A Visit to ACE High - NATO IDGZ Station at Dosso dei Galli, Brescia Italy

Overview ~ Station ~ Name ~ Arriving ~ Photos

Top row - left: Approaching the ACE High IDGZ base in Italy.
Top row - right:  Tropospheric scatter antenna at Dosso dei Galli IDGZ.

Bottom row - left: The troposcatter antennas of Dosso dei Galli IDGZ.

Overview

We were on our way to a hike (see A Hike to Laghetti di Bruffione) and our friends decided to take us through Passo della Spina (explained below) and then past this ex-radiocommunication station. When they asked if we wanted to get out and see it, we jumped at the chance.

We are in Valle Sabbia, in the Brescia province, in the Brescia and Garda Prealps, part of the larger Southern Rhaetian Alps. The landscape is idyllic, with the mountains and pastures shared alike by cows, goats, walkers, skiers, and bikers. On the day we visit, a local farmer sells cheese at the entrance to the site. It’s in this context that the NATO communication base was constructed in the early 1960s.

Growing up, we’d heard of the “cold war” and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), but we treated them as abstract concepts belonging to the generation before us. But there are not. Today, “cold war” and NATO come up just as often; they are terms of our generation and subsequent ones. Coming to this abandoned base spurred us to think about these terms and why NATO was created.

Station

The station was part of the Allied Command Europe Highband (ACE High), a NATO radiocommunication and early warning system that was operational between 1965 and 1995. This station is at 2,196 m (7,205 ft) on a mountain in the province of Bergamo. The station was one of a backbone of stations extending from Norway to Turkey.

The system was shut down because newer technologies became available, and the frequency band used in the ACE High needed to be returned to the civilian sector. A good write-up, with beautiful pictures is at One Man, One Map.

The ACE High system used a method of communication called tropospheric scatter (troposcatter), where radio signals are aimed just above the horizon in the direction of a listening station. Some of the signal passes through the troposphere but some is scattered back toward the earth allowing the receiver to pick it up. Troposcatter antennas have to be large to pick up the signal and focus the beam for sending signals. The size of the antennas at Dosso dei Galli are about 20 m high. The squared-off version of typical parabolic antennas is referred to as a “billboard”, which is what you see at Dosso dei Galli.

One billboard antenna at Dosso dei Galli communicated with Feldberg (Schwarzwald), Germany (AFEZ). The other antenna it says communicated with Livorno – Monte Giogo (IMXZ) and Cavriana – Monte Bosco Scuro (IMBZ).

Name

The name of the hill the abandoned stations occupies is called Dosso dei Galli (location), named for the gallo cedrone that once made their nests there. A gallo cedrone (Tetrao urogallus) is known as a western capercaillie, Eurasian capercaillie, or wood grouse. We did not see any birds while we were visiting. Could it be the fact that the top part of the mountain was removed to create a flat space for the base was not enticing to them? See photos here of before and after. The top 79 m (260 ft) of the mountain was removed.

Arriving

To get to the station, go to Giogo del Maniva and then continue on to SP345 north to find the station here. These are asphalt roads.

We took a route that was a bit more scenic that involved dirt roads not for cars. From Rifugio Rosa di Baremone, following Via Passo Maniva we went to Giogo del Maniva on an old military route called Passo della Spina. It’s a dirt road, with sheer drop-offs and often not enough space for two cars to pass by normally. (One usually backs up to a place where the two can pass.) You shouldn’t travel this road in a car. We were in a jeep with an experienced driver. There were lots of motorcycles and bikers on the route as well.

Photos

Left: At the entrance to the ex-base - a local farmer sells cheese.

Center: Approaching the IDGZ Dosso dei Galli.
Right: View from a window at Dosso dei Galli IDGZ.

Back of a troposcatter antenna at Dosso dei Galli IDGZ.

Left: Bottom of troposcatter antenna with humans for scale.

Center: Entering the site Dosso dei Galli IDGZ in Italy.
Right: Tropospheric scatter antenna at Dosso dei Galli IDGZ.

