Passo Falzarego - Bivouac della Chiesa (western way)

Access to starting point:
First, we drive to Cortina d'Ampezzo (you can get here via the border crossing Rateče or Predel to Trbiž / Tarvisio and then on the highway in the direction of Udine to the Tolmezzo exit. From Tolmezzo we follow the road in the direction of the village Ampezzo and mountain pass Passo della Mauria. The road then descends and brings us to a crossroads, where we continue left (also right is possible) in the direction of Cortina d'Ampezzo. At all following crossroads, we follow the signs for Cortina d'Ampezzo. Or from the Primorska side, where we drive on the highway in the direction of Trst / Trieste. Further, we drive on the Italian highway in the direction of Padova, but only to the highway junction, where we continue in the direction of Veneto and Belluno. Near Belluno the highway ends, and at the next crossroads we continue in the direction of Cortina d'Ampezzo and then follow the signs for the alpine pass Passo di Falzarego. We then follow this ascending road to the large parking lot on the mentioned pass.

Path description:
Just a few dozen meters away from the parking lot at the bottom station of the cable car on Lagazuoi Piccolo we will notice signs for the Lagazuoi gallery. The path first leads along a poor, closed-to-traffic macadam road (road for ski slope purposes), which after a short ascent brings us to the spot where the signs for the gallery direct us slightly left. We continue the ascent on a wide mountain path that ascends parallel to the road we just left. The moderately steep path then brings us from the belt of dwarf pines onto the scree, from which beautiful views open up mainly towards the south. The well-maintained path brings us after less than an hour of walking to a junction, where we continue right on the normal mountain path (left is the path through the gallery).
The path ahead crosses slopes below the steep walls of Lagazuoi Piccolo (danger of falling rocks) and a little further across a torrent gully passes onto the scree between the mentioned peak and the neighboring peak named Cima Falzarego. Here the path turns slightly left and ascends on a moderately steep slope to the panoramic saddle forcella Travenanzes, where there is a junction.
We continue left in the direction of the Lagazuoi hut on a slightly ascending path that crosses steep slopes that are avalanche-protected. A short descent follows and the path brings us to the next saddle forcella Lagazuoi, where we continue right in the direction of ferrata Tomaselli. The path ahead starts to descend gradually, meanwhile leading us across several junctions. In all cases we keep right in the direction of the above-mentioned ferrata. A nice high-mountain path that has virtually almost circled the beautiful grassy cirque brings us a little lower to the next junction. Here too we continue right in the direction of ferrata Tomaselli. The path ahead turns right onto extensive scree, which we cross in a gentle ascent to the foot of the mighty walls of the Lagazuoi Grande ridge. Occasionally somewhat steeper path then crosses several exposed traverses that are still under snow early in summer. The path then descends under an overhang, crosses a mighty couloir and then steeply ascends along the edge of an overhanging wall. The traversing ascent at the foot of the walls is dangerous for slipping despite the good path construction. The steepness then gradually eases and the path turns sharply right. Only a good 5-minute ascent follows and the path brings us to the bivouac.

On the way: Forcella Travenanzes (2507m), Forcella Lagazuoi (2573m)

Trip can be extended to: Punta Fanes Sud (1 h)