Palafavera - Monte Civetta (Via Normale)
Starting point: Palafavera (1507 m)
Starting point Lat/Lon: 46.40196°N 12.10119°E 
Path name: Via Normale
Time of walking: 6 h 20 min
Difficulty: very difficult marked way
Difficulty of skiing: no data
Altitude difference: 1713 m
Altitude difference (by path): 1800 m
Map: Tabacco 15 1:25.000
Access to starting point:
Over the border crossing Rateče we drive to Trbiž / Tarvisio, where we go on a highway in the direction of Videm / Udine. We leave the highway at exit Tolmezzo and we follow the road to the mentioned settlement. From Tolmezzo we continue in the direction of the settlement Ampezzo and mountain pass Passo della Mauria. The road then starts descending and brings us in the valley Cadore, where we continue left towards Cortina d'Ampezzo. Further, we follow the signs for Cortina d'Ampezzo to the settlement Venas di Cadore. A little before the end of the mentioned settlement we turn left towards the settlement Forno di Zoldo. The road then through the mountain pass Cibiana brings us in the valley Val di Zoldo, where we continue right towards the mountain pass Staulanza. An ascending road we follow to the settlement Palafavera, where we park on a large parking lot at the mountain hut Rifugio Palafavera. The parking lot is situated on the left side of the road by the ski slope.
Path description:
From the parking lot at the mountain hut Rifugio Palafavera we continue towards the south and then we go right on a macadam road following the signs »Rifugio Coldai, Forcella D'Alleghe«. After few meters road brings us to a crossroad where we continue right on a macadam road which is closed for traffic. The road further is ascending on and by the ski slope, and at the ascent beautiful views opening up mainly towards the summit Monte Pelmo and Civetta. Later road brings us on the western side of the peak Col Marino della Travesera. Here quite gently sloping road runs on a ski slope and then brings us on the mountain pasture Malga Pioda at saddle Forcella D'Alleghe.
On the mountain pasture where there is a crossing, we continue left on a footpath following the signs »Rif. A. Sonnino al Coldai«. At first still very wide path starts slowly ascending in long zig-zags towards the slopes of the peak Cima di Coldai. The path then turns to the left and in ascent crosses slopes towards the south and brings us below the cargo cableway. Here the path turns to the right and then it is ascending steeper on a slope below the cableway. When we come to the upper station of a cargo cableway, the path becomes gentle and it quickly brings us to the mountain hut.
A little after mountain hut where there is a crossing, we continue left following the signs »Sent. Tivan, Ferr. Alleghesi«, and straight leads the path towards the lake Lago Coldai. The path further for quite some time crosses relatively steep slopes towards the south and on a shorter part we also get help from steel cables. Such a path then brings us to a saddle below the summit Schinal del Bech.
On the saddle where there is a crossing, we continue straight, and right leads secured path Via Ferrata Alleghesi. The path further is still crossing slopes towards the south and in doing so slightly descends. Later, the path again brings us to a crossing and right on rocks we will notice captions »Via Normale, R. Torrani«.
At the crossing, we continue right and we cross torrential riverbed. Further, the path is ascending diagonally mostly on a relatively steep scree and brings us in gable of the cirque. Here we continue right upwards and the path becomes a little more demanding. The path is here marked with red dots and then several times ascends a little steeper by the steel cable upwards. Here and there we also get help from some stemples, and less demanding parts are not secured.
Higher, the path turns a little to the left and continues relatively steeply ascending. Because of stones on the path in some parts also a little more caution is needed. Later slope becomes less steep and the path brings us to the mountain hut Rifugio Torrani.
From the mountain hut, we continue slightly right following the signs »Cima« and we at first ascend by the steel cable upwards. Later, the path isn't secured anymore and is all the time quite steeply ascending. In the last part of the path, when the slope becomes a little steeper because of stones and slippery sand a little more caution is needed. Such a path then runs all the way to the top.
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