Alba di Canazei - Colac (path 646)

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. By 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 we cross 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 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 the large parking lot by the bottom station of the mentioned cable car. From Kranjska Gora to the starting point is approximately 280 km.
B) From Kranjska Gora through 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. 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 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 the large parking lot by the bottom 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 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 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 the large parking lot by the bottom 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 up some cart tracks also branch off from the road. We continue straight on the well-maintained road the whole time. 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 gravel road, which then soon crosses a wooden barrier. The road continues to lead us through the valley along the stream Ruf de Contrin and past pastures brings us to a marked junction.
Here we leave the road and turn right onto path no. 646 following the signs for Colac. The path starts ascending again and brings us into the forest. Further on, we ascend for quite some time through the forest below the slopes of the peak Colac. From the path a view towards Marmolada opens up several times. Higher, the path crosses a fence and then through a sparser larch forest brings us to grassy slopes. Further on, we ascend along the grassy slope and the path brings us near the stream Ruf de Gian de Mez. Here the path starts to ascend somewhat more steeply towards the saddle Forcia Neigra. Higher, when we reach the steep grassy slopes, we continue right onto a somewhat less trodden path and begin to ascend steeply towards the walls of the peak Colac. Alternatively, we can continue on the somewhat less steep path over the saddle Forcia Neigra. If we continue right, we first ascend quite steeply beside the torrent, then follows an ascent over steep scree. Such a path then rejoins the path from the saddle Forcia Neigra.
At the junction we continue right and begin to ascend diagonally below the walls of Colac. The slope that we cross becomes steeper further on and the path soon turns left and begins to ascend up the scree slope. The path then becomes somewhat steeper and soon we reach the first steel cables. Here the path ascends along the steel cable on the left side of the wide gully. Higher, the path turns somewhat to the right and continues ascending along the crumbly slope beside the steel cable. The gully along which we ascend then becomes narrower and somewhat steeper. On this section of the path, besides the steel cable, a few pegs also assist us. From the gully the path brings us onto the ridge from which a view opens towards the north. A somewhat less steep path then runs briefly along the northwestern side of the mountain and then with the aid of steel cables ascends back to the south side. Here the path ascends a somewhat less steep but quite crumbly gully upwards. When we exit the gully we continue left and only a short ascent along the ridge to the panoramic summit follows.

On the way: Locia de Contrin (1736m)