Alba di Canazei - Baita Cianci

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. At the end of the settlement Podklošter signs for Šmohor / Hermagor point 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 we cross the state 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 arrive in Cortina d'Ampezzo, we follow the signs for the Alpine pass Passo Falzarego. At the pass Falzarego (2105 m) there is a crossroad, where we continue straight downhill in the direction of Marmolada and pass Passo Fedaia. At the next crossroads we follow the road in the direction of Marmolada and the mentioned pass. After the pass Fedaia (2057 m), which is located by the artificial lake Lago di Fedaia, the road starts descending again, and we follow it to the beginning of the settlement Alba, where we will notice the cableway Ciampac on the left side. We park on the large parking lot by the bottom station of the mentioned cableway. From Kranjska Gora to the starting point is approximately 280 km.
B) From Kranjska Gora over the border crossing Rateče to Trbiž / Tarvisio and further on the highway towards Udine. We leave the highway at the settlement Tolmezzo, from where we continue driving towards the settlement Ampezzo and further towards the Alpine pass Passo della Mauria (1298 m). The road then starts descending and brings us into the Cadore valley, where we continue right towards the settlement Auronzo di Cadore. At the next crossroads we follow the signs for Cortina d'Ampezzo. When we arrive in Cortina d'Ampezzo, we follow the signs for the Alpine pass Passo Falzarego. At the pass Falzarego (2105 m) there is a crossroad, where we continue straight downhill in the direction of Marmolada and pass Passo Fedaia. At the next crossroads we follow the road in the direction of Marmolada and the mentioned pass. After the pass Fedaia (2057 m), which is located by the artificial lake Lago di Fedaia, the road starts descending again, and we follow it to the beginning of the settlement Alba, where we will notice the cableway Ciampac on the left side. We park on the large parking lot by the bottom station of the mentioned cableway. From Kranjska Gora to the starting point is approximately 270 km.
C) From Nova Gorica we drive into Italy and continue on the 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 the Alpine pass Passo Fedaia. After the pass Fedaia (2057 m), which is located by the artificial lake Lago di Fedaia, the road starts descending, and we follow it to the beginning of the settlement Alba, where we will notice the cableway Ciampac on the left side. We park on the large parking lot by the bottom station of the mentioned cableway. From the border with Slovenia to the 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 to public traffic. The road mostly runs through the forest and only occasionally opens a view to the nearby peaks. The road then soon crosses a bridge and brings us to a marked junction where the footpath from the settlement Penia joins from the left. Further on, the road ascends mostly in switchbacks and higher up some cart tracks also branch off from the road. We always continue straight on the nicely maintained road. Later the road turns left and soon a footpath towards the ski area Ciampac branches off to the right. We continue on the road and after a short ascent we reach the hut Locia de Contrin.
From the hut we continue on a gently sloping macadam road, which then soon crosses a gate. The road continues to lead us through the valley along the stream Ruf de Contrin and past the pastures brings us to a junction.
To the right upwards the path towards the saddle Forcia Neigra and summit Colac branches off, and we continue on the road, which further on starts to descend gently. Soon we reach another junction, where the path towards the hut Rifugio Passo San Nicolò branches off to the right.
We continue on the road, which here turns left and crosses a bridge. The scenic road starts ascending again and brings us to the hut Baita Cianci.

On the way: Locia de Contrin (1736m)

Trip can be extended to: Rifugio Contrin ( 30 min) , Bivacco Dal Bianco (2 h 30 min) , Cima Ombretta di Mezzo , Cima Ombretta , Punta Penia (Marmolada) (4 h 45 min)