena (left) and the jagged peak of Monte Cristallo (right), separated by the deeply incised Cristallo Pass – picture-perfect Dolomite mountains. It's hard to imagine that a relatively easy snowshoe tour could be found in this wild landscape. And yet, hidden in a deep valley east of Piz Popena is a fantastic ascent. The destination is the Popena Pass, Forcella de Popena, where the Rifugio Popena once stood. Heavily damaged in the turmoil of the First World War, it was never rebuilt; today it stands as a photogenic ruin against the red rocks of Piz Popena.