Graffiti at ACE High ex-NATO IDGZ station at Dosso dei Galli.


Graffiti at ACE High ex-NATO IDGZ station at Dosso dei Galli.  One says "L'Eco di Bergamo nuoce gravemente alla salute" or "The Eco di Bergamo [newspaper] seriously damages your health."


The abandoned buildings at Dosso dei Galli.

A troposcatter antenna at Dosso dei Galli, in the province of Brescia Italy.

A Hike to Laghetti di Bruffione

Overview ~ Flora ~ Photos

Overview

Duration: 5.25 hours (includes lunch break at Laghetti di Bruffione)
Elevation: 469 m (1540 ft)
Length: 12.2 km (7.6 mi)
Location: Italy, Brescia Province, Valle Sabbia / Valle Trompia

A few weeks ago, we were hiking on Monte Guglielmo in the province of Brescia. Today, we find ourselves 30 km northwest, still in Brescia, hiking above La piana del Gaver. The hike is on the border between the Valle Trompia and Valle Sabbia, two of the three principal valleys of the province. The third being Val Camonica.

From behind Bar Bruffione, you can find the trail, really a dirt - cobblestone road that takes you up to Malga Bruffione. Cross the meadow and on the east side find the trail to Laghetti Bruffione. Find a spot and spread you blanket for a picnic.

Flora

[Caryophyllaceae] Silene dioica - Red campion


[Coleosporiaceae] Chrysomyxa sp. - Spruce needle rust

[Gentianaceae] Gentiana asclepiadea - Willow Gentian (Genziana di Esculapio)


[Polygonaceae] Rumex alpinus - Monk's rhubarb

Photos

Left: A water control structure on the path up to Laghetti di Bruffione.
Center: La Piana del Gaver map.
Right: Trail sign in Malga Bruffione and information about bears.

Left: Approaching Laghetti di Bruffione.

Center: Cornone di Blumone - view north from La Piana del Gaver.

Right: Malga Bruffione.

Left: One of the Laghetti di Bruffione.

Center: Walking along Laghetti di Bruffione.
Right: The path just before entering the Malga Bruffione.


View from the trail looking west toward Corna Bianca.

A Hike to Pizzo Tre Signori and Rifugio F.A.L.C.

Overview ~ Flora and fauna ~ Photos

Top row left: Lago dell'Inferno. 

Top row center: Valle dell'Inferno late afternoon.
Top row right: La sfinge (the Sphinx) rock formation.

Bottom row left: An alpine ibex.
Bottom row center: Valle dell'Inferno early mornnig.
Bottom row right: Near the peak of Pizzo Tre Signori.

Overview

Duration: 10.25 hours total (walking 5 hours, the rest of the time for breaks and lunch at rifugio)
Elevation: 1431 m (about 4,700 ft) gain
Length: 13.4 km
Location: Italy, Bergamo Province, Upper Val Brembana

We deviated from the 106 trail description on CAI site because (1) we started higher up than the trail description suggests, and (2) the description is just to reach the peak, but we went farther to Rifugio FALC.

(1) The trail description suggests parking in Ornica here (you need to buy a pass, e.g., we purchased it at Ristorante Ruffoni) and walking up. With a friend’s jeep we were able to go higher and cut off some of the less interesting hiking to start here, at the entrance to the road to Agriturismo Ferdy d’Alpe.

(2) After the peak of Tre Signori, we headed to Rifugio FALC on trail 42 and then headed back on a trail lower (closer to the lake).

While not a long hike, the altitude gain is significant. And the weather was hot making for a sweaty hike in the famed Valle dell’Inferno - its name says it all. On the way up, you cross paths with Sentiero 101. On our last hike, we walked part of this trail. See the post: Hiking Between Piani di Artavaggio and Piani di Bobbio.

Pizzo Tre Signori is a mountain in the Bergamasque Alps, in upper Val Brembana. The name Pizzo Tre Signori (Three Gentlemen) tells the story of the area when centuries ago it was the border point where the 3 powerful regions : Venice (now Bergamo province), Milan (now Lecco province) and Grigioni (now Sondrio province).  

