Passo Falzarego - Bivouac della Chiesa (eastern way)

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. Or from Primorska side, where we drive on a highway in the direction of Trst / Trieste. Further, we drive on Italian 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 at the next crossroads we continue in the direction of Cortina d'Ampezzo and then we follow the signs for Alpine mountain pass Passo di Falzarego. This ascending road we then follow to a large parking lot on the mentioned mountain pass.

Path description:
Only few ten meters away from the parking lot at the bottom station of the cable car on Lagazuoi Piccolo we will notice signs for the tunnel Lagazuoi. The path at first leads on a worse for traffic closed macadam road (road for the purpose of a ski slope), which after a short ascent brings us to the spot, where signs for tunnel point us slightly to the left. We continue the ascent on a wide mountain path, which is ascending parallel with the road which we just left. A moderately steep path then from a lane of dwarf pines brings us on the scree, from which beautiful views are opening up mainly towards the south. Well maintained path, after a little less than an hour of walking, it brings us to a crossing, where we continue right on normal mountain path (left path through the tunnel).
The path then crosses slopes below the steep mountain walls of Lagazuoi Piccolo (danger of falling stones) and a little further through torrent well passes on the scree between the mentioned and the neighbouring peak named Cima Falzarego. Here the path turns a little to the left and on a moderately steep slope ascends on a panoramic saddle forcella Travenanzes, where there is a crossing.
We continue straight in the direction of "bivacco della Chiesa" on the path which crosses scree on the right (eastern) side of the ridge Lagazuoi Grande. After few minutes of crossing path brings us below the mountain walls of the mentioned ridge (danger of falling stones) and then it ascends on a smaller saddle, where we notice numerous underground tunnels. We still continue in the direction of bivouac Chiesa on the path which occasionally a little steeper ascends. The more and more panoramic transverse path and the path higher brings us on a saddle forcella Grande, from which in few steps of descent we come to bivouac Chiesa.

On the way: Forcella Travenanzes (2507m)

Trip can be extended to: Punta Fanes Sud (1 h 30 min)