Rifugio Bai de Dones - Rifugio Averau (Trincee)

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 across 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 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. The road above Cortina d'Ampezzo starts to ascend more steeply, and we follow it for quite some time, more precisely to the spot where just before a sharp right turn a road branches off to the left along which we quickly arrive at the large parking lot at the hut Rifugio Bai de Dones. From Kranjska Gora to the starting point is 208 km.
B) From Kranjska Gora over the border crossing Rateče to Trbiž / Tarvisio and further on the highway towards 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. The road above Cortina d'Ampezzo starts to ascend more steeply, and we follow it for quite some time, more precisely to the spot where just before a sharp right turn a road branches off to the left along which we quickly arrive at the large parking lot at the hut Rifugio Bai de Dones. From Kranjska Gora to the starting point is 198 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 its end (we do not 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. The road above Cortina d'Ampezzo starts to ascend more steeply, and we follow it for quite some time, more precisely to the spot where just before a sharp right turn a road branches off to the left along which we quickly arrive at the large parking lot at the hut Rifugio Bai de Dones. From the border crossing to the starting point is approximately 230 km.

Path description:
From the parking lot, we head east on path 425 following the signs »Cinque Torri, Rifugio Scoiattoli«. At the beginning we walk a few meters on a macadam road, then the blazes direct us left onto a nicely maintained footpath. Here initially we walk on somewhat swampy terrain, then the path quickly takes us into the forest and leads us past Lake Lago Bai de Dones. Behind the lake the path turns slightly right and descends slightly. Such a path then brings us to a junction where path 424 joins us from the left.
At the junction the path turns right again and soon begins to ascend through the forest. The path continues ascending through the forest for a while, then joins an asphalt road.
Continuing, we ascend along the road from which views begin to open up, mainly towards the Tofane. Later the path brings us to a marked junction.
Further along the road it is not far to the Rifugio Cinque Torri hut, but we turn right onto the footpath called Trincee. From the junction we walk along a narrow trail through increasingly sparse larch forest. Such a path then brings us to renovated military trenches along which we walk for a while. There are also many information boards along the path describing events from the First World War. As we approach the famous Cinque Torri towers, the path from Rifugio Cinque Torri hut joins from the left. At the junction we continue right and bypass the towers, which are extremely popular among climbers, along their right northern side. When we reach the western side, a short descent follows, then the path begins to ascend again. Along the path there are still numerous military trenches and a few renovated military structures. In the final section to the Scoiattoli hut there follows an ascent along mostly grassy slopes.
From the Rifugio Scoiattoli hut, from which there is a nice view of Cinque Torri, we head right following the signs for Rifugio Nuvolau and Rifugio Averau. The path ahead leads along a stony road, or the much more pleasant parallel mountain path for walking, which ascends along the left side of the road. After about 20 minutes of moderate ascent over a panoramic slope that is grassy at first, the trail splits into two parts (the junction is unmarked).
The left path, which continues along a moderately steep slope, leads to Nuvolau, while we continue along the right path, which joins the aforementioned road. We continue along the road, which brings us into a small valley between the peaks Nuvolau and Averau, and we follow it all the way to the saddle between both mentioned peaks, where the Averau mountain hut stands.

On the way: Lago Bai de Dones (1895m), Rifugio Scoiattoli (2255m)

Trip can be extended to: Rifugio Nuvolau , Averau