Rifugio Rosalba is one of the classic destinations in the mountains around Lecco: the landscape it sits in has a genuinely Dolomitic feel, thanks to the limestone towers and spires typical of the alpine setting of the Grigne. What is more, no fewer than 3 different routes lead to the hut: the easy Sentiero delle Foppe (1.45 hours, described here), the Sentiero dei Morti (1.30 hours, steeper and more exposed), and the spectacular and famous Direttissima (3.00 hours, a protected route, easy going, extremely crowded in summer). The classic route is the Sentiero delle Foppe, which starts from the former Rifugio Alippi: you reach it by heading W down the road from Piani Resinelli.
From Rifugio Alippi (m1183) we set off into the woods, which in spring are steeped in the scent of cyclamen. We then drop to the floor of a wide alluvial gully, where the first Dolomite-like views open up. The path, mostly level until now, grows gradually steeper. Once we reach the junction for the Sentiero dei Morti, the climb begins in earnest. A few minutes later we leave the woods: ahead of us lies a truly interesting hour of walking, on spectacular grassy slopes that host a varied display of limestone statues, spires and pinnacles. On our right we are kept company by the imposing bulk of Torre Cecilia, while at the top of the grassy slope we can already see Rifugio Rosalba, which only looks close.
The view from Rifugio Rosalba (m1730, h1.45) takes in the massif of the Grigna Settentrionale, Lake Como and the line of mountains that frames it, and the distant snow-covered mountains of Switzerland. In summer we can enjoy the sight of the hordes of climbers crowding the walls of the Torrione del Cinquantenario, all trying to reach its summit and its distinctive little bell.
We return by the same route as the ascent (h1.15).
