Passo di Giau - Averau (via Nuvolau)

Access to starting point:
First, we drive to Cortina d'Ampezzo (you can get here via the border crossing Rateče or Predel to Trbiž / Tarvisio and then on the highway in the direction of Udine to the Tolmezzo exit. From Tolmezzo we follow the road in the direction of the village Ampezzo and the mountain pass Passo della Mauria. The road then descends and brings us to a junction, where we continue left (also possible right) in the direction of Cortina d'Ampezzo. At all following junctions, we follow the signs for Cortina d'Ampezzo. Or from the Primorska side, where we drive on the highway in the direction of Trst / Trieste. Further, we drive on the Italian highway in the direction of Padova, but only to the highway junction, where we continue in the direction of Veneto and Belluno. Near Belluno the highway ends, and at the next junctions we continue in the direction of Cortina d'Ampezzo and then follow the signs for the alpine pass Passo di Falzarego. We then follow this ascending road to a junction at an altitude of approximately 1400 m. At the junction, we continue left in the direction of the alpine pass Passo di Giau and Marmolada. We park on the large parking lot at the mentioned alpine pass.

Route description:
From the pass we continue on a wide path past the hut Rifugio Passo Giau. After a short ascent on a wide path we come to a junction, where we turn right on path 443 following the signs »Rif. Nuvolau Ferrata«. The path then starts descending slightly and crosses slopes below the summit Ragusela (2595m). Soon to the left an unmarked path will branch off, which leads towards the ridge of the peak Ra Gusela. We continue slightly descending towards the east and then we come to a marked junction. We continue left following the signs »438« and »Via Ferrata«. Here the path starts ascending on scree on the eastern side of the mountain Ragusela and brings us to a smaller notch. From the notch we then descend a few meters and then the path becomes more demanding. First we ascend along the steel cable through a wide gully, then follows an ascent over a short ladder. The demanding part of the path is very short and soon we are on gentle slopes below the summit Nuvolau. The path then turns slightly to the left and soon we come to a poorly visible junction where an unmarked path branches off to the left towards the summit Ra Gusela. We continue crossing gentle slopes towards the south ridge of the peak Nuvolau. When we reach the ridge the path becomes demanding again. First we ascend along the steel cable on a slightly exposed ridge, then we ascend again over a short ladder. A few meters of walking along a steep ridge follow and we are already at the hut Rifugio Nuvolau.

We continue past the hut and follow the signs Rifugio Averau. The path starts descending on a wide ridge towards the north. Soon we come to a junction, where we turn left towards the hut, which we have already seen ahead for some time.

From the hut we continue slightly to the right on a mountain road. Already after a few meters the inscription »Ferrata Averau« directs us left upwards. The path then first crosses scree on the eastern side of the mountain and soon turns to the left where we enter the climbing part of the path. At the beginning of the climbing path we ascend steeply along the steel cable over a steep wall, then we come to a path junction. The left slightly easier path ascends vertically on pegs through a chimney. The right path also ascends almost vertically, only without pegs on the path. It should be noted that the left path is often damp and snow also lingers somewhat longer. After a short steep section of the path both paths reunite and a traverse to the right with the aid of the steel cable follows. The climbing part of the path ends quickly and soon we come to less steep summit slopes of the mountain. In the last part the path is no longer demanding and soon we reach a very panoramic summit.

Along the route: Rifugio Nuvolau (2575m), Rifugio Averau (2413m)

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