Rifugio Auronzo - Monte Paterno

Access to starting point:
Access from Gorenjska: Over the border crossing Rateče we drive to Trbiž / Tarvisio, where we go on the highway in the direction of Videm / Udine. We leave the highway at exit Tolmezzo and we follow the road to the mentioned settlement. From Tolmezzo we continue in the direction of the settlement Ampezzo and mountain pass Passo della Mauria. The road then starts descending and brings us into a valley Cadore, where we continue right (left Belluno and Cortina d'Ampezzo) in the direction of the settlement Auronzo. After few additional km of driving, we come to the next bigger crossroad, where we go right towards the mountain pass Misurina and Tre Cime (left mountain pass Tre Crocci). From the mountain pass Misurina the road starts descending and it quickly brings us to a crossroad where signs for Tre Cime point us to the right on a payable mountain road which after 7km brings us to a large parking lot near the mountain hut rifugio Auronzo.
From Primorska side: We drive on the highway towards Venice / