La Crusc - Lavarella (via Ju dla Crusc)

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 past settlements Dobbiaco / Toblach, Villabassa / Niederdorf, Monguelfo - Tesido / Welsberg - Taisten, Brunico / Brunec. Only a little after the last-mentioned settlement, past which leads a bypass road, we turn left into a valley Val Badia. Further, we drive through the mentioned valley, and we follow the road to the settlement Badia / Abtei. In the settlement Badia / Abtei we turn left and we park on a parking lot at the bottom station of the chairlift. With two chairlifts we then go to the highest point of the ski slope.
B) From Nova Gorica, we drive to Italy and drive forward on the highway to the settlement Portogruaro, where at the highway junction we turn in the direction of the settlement Belluno. We follow the highway to its end (we don't turn in the direction towards Belluno), and then we continue driving 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 Passo Falzarego (2105 meters) we turn right in the direction of Alta Badia and we at first ascend on the neighbouring mountain pass Passo Valparola (2192 meters), and from there we descend into the mentioned valley, and we are driving there to the settlement Badia / Abtei. In the settlement Badia / Abtei we turn right and we park on a parking lot at the bottom station of the chairlift. With two chairlifts we then go to the highest point of the ski slope.
Chairlift in the summer months operates from 8:30 to 17:15.

Path description:
From the upper station of second chairlift we continue slightly right and on a wide path through the forest we ascend to the church. At the crossing at the church we continue straight, and right lead paths number 13 and 15. A wide path soon brings us in rare dwarf pines where we come again to a crossing where we enter the nature park Fanes Sennes Braies. We continue right on the path number 7 and we cross slopes covered with dwarf pines towards the south. We still continue on the path number 7 and the path brings us on the scree below the walls of the peak Le Ciaval. After the ascent on the scree we enter into a gully where there is the beginning of a climbing part of the path.
Ascent through the gully is secured with a steel cable and brings us on the ledge on which we are then for some time ascending diagonally. The path is quite exposed and is mostly unsecured. Further, the path few times steeply ascends by the steel cable upwards and then follows crossing on an exposed ledge towards the south. On the path which isn't secured there is also some gravel, therefore a great caution is needed. Later, the path turns a little to the left and by the steel cable ascends on a crumbly slope, and we also get help from few stemples. Further follows a little longer crossing on the ledge towards the south. In the last part, the climbing path turns again to the left and then follows an ascent by the steel cable towards the saddle Ju dla Crusc.
On the saddle where there is a marked crossing we continue straight on the path number 12 following the signs »Forcela de Medesc«. Panoramic path is at first slightly descending and leads us past some abysses. Further, the path turns slightly to the right and a view starts to open up towards the summit Lavarella. After a little steeper descent we come to a crossing where we continue right on the path 12b. The path here again starts slightly ascending and it soon brings us to a saddle Forcela de Medesc.
On the saddle where from the right side joins the path number 12, we continue slightly left following the signs La Varella. The path on the scree soon brings us to little steeper slopes of the peak La Varella. Further, the path becomes demanding and runs on steep western slopes of the mountain. On some spots, the path steeply ascends, and then follows an ascent on quite wide ledge on which there is a lot of crumbly gravel. The path isn't secured and quite some caution is needed. We have to be especially careful at the descent, because the path is dangerous for slipping. From the ledge path turns a little to the left and steeply ascends on a rocky slope. After that, the path becomes again less demanding and it brings us to a crossing little below Lavarella. We continue left and on a panoramic ridge we soon reach the peak.

On the way: Ju dla Crusc (2612m), Forcela de Medesc (2533m)