Alba di Canazei - Cima Ombretta (via Passo Ombretta)

Access to starting point:
A) From Kranjska Gora over Korensko sedlo to Austria, where at the first larger 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 further over the Alpine pass Gailbergsattel (982 m), after which we descend into the mentioned settlement. After crossing the bridge over the river Drava, 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 the 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 Ciampac cable car (gondola) on the left side. 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 Rateče border crossing to Trbiž / Tarvisio and further on the motorway towards Videm / Udine. We leave the motorway 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 intersections 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 the 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 Ciampac cable car (gondola) on the left side. 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 motorway to the settlement Portogruaro, where at the motorway junction we turn towards the settlement Belluno. We follow the motorway 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 Ciampac cable car (gondola) on the left side. 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 zigzags and higher up 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 Ciampac ski area 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 gravel 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 upwards branches the path towards the saddle Forcia Neigra and the summit Colac, and we continue on the road, which further on starts to descend slightly. 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 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 takes 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 gravel road, which quickly brings us to a marked junction. We continue left onto the footpath following the signs Forcella Marmolada and Passo Ombretta, while path 607 leads right ahead on the road.
The path from the junction first ascends slightly 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. We ascend for a while longer on mostly grassy slopes below the precipitous 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, and 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 on 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 to the bivouac follows.
From the bivouac we continue southwards and after a short ascent the path brings us to fixed cables. Here the path turns somewhat left and with the aid of safety gear ascends the rocky slope. The secured path is short and quickly brings us to the scree. The path further runs on scree southwards and gradually becomes steeper. Higher up the slope becomes quite steep and also dangerous for slipping. Such a path then brings us to the saddle below the summit Cima Ombretta di Mezzo.
Here the path turns left and runs along the south side of the ridge eastwards. On this section the path crosses a fairly exposed slope, which is not secured, so some caution is needed when crossing. Further on the path becomes somewhat easier again and brings us to a smaller saddle below the summit Cima Ombretta.
On the saddle, where the south path joins from the right, we continue straight and soon reach the summit along a very panoramic ridge.

On the way: Locia de Contrin (1736m), Baita Cianci (1828m), Rifugio Contrin (2016m), Passo Ombretta (2700m), Bivacco Dal Bianco (2730m)