Passo Gardena - Cima Pisciadu (path 666)

Access to starting point:
A) From Kranjska Gora via Korensko sedlo to Austria, where at the first major intersection we continue left towards Podklošter / Arnoldstein and Trbiž / Tarvisio. At the end of the settlement Podklošter, signs for Šmohor / Hermagor direct us right onto a regional road, along which, past the mentioned settlement, we drive to the end of the Gailtal valley, or more precisely to the settlement Kötschach-Mauthen, where we turn right towards the settlement Oberdrauburg. The route ahead leads us over the Alpine pass Gailbergsattel (982 m), after which we descend into the mentioned settlement. After crossing the bridge over the 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 on, we cross the state border between Austria and Italy, following the main road past the settlements Dobbiaco / Toblach, Villabassa / Niederdorf, Monguelfo - Tesido / Welsberg - Taisten, Brunico / Bruneck. Just a little after the last-mentioned settlement, past which a bypass runs, we turn left into the Alta Badia valley. Further, we drive along the mentioned valley and in the settlement La Villa we turn right towards the pass Passo Gardena. We then follow the ascending road to a large parking lot a few hairpin turns before the Passo Gardena pass. At the parking lot there is also a large sign reading »Via Ferrata – Klettersteig«.
B) From Nova Gorica we head into Italy and continue on the motorway towards Venice / Venezia. Near Portogruaro we leave the motorway towards Venice and continue right on the motorway towards Pordenone. At the next motorway junction near Conegliano, we continue right towards Belluno. Near Belluno the motorway ends, and at the following intersections we continue in the direction of Cortina d'Ampezzo. When we arrive in Cortina d'Ampezzo, we follow the signs for the Alpine pass Passo Falzarego. At the Passo Falzarego pass (2105 m) we turn right towards the Valparola pass and onwards to Alta Badia. In La Villa we turn left towards the Passo Gardena pass. We then follow the ascending road to a large parking lot a few hairpin turns before the Passo Gardena pass. At the parking lot there is also a large sign reading »Via Ferrata – Klettersteig«.

Path description:
From the parking lot, we head south following the signs »Utia de Pisciadu«. The path ascends quite steeply and brings us to a junction where a transverse path towards the secured path Via Ferrata Tridentina branches off to the left. We continue straight ahead and continue ascending towards the precipitous walls of the peaks in the Sella group.
To the right, the path towards the Passo Gardena pass then branches off, but we continue straight upwards and begin to ascend the narrow valley named Val Setus, which is surrounded by precipitous walls. Here the path ascends over scree and runs below the cargo cableway. Higher up, the slope becomes increasingly steep, and in the final section the path is also secured with a steel cable and pegs. Here the path ascends steeply several times, and some caution is required. If we are not used to such paths, self-securing is highly recommended. The secured section soon ends and brings us to gentler slopes where there is a junction.
To the right, the path leads towards the notch Forcela dei Camosci, but we continue left towards the Rifugio Pisciadu hut. From the junction, the path first ascends gently, then follows a short descent towards the hut, which we can already see ahead.
From the hut, we continue south following the signs »Cima Pisciadu, Rif. Boe« and descend towards the lake. The path then turns right and, ascending, crosses the scree on the left side of the lake. Here the path runs below the steep walls of the Pisciadu peak and brings us to somewhat steeper slopes. Further on, the path turns left and begins to ascend somewhat more steeply with the aid of fixed protections. During the ascent, some caution is needed, but self-securing is not necessary.
The path then becomes less steep again and leads us via the valley named Val de Tita to a junction on the south side of the Pisciadu peak.
To the right, the path leads towards the Rifugio Boe hut, but we head left towards the Pisciadu summit. Further on, the path becomes somewhat steeper, and at a few points during the ascent we need to use our hands as well. The path to the summit ascends quite steeply throughout and is unsecured, so extra caution is advisable. The increasingly scenic path soon brings us to the summit.

On the way: Rifugio Pisciadu (2585m), Lech de Pisciadu (2564m)