Alba di Canazei - Punta Penia (Marmolada)

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 to the right on a regional road, on which past the mentioned settlement we drive to the end of the valley Gailtal, or more precisely to the settlement Kötschach-Mauthen, where we turn right towards the settlement Oberdrauburg. The path ahead leads us over an Alpine mountain pass Gailbergsattel (982 meters), after which we descend into the mentioned settlement. After we cross the bridge through 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 get into Cortina d'Ampezzo, we follow the signs for Alpine mountain pass Passo Falzarego. On the mountain pass Falzarego (2105 meters) is a crossroad, where we continue straight downwards in the direction of Marmolada and mountain pass Passo Fedaia. At the next crossroads, we follow the road in the direction of Marmolada and mentioned mountain pass. After the mountain pass Fedaia (2057 meters), which is located by the artificial lake Lagho di Fedaia, the road again starts descending, and we follow it to the beginning of the settlement Alba, where we will on the left side notice a cableway Ciampac. We park on a large parking lot by the bottom station of the mentioned cableway. From Kranjska Gora to a starting point is approximately 280 km.
B) From Kranjska gora over a border crossing Rateče to Trbiž / Tarvisio and further on a highway towards Videm / Udine. We leave the highway at settlement Tolmezzo, from where we continue driving towards the settlement Ampezzo and forward towards Alpine mountain pass Passo della Mauria (1298 meters). The road then starts descending and brings us into a valley Cadore, where we continue right towards the settlement Auronzo di Cadore. At the next crossroads, we follow the signs for Cortina d'Ampezzo. When we get into Cortina d'Ampezzo, we follow the signs for Alpine mountain pass Passo Falzarego. On the mountain pass Falzarego (2105 meters) is a crossroad, where we continue straight downwards in the direction of Marmolada and mountain pass Passo Fedaia. At the next crossroads, we follow the road in the direction of Marmolada and mentioned mountain pass. After the mountain pass Fedaia (2057 meters), which is located by the artificial lake Lagho di Fedaia, the road again starts descending, and we follow it to the beginning of the settlement Alba, where we will on the left side notice a cableway Ciampac. We park on a large parking lot by the bottom station of the mentioned cableway. From Kranjska Gora to a starting point is approximately 270 km.
C) From Nova Gorica, we drive to Italy and drive forward on a 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 Alpine mountain pass Passo Fedaia. After the mountain pass Fedaia (2057 meters), which is located by the artificial lake Lagho di Fedaia, the road starts descending, and we follow it to the beginning settlement Alba, where we will notice on the left side a cableway Ciampac. We park on a large parking lot by the bottom station of the mentioned cableway. From a border with Slovenia to a 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 for public traffic. The road mostly runs through the forest and only occasionally a view opens up on the nearby peaks. The road then soon crosses a bridge and it brings us to a marked crossing, where from the left joins the footpath from the settlement Penia. Further, the road is ascending mostly in zig-zags and higher from the road also few cart tracks branch off. We all the time continue straight on a well-settled road. Later road turns to the left and soon a footpath towards the ski slope Ciampac branches off to the right. We still continue on the road and after a short ascent, we come to the mountain hut Locia de Contrin.
From the mountain hut, we continue on a gently sloping macadam road which then soon crosses a gate. The road still leads through the valley by the stream Ruf de Contrin and by the pastures brings us to a crossing.
The path towards the saddle Forcia Neigra and summit Colac branches off to the right upwards, and we still continue on the road which then starts slightly descending. We soon come again to a crossing, where the path towards the mountain hut Rifugio Passo San Nicolò branches off to the right.
We continue on the road which here turns to the left and crosses a bridge. Panoramic road starts again ascending and it brings us to the mountain hut Baita Cianci.
From the mountain hut Baita Cianci we continue on the road which soon brings us into the forest and starts ascending a little steeper. On the path, there are then taking turns lanes of forest and meadows, from which beautiful views start to open up on surrounding peaks. Such a path then brings us to the hut Rifugio Contrin.
From the mountain hut, we continue on a macadam road which quickly brings us to a marked crossing. We continue left on a footpath following the signs Forcella Marmolada and Passo Ombretta, and right ahead on the road leads the path 607.
The path from the crossing is at first slightly ascending on grassy slopes and increasingly beautiful view is starting to open up towards the summit Punta Penia. Later, the path crosses the stream and starts ascending a little steeper through the valley named Val Rosalia. For some time we are ascending on mostly grassy slopes below the steep mountain walls of peaks Gran Vernel and Ombretta, and then the path brings us to a crossing at an altitude 2400 meters.
To the right leads the path towards the bivouac on a saddle Ombretta, and we continue left following the signs Forcella Marmolada. The path further is ascending on a grassy slope with a breathtaking view on the precipitous walls of surrounding peaks. Grassy slopes are later changed by scree and from the right joins an unmarked path from the saddle Ombretta. Higher the scree is becoming increasingly steep and brings us below the wall, where there is an entrance into a climbing part of the path.
In the initial part, the climbing path steeply ascends on the right side of the gully and we get help from numerous stemples. A relatively short initial ascent brings us on notch Forcella Marmolada, where from the left joins the path from the lake Lago di Fedaia.
On the notch, we continue right and we start ascending on a steep slope with the help of stemples. After that, the path turns slightly to the right and for a short time leads on a ridge, where a view opens up on the south side. Further, the path again avoids the ridge a little to the left and is then for quite some time ascending by the steel cable on numerous stemples and iron spikes. Such a path again brings us on a well-secured ridge on which we are then ascending towards the east. In the last part, the path becomes less steep and then follows a short crossing of a gentle snow field. Snow is here usually already softened enough, that the use of crampons isn't urgently needed.
Next follows a short undemanding ascent to the cottage, where from the left side joins a path over a glacier. From here we have then only few steps of easy walking to the highest peak of Dolomites.

On the way: Locia de Contrin (1736m), Baita Cianci (1828m), Rifugio Contrin (2016m), Forcella Marmolada (2896m)