Alba di Canazei - Cima Ombretta (Via Ferrata Ombretta)

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 on the left side we will notice the cable car (gondola) Ciampac. We park on the 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 Udine / Videm. We leave the highway at the settlement Tolmezzo, from where we continue the drive 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 on the left side we will notice the cable car (gondola) Ciampac. We park on the 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 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 on the left side we will notice the cable car (gondola) Ciampac. We park on the 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 to the nearby peaks. The road then soon crosses a bridge and brings us to a marked junction where a footpath from the settlement Penia joins from the left. Further on, the road ascends mostly in switchbacks and higher some cart tracks also branch off from the road. We always continue straight on the well-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 arrive at 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 stream Ruf de Contrin and brings us past the pastures to a junction.
To the right upwards branches the path towards the saddle Forcia Neigra and peak Colac, while we continue on the road, which then starts to descend slightly. Soon we arrive again at a 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 panoramic 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. Along the path, strips of forest and meadows alternate, from which increasingly beautiful views open up to 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 junction where path no. 606 towards Marmolada and saddle Passo Ombretta branches off to the left. We continue on the road, which leads us past pastures and then descends slightly. The road then turns into a trail, which brings us below the slopes of the peak Ombretta Occidentale. The path here turns somewhat to the right and ascends through a sparse larch forest. The path then crosses a fence and soon brings us to a junction.
We continue left on path no. 607 following the signs Cima Ombretta, while to the right leads the path towards the saddle Passo Pasche. The path further ascends mostly on grassy slopes among sparse larches and ascends in the valley below the slopes of Ombretta. Higher up the grassy slopes gradually turn into scree, on which we then ascend for quite some time. The path continues through the valley below the peaks of Ombretta towards the southeast and later brings us to a marked junction.
We turn left following the signs Cima Ombretta, while to the right leads the path towards the saddle Passo Cirelle. From the junction the path starts ascending on the scree towards the walls of the peak Sasso Vernale. When we reach below the wall we are again at a junction. To the right leads the path towards the saddle Passo di Ombretola, while we continue left where the via ferrata Via Ferrata Ombretta begins.
At the beginning the via ferrata steeply ascends alongside the steel cable upwards and runs somewhat left of the steep gully. A short traverse to the right follows, then the path steeply ascends with the aid of pegs. The via ferrata ascends alongside the steel cable for a short time longer, then the relatively short via ferrata ends and brings us to the scree below the walls of the peak Sasso Vernale.
Further on the path runs through a wide and relatively flat valley between the peaks Ombretta Occidentale and Sasso Vernale. Higher up the path starts to ascend somewhat more steeply on the scree and brings us to a small saddle below the peak Cima Ombretta.
On the saddle where a wonderful view opens towards Marmolada we continue right and there follows an ascent along the panoramic ridge to the summit.

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