Colle Croce di Ferro, Mountain pass in Usseglio, Italy.
Colle Croce di Ferro is a mountain pass at 2546 meters (8,345 feet) linking Valle di Viù and Val di Susa through stone paths and open alpine meadows. The route follows marked trails that offer wide views across the surrounding ridges and valleys in clear conditions.
The pass became part of the military defensive system during World War Two, when the Italian army fortified mountain routes in this region. The ancient mule track from Malciaussia was upgraded and connected to a broader network of alpine strongholds and supply routes.
The iron cross that gives the pass its name stands as a landmark that guides travelers across this high crossing. Local herds graze on the alpine meadows here, and this pastoral use has shaped the landscape for generations.
The ascent from Lago di Malciaussia takes about three hours on a marked trail with white and red blazes. The mountain shelter Capanna Sociale Aurelio Ravetto sits at the pass and provides lodging and meals year-round for those who need rest.
The former military barracks was converted after the war into a public mountain shelter named after a climber who died in the mountains. This building stands beside the iron cross and serves as a visible reminder of the pass's wartime role.
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