Alba di Canazei - Cima Ombretta di Mezzo (via Passo Ombretta)

Access to starting point:
A) From Kranjska Gora over Korensko sedlo to Austria, where at the first larger crossroad, we continue left towards Podklošter / Arnoldstein and Trbiž / Tarvisio. By the end of the settlement Podklošter signs for Šmohor / Hermagor point us to the right on a regional road, on which past the mentioned settlement we drive to the end of the valley Gailtal, or more precisely to the settlement Kötschach-Mauthen, where we turn right towards the settlement Oberdrauburg. The path ahead leads us over an Alpine mountain pass Gailbergsattel (982 meters), after which we descend into the mentioned settlement. After we cross the bridge through river Drau, we continue left towards the settlement Lienz. In the main roundabout in Lienz we continue "left" in the direction of the settlement Sillian and Italy. Further, we cross the border between Austria and Italy, and we follow the main road to the settlement Dobbiaco / Toblach, where we turn left towards Cortina d'Ampezzo. When we get into Cortina d'Ampezzo, we follow the signs for Alpine mountain pass Passo Falzarego. On the mountain pass Falzarego (2105 meters) is a crossroad, where we continue straight downwards in the direction of Marmolada and mountain pass Passo Fedaia. At the next crossroads, we follow the road in the direction of Marmolada and mentioned mountain pass. After the mountain pass Fedaia (2057 meters), which is located by the artificial lake Lagho di Fedaia, the road again starts descending, and we follow it to the beginning of the settlement Alba, where we will on the left side notice a cableway Ciampac. We park on a large parking lot by the bottom station of the mentioned cableway. From Kranjska Gora to a starting point is approximately 280 km.
B) From Kranjska gora over a border crossing Rateče to Trbiž / Tarvisio and further on a highway towards Videm / Udine. We leave the highway at settlement Tolmezzo, from where we continue driving towards the settlement Ampezzo and forward towards Alpine mountain pass Passo della Mauria (1298 meters). The road then starts descending and brings us into a valley Cadore, where we continue right towards the settlement Auronzo di Cadore. At the next crossroads, we follow the signs for Cortina d'Ampezzo. When we get into Cortina d'Ampezzo, we follow the signs for Alpine mountain pass Passo Falzarego. On the mountain pass Falzarego (2105 meters) is a crossroad, where we continue straight downwards in the direction of Marmolada and mountain pass Passo Fedaia. At the next crossroads, we follow the road in the direction of Marmolada and mentioned mountain pass. After the mountain pass Fedaia (2057 meters), which is located by the artificial lake Lagho di Fedaia, the road again starts descending, and we follow it to the beginning of the settlement Alba, where we will on the left side notice a cableway Ciampac. We park on a large parking lot by the bottom station of the mentioned cableway. From Kranjska Gora to a starting point is approximately 270 km.
C) From Nova Gorica, we drive to Italy and drive forward on a highway to the settlement Portogruaro, where at the highway junction we turn in the direction of Belluno. We follow the highway to the exit for Belluno, and after the settlement Belluno we follow the road in the direction of the settlement Agordo and then Marmolada and Alpine mountain pass Passo Fedaia. After the mountain pass Fedaia (2057 meters), which is located by the artificial lake Lagho di Fedaia, the road starts descending, and we follow it to the beginning settlement Alba, where we will notice on the left side a cableway Ciampac. We park on a large parking lot by the bottom station of the mentioned cableway. From a border with Slovenia to a starting point is approximately 245 km.

Path description:
At the end of the parking lot, we continue slightly left following the signs »Locia de Contrin« on the forest road which is closed for public traffic. The road mostly runs through the forest and only occasionally a view opens up on the nearby peaks. The road then soon crosses a bridge and it brings us to a marked crossing, where from the left joins the footpath from the settlement Penia. Further, the road is ascending mostly in zig-zags and higher from the road also few cart tracks branch off. We all the time continue straight on a well-settled road. Later road turns to the left and soon a footpath towards the ski slope Ciampac branches off to the right. We still continue on the road and after a short ascent, we come to the mountain hut Locia de Contrin.
From the mountain hut, we continue on a gently sloping macadam road which then soon crosses a gate. The road still leads through the valley by the stream Ruf de Contrin and by the pastures brings us to a crossing.
The path towards the saddle Forcia Neigra and summit Colac branches off to the right upwards, and we still continue on the road which then starts slightly descending. We soon come again to a crossing, where the path towards the mountain hut Rifugio Passo San Nicolò branches off to the right.
We continue on the road which here turns to the left and crosses a bridge. Panoramic road starts again ascending and it brings us to the mountain hut Baita Cianci.
From the mountain hut Baita Cianci we continue on the road which soon brings us into the forest and starts ascending a little steeper. On the path, there are then taking turns lanes of forest and meadows, from which beautiful views start to open up on surrounding peaks. Such a path then brings us to the hut Rifugio Contrin.
From the mountain hut, we continue on a macadam road which quickly brings us to a marked crossing. We continue left on a footpath following the signs Forcella Marmolada and Passo Ombretta, and right ahead on the road leads the path 607.
The path from the crossing is at first slightly ascending on grassy slopes and increasingly beautiful view is starting to open up towards the summit Punta Penia. Later, the path crosses the stream and starts ascending a little steeper through the valley named Val Rosalia. For some time we are ascending on mostly grassy slopes below the steep mountain walls of peaks Gran Vernel and Ombretta, and then the path brings us to a crossing at an altitude 2400 meters.
Left leads the path towards the notch Forcella Marmolada and forward towards the summit Punta Penia, and we continue right following the signs Passo Ombretta. The path further runs towards the east and brings us into a valley between the peaks Ombretta and Punta Penia. The path leads us on the left side of the valley with a breathtaking view on the south wall of Marmolada. We continue ascending on the scree all the way to a saddle Passo Ombretta where there is also a marked crossing.
On the saddle, we continue right following the signs Cima Ombretta and only a short ascent follows to bivouac.
From the bivouac, we continue towards the south and after a short ascent, the path brings us to steel cables. Here the path turns a little to the left and with the help of fixed safety gear ascends on a rocky slope. The secured path is short and it quickly brings us on the scree. The path further runs on the scree towards the south and it is gradually becoming steeper. Higher, the slope becomes quite steep and also dangerous for slipping. Such a path then brings us to a saddle below Cima Ombretta di Mezzo.
The marked path here turns left on the south side of the ridge and we continue right (towards the west) on an unmarked footpath towards military tunnel below Cima Ombretta di Mezzo. We continue slightly right past military tunnel, and then soon ascend left upwards and follows an ascent on a pathless slope to the top.

On the way: Locia de Contrin (1736m), Baita Cianci (1828m), Rifugio Contrin (2016m), Passo Ombretta (2700m), Bivacco Dal Bianco (2730m)