Cima di Fradusta (2939 m a.s.l.)

About peak Cima di Fradusta

Itálie

Logged on Vrcholovka 1x in total. Vrchol Cima di Fradusta was added here by Milan "Hojší" Průžek and info was completed by Jan Blažej.

Fradusta is one of the most important peaks of the Pale di San Martino in the Trentino Dolomites. Its significance is primarily due to the fact that on its northern side lies the glacier of the same name (Fradusta Glacier).
The glacier was considered the most important of the Pale and was second in the Dolomites, after the Marmolada Glacier: in recent years, due to climate change, the glacier's extent has significantly decreased. The hot summer of 2003 also led to the breaking of two parts of the glacier, which had already retreated in recent decades, as has been consistently mentioned (in the early 1900s it exceeded 200 hectares in area, around 2000 it was only 20 hectares, and today its extent is less than 2 hectares). The loss of surface area, retreat of the front, and reduction in thickness allow us to assume that in a few years the entire glacier will disappear.
After continuous melting, the glacier is no longer the largest of the Pale, as it has reached a smaller size than the Travignolo Glacier.

On July 19, 1957, a serious accident occurred on Fradusta: an American military plane crashed into the southern wall, and 11 American airmen lost their lives. In memory of the fallen, a memorial plaque was attached near the Minazio bivouac, close to the crash site, listing the names and ranks of the soldiers. The wreckage of the crashed plane is still clearly visible in the area upstream of the bivouac.

Interesting facts
On February 10, 2013, the lowest temperature recorded in Italy and Southern Europe was reached in the northern Busa Fradusta (a glacial sinkhole under the Fradusta Glacier): -49.6 °C.

Chalet/accommodation: The nearest mountain hut is Bivacco Carlo Minazio, located 900 m southeast of the summit.
Stroller access: Peak is not stroller accessible.
Views
Cable car: There is no cable car to this peak.
Equipment: No special equipment is required for this summit.
Accessibility: Peak is freely accessible.