I don't care for the obsession with reaching the peaks of mountains and prefer to walk by peaks and admire them from below. On this hike, I was ready to do just that. But we didn't. At the Bocchetta dell'Inferno (2306 m) after you finished climbing out of the valley, you can go the peak or continue to other destinations.

That said, the ascent of about 250 m (from the Bocchetta) goes pretty quickly and is a scramble but not particularly exposed. Translation: I could do it with a little trepidation and whining. The last 10 – 15 meters there is cord to hold on to because you are climbing a slab. You could easily scramble up it without it and come down on your back side too. In a word: doable.

One of the features of this hike is “la sfinge” or the sphinx. A rock formation that looks like, you guessed it, the sphinx. As you are climbing the Valle dell’Inferno is on your left. The formation is on the east side of Pizzo Tre Signori.

I was more stressed by some of the exposed (to me that is) parts going and coming to the Rifugio FALC. On that trail, a friend hiking with us saw me slightly panicking in one tricky part to find footing and hand holds and said: breath, pause, look for food/hand holds and then proceed. Was I that obviously nervous? I guess so.

Finally, a note about Rifugio FALC (2120 m), where the FALC is an acronym F.A.L.C. or Ferant Alpes Laetitiam Cordibus. This is roughly translated as "may the Alps bring joy to hearts". The FALC organization is about exposing people to the mountains and activities in the mountains.

At the rifugio, we enjoyed our exposure to the mountain cheese called maschèrpa, a type of ricotta cheese made with cow and goat milk. We had it over pasta and a friend slab of it with a side of polenta and mushrooms.

Flora and fauna

Marmots (left and center) and marmot territory (right) in Valle dell'Inferno.

Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) near Pizzo Tre Signori.

[Asteraceae] Adenostyles alpina

[Asteraceae] Carlina acaulis

[Celastraceae] Parnassia palustris

[Ericaceae] Calluna vulgaris

[Gentianaceae] Gentianella sp.

[Orobanchaceae] Eurphrasia sp.

[Papaveraceae] Pseudofumaria lutea

[Polygonaceae] Oxyria digyna

[Pteridaceae] Cryptogramma crispa

[Ranunculaceae] Aconitum lycoctonum

[Ranunculaceae] Aconitum napellus

[Ranunculaceae] Anemone seed head

[Rosaceae] Potentilla nitida

Photos

Left: At the peak of Pizzo Tre Signori.

Center: The path heading to Bocchetta dell'Inferno.
Right: Path leading from Rifugio FALC to Bocchetta dell'Inferno.


Left: Descending the north side of Pizzo Tre Signori with Lago dell'Inferno visible.
Center: The path heading from Rifugio FALC to Bocchetta dell'Inferno.
Right: From the north side of Bocchetta dell'Inferno, a view north over Lago dell'Inferno.

Left: Rifugo FALC plate: maschèrpa cheese and polenta.

Center: Rifugio FALC plate: pasta with maschèrpa cheese and zucchini.

Right: Rifugio FALC dessert: sbrisolono with blueberry jam.


Left: Windows at Rifugio FALC.

Center: Approaching Rifugio FALC on trail 42.
Right: Rifugio FALC indicated with arrow.


Left: Returning to Ornica and passing by the Sphinx rock formation.
Left center: The sphinx of Pizzo Tre Signori.
Right center: The sphinx from below.
Right: Walking up the Valle dell'Inferno mid morning.

Left: Trail 106 marking on a rock.
Left center: Trail 106 marking on a tree.
Right center: Signage at Bochetta dell'Inferno.

Right: Signage near Rifugio FALC.

Left: Valle dell'Inferno - Baita Predu (1850) - view southeast.
Center: Valle dell'Inferno - looking up toward Pizzo Tre Signori.
Right: View of Monte Pascaniella and La Spalla.

Left: Valle dell'Inferno - mid morning walking up.

Center: Valle dell'Inferno looking up to Pizzo Tre Signori.

Right: View of Pizzo Tre Signori from Ornica.

View of Tre Signore from Ornica