Alba di Canazei - Bivacco Dal Bianco

Access to starting point:
A) From Kranjska Gora over 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 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 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. On the pass Falzarego (2105 m) there is an intersection, where we continue straight downhill in the direction of Marmolada and pass Passo Fedaia. In the next intersections 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 Lagho di Fedaia, the road starts descending again, and we follow it to the beginning of the settlement Alba, where we will notice the cable car (gondola) Ciampac on the left side. We park on a large parking lot by the lower station of the mentioned cable car. 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 Videm / 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. In 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. On the pass Falzarego (2105 m) there is an intersection, where we continue straight downhill in the direction of Marmolada and pass Passo Fedaia. In 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 Lagho di Fedaia, the road starts descending again, and we follow it to the beginning of the settlement Alba, where we will notice the cable car (gondola) Ciampac on the left side. We park on a large parking lot by the lower station of the mentioned cable car. From Kranjska Gora to the starting point is approximately 270 km.
C) From Nova Gorica we drive into Italy and further on the highway to the settlement Portogruaro, where at the highway junction we turn towards the settlement 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 Lagho di Fedaia, the road starts descending, and we follow it to the beginning of the settlement Alba, where we will notice the cable car (gondola) Ciampac on the left side. We park on a large parking lot by the lower station of the mentioned cable car. 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 on the nearby peaks. The road then soon crosses a bridge and brings us to a marked junction, where from the left joins the footpath from the settlement Penia. Further on, the road ascends mostly in switchbacks and higher from the road some cart tracks also branch off. We all the time continue straight on the well-maintained road. Later the road turns left and soon to the right branches off a footpath towards the Ciampac ski slope. 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 barrier. The road continues to lead us through the valley along the Ruf de Contrin stream and past the pastures brings us to a junction.
To the right uphill branches the path towards the saddle Forcia Neigra and the summit Colac, we continue on the road, which further starts to descend slightly. Soon we reach another junction, where to the right branches the path towards the hut Rifugio Passo San Nicolò.
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.
From the hut Baita Cianci we continue on the road, which soon brings us into the forest and starts to ascend somewhat more steeply. On the path then alternate strips of forest and meadows, from which increasingly beautiful views open up on the surrounding peaks. Such a path then brings us to the hut Rifugio Contrin.
From the hut we continue on the macadam road, which quickly brings us to a marked junction. We continue left on the footpath following the signs Forcella Marmolada and Passo Ombretta, right ahead on the road leads path 607.
The path from the junction initially ascends gently on grassy slopes and an increasingly beautiful view towards the summit Punta Penia starts to open up. Later the path crosses a stream and starts to ascend somewhat more steeply through the valley named Val Rosalia. For some more time we ascend on mostly grassy slopes below the sheer walls of the peaks Gran Vernel and Ombretta, then the path brings us to a junction at 2400 m.
Left leads the path towards the notch Forcella Marmolada and further towards the summit Punta Penia, we continue right following the signs Passo Ombretta. The path further runs eastwards and brings us into the valley between the peaks Ombretta and Punta Penia. The path leads us along the left side of the valley with a magnificent view of the south face of Marmolada. We continue ascending over scree all the way to the saddle Passo Ombretta where there is also a marked junction.
On the saddle we continue right following the signs Cime Ombretta and only a short ascent remains to the bivouac.

On the way: Locia de Contrin (1736m), Baita Cianci (1828m), Rifugio Contrin (2016m), Passo Ombretta (2702m)

Trip can be extended to: Cima Ombretta di Mezzo ( 45 min) , Cima Ombretta (1 h)