La Crusc - Lavarella (via Ju dla Crusc)

Access to starting point:
A) From Kranjska Gora over Korensko sedlo to Austria, where at the first larger junction 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 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 border between Austria and Italy, and we follow the main road past settlements Dobbiaco / Toblach, Villabassa / Niederdorf, Monguelfo - Tesido / Welsberg - Taisten, Brunico / Bruneck. Only a little after the last-mentioned settlement, past which a bypass road leads, we turn left into the Alta Badia valley. Further, we drive through the mentioned valley, and we follow the road to the settlement Badia / Abtei. In the settlement Badia / Abtei we turn left and park on the parking lot at the bottom station of the chairlift. With two chairlifts we then go to the highest point of the ski slope.
B) From Nova Gorica we drive to Italy and further on the motorway to the settlement Portogruaro, where at the motorway junction we turn in the direction of the settlement Belluno. We follow the motorway to its end (we don't turn towards Belluno), then we continue driving towards Cortina d'Ampezzo. When we arrive in Cortina d'Ampezzo, we follow the signs for the Alpine pass Passo Falzarego. At the pass Passo Falzarego (2105 m) we turn right in the direction of Alta Badia and first ascend to the neighbouring pass Passo Valparola (2192 m), from there we descend into the mentioned valley, and we drive through it to the settlement Badia / Abtei. In the settlement Badia / Abtei we turn right and park on the parking lot at the bottom station of the chairlift. With two chairlifts we then go to the highest point of the ski slope.
The chairlift in the summer months operates from 8:30 to 17:15.

Path description:
From the upper station of the second chairlift we continue slightly right and on a wide path through the forest ascend to the church. At the junction at the church we continue straight, right lead paths No. 13 and 15. The wide path soon brings us into sparse dwarf pines where we come again to a junction where we enter the nature park Fanes Sennes Braies. We continue right on path No. 7 and cross slopes covered with dwarf pines towards the south. Continuing on path No. 7 the path brings us to scree fields below the walls of peak Le Ciaval. After ascending the scree we enter a gully where the climbing section of the path begins.
The ascent through the gully is secured with a steel cable and brings us to a ledge along which we then ascend diagonally for some time. The path is quite exposed and mostly unsecured. Further on, the path ascends steeply several times alongside the steel cable upwards, then a crossing follows along the exposed ledge towards the south. On the unsecured path there is also some gravel, so great caution is needed. Later the path turns slightly left and ascends alongside the steel cable on a crumbly slope, aided by a few pegs. Further a somewhat longer crossing follows along the ledge towards the south. In the last section the climbing path turns left again and an ascent alongside the steel cable follows towards the saddle Ju dla Crusc.
At the saddle where there is a marked junction we continue straight on path No. 12 following the signs »Forcela de Medesc«. The panoramic path initially descends slightly and leads us past some sinkholes. Further the path turns slightly right and a view towards summit Lavarella begins to open. After a somewhat steeper descent we reach a junction where we continue right on path 12b. Here the path begins to ascend slightly again and soon brings us to saddle Forcela de Medesc.
At the saddle where path No. 12 joins from the right, we continue slightly left following the signs La Varella. The path over scree soon brings us to somewhat steeper slopes of peak La Varella. Further the path becomes more demanding and runs along the steep western slopes of the mountain. At some points the path ascends steeply, then an ascent follows along a fairly wide ledge which has a lot of gravel. The path is unsecured and considerable caution is needed. Special caution is required on the descent, as the path is dangerous for slipping. From the ledge the path turns slightly left and ascends steeply along a rocky slope. The path then becomes less demanding again and brings us to a junction just below summit Lavarella. We continue left and along the panoramic ridge soon reach the summit.

On the way: Ju dla Crusc (2612m), Forcela de Medesc (2533m)