Passo di Fedaia - Bech da Mesdi (Ferrata delle Trincee)

Access to starting point:
First, we drive to Cortina d'Ampezzo (to here possible over a border crossing Rateče or Predel to Trbiž / Tarvisio and then on a highway in the direction of Videm / Udine to exit Tolmezzo. From Tolmezzo we follow the road in the direction of village Ampezzo and mountain pass Passo Mauria. The road then descends and it brings us to a crossroad, where we continue left (possible also right) in the direction of Cortina d'Ampezzo. At all next crossroads, we follow the signs for Cortina d'Ampezzo and then we follow the signs for Alpine mountain pass Passo di Falzarego. Already in the first part of the ascent towards the mountain pass Falzarego we will get to a crossroad, where signs for mountain pass Passo di Giau (2233 meters) and Marmolada point us to the left. The road behind the mountain pass Giau starts descending and lower we follow it through the settlements in the direction of Marmolada or mountain pass Passo di Fedaia. The road which then again starts ascending higher brings us on the mountain pass Fedaia where we park on a parking lot at the mountain hut Rifugio Fedaia.
Access from Primorska: We drive on a highway in the direction of Padova, but only to a highway junction, where we continue in the direction of Veneto and Belluno. Near Belluno the highway ends, and we follow the road ahead in the direction of Belluno, where at the larger crossroad we continue right in the direction of the town Agordo. From the mentioned town ahead we follow frequent signs for Marmolada or mountain pass Passo di Fedaia. When we get to the mentioned mountain pass, we park on a parking lot at the mountain hut Rifugio Fedaia.

Path description:
From the parking lot at the mountain hut Rifugio Passo Fedaia we go on a macadam road towards the mountain hut Rifugio Padon. Macadam road at first over a bridge crosses main road and then it ascends by and on a ski slope. The road then turns a little to the right and brings us on slopes below the cableway, which runs towards the mountain hut Padon. From the path, we have otherwise all the time breathtaking view on the nearby Marmolada. Macadam road is further all the time ascending near the cableway all the way to a saddle Passo Padon.
On the saddle where there is a crossing, we continue left on the road and to the hut which we see from the path for quite some time.
From the mountain hut, we continue on a footpath following the signs »Porta Vescovo«. After that, the path crosses quite steep grassy slopes towards the west and at first also slightly descends. Further, the path starts ascending and for quite some time crosses slopes towards the west. From the left later also joins an unmarked path from the lake Fedaia, and we still cross grassy slopes from which we have all the time a nice view towards Marmolada. A little before the saddle Porta Vescovo below the slopes of the peak Bech da Mesdi path brings us to a crossing where we continue right upwards. At the crossing is on the rock red caption »Ferr.«, which marks the path towards the secured climbing path Ferrata delle Trincee.
From the crossing, the path a little steeper ascends and brings us below southwest wall of the peak Bech da Mesdi, where there is the beginning of the climbing path.
Climbing is in the beginning quite demanding and some strength in arms is also needed. From the path otherwise a nice view opens up towards the mountain group Sella. The path continues to steeply ascend by the steel cable all the way to the ridge where the steepness decreases a little. On the ridge, we then cross hanging bridge and then again follows a steep ascent towards the summit Bech da Mesdi. The secured path otherwise runs few meters below the summit. We can reach the peak without any bigger problems, if from secured path we continue right upward at the spot where the path starts descending. The peak is otherwise also the highest point on the entire path.
From the top then we steeply descend with the help of steel cables to less steep slopes on the eastern side of the peak. Here right downwards leads also easy path on which we can leave the secured path.
We continue on the path by the ridge, which again starts ascending and it brings us to military tunnel below the steep mountain walls of the nearby peak. A little before military tunnel path turns to the left and past some ruins brings us to more demanding descent. The path here very steeply descends by the steel cable and we also get help from few stemples. Such a path then brings us on the eastern side of the ridge where with a view towards the mountain group Tofana crosses slopes towards the southeast. The path then again brings us on the ridge where there is a crossing. At the crossing there is also few military ruins. At the crossing, we have again option, that we descend on the south side and leave the secured path. In case if we walk on the path Ferrata delle Trincee in the reverse direction we need to pay attention at mentioned crossing, to not continue forward on a ridge but on the path which crosses slopes on the eastern side of the ridge.
At the crossing, we continue left (southeast) on a ridge and start descending a little. Occasionally we also get help from steel cables, but the path isn't as demanding as it was in the first part. The path later descends on the south side of the ridge where there is another crossing where we can early leave the secured path. At the crossing is also a signpost, which marks, that will path further run through military tunnels in which we will also need a lamp.
From the crossing, the path ascends a little steeper by the steel cable and then brings us on the northern side of the ridge. Here the path descends a little and brings us in first military tunnel. When we come out of the tunnel follows a shorter crossing on the south side of the ridge and then the path again brings us in the tunnel. After we get out of the tunnel also this time follows a crossing, and then the path becomes a little more demanding and few times ascends by the steel cable. Such a path brings us in the last military tunnel, which is a little longer. On the path through the tunnel we also ascend on the stairs. Out of the tunnel we come to the bivouac Bontadini where there is also the end of the path named Ferrata delle Trincee.
From the bivouac, we then descend towards the mountain hut Padon and from there towards the starting point on the mountain pass Passo Fedaia.
From the starting point to the top of Bech da Mesdi we will need approximately 2h 30min, and for the entire circular path 4h 45min.