Colfosco - Sas Ciampac

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 past settlements Dobbiaco / Toblach, Villabassa / Niederdorf, Monguelfo - Tesido / Welsberg - Taisten, Brunico / Brunec. Only a little after the last-mentioned settlement, past which leads a bypass road, we turn left into a valley Val Badia. Further, we drive through the mentioned valley and in the settlement La Villa we turn right towards the mountain pass Passo Gardena. Further, we follow an ascending road following the signs Passo Gardena. We follow the road to the settlement Colfosco. One turn before the sign for settlement we park on a large payable parking lot on the left side of the road (4€ – June 2012).
B) From Nova Gorica, we drive to Italy and drive forward on the highway to the settlement Portogruaro, where at the highway junction we turn in the direction of the settlement Belluno. We follow the highway to its end (we don't turn in the direction towards Belluno), and then we continue driving 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 Passo Falzarego (2105 meters) we turn right in the direction of Val Badia and at first ascend on the neighbouring mountain pass Passo Valparola (2192 meters), from there we descend into the mentioned valley. In the settlement La Villa we turn left towards the mountain pass Passo Gardena. Further, we follow an ascending road following the signs Passo Gardena. We follow the road to the settlement Colfosco. One turn before the sign for settlement we park on a large payable parking lot on the left side of the road (4€ – June 2012).

Path description:
From the parking lot, we first cross the main road, and then we will by the parking lot for buses notice signposts. We continue by following the signs for »Sassongher, Utia de Puez« on the path which runs by the main road. The path brings us to a sign which marks settlement Colfosco / Calfosch. We continue on a sidewalk to the first crossroad, and then we go right on an asphalt road. At the next crossroad, we continue left so that we walk in the direction towards the church. At the crossroad at the church, we will again notice signposts and we continue right (towards the north) following the signs »Sassongher«. Further, the road turns left towards the ski slope and then starts quite steeply ascending.
Later when we come out of the village, the road is closed for traffic. A little after that ends also asphalt and footpath towards the mountain hut Col Pradat branches off to the right. We continue straight on a macadam road which is ascending by the ski slope and pastures. For some time we walk on the road from which there is a nice view towards the mountain group Sella and on the nearby Sassongher, and then we soon come to the hut Edelweiss.
From the mountain hut, we continue on a macadam road which soon brings us to a crossing where the path towards the mountain pass Sella Gardena branches off to the left. We continue right on the road and after a short ascent, we are again at the crossing. Straight on the road leads the path towards the mountain hut Col Pradat, and we continue left upwards on a footpath following the signs »Sassongher«.
From the crossing, the path at first ascends by the riverbed of a torrent, after that follows hairpin ascent, which brings us to a crossing, where from the right side joins the path from the mountain hut Col Pradat.
We continue left and we start ascending through the valley towards the northwest. The path then leads us past the chapel and we are soon at a crossing again.
To the right leads the path towards the summit Sassongher, and we continue straight and we are still ascending through the valley upwards. After that, the path turns a little to the left and it brings us near the lake Lech de Ciampai, which often dries up. At the lake path turns to the right and at first crosses slopes above the lake, and then follows an ascent to the notch Forcella de Ciampei where there is a marked crossing.
To the right leads the path towards the mountain hut Puezhütte, straight downwards leads the path into a valley Langental, and we continue left following the signs »Passo Gardena«.
Not that steep path then soon brings us again to acrossing. This time we go left on the path 2a following the signs »Variante Sas Ciampac«, and straight leads the direct path towards the notch Forcella de Crespeina.
From the crossing, the path runs towards the south on slopes, which are partly covered with grass. Higher the grass is becoming rarer and the path few times also steeply ascends. Further, the path still runs towards the south and is ascending below the slopes of the peak Sas Ciampei. Such a path then brings us on the ridge where a view opens up towards the mountain group Sella and towards the summit Sassongher. On the ridge, the path turns to the right and follows an ascent by the ridge to a panoramic summit.

On the way: Rifugio Edelweiss (1832m), Lech de Ciampai (2173m), Forcella de Ciampei (2366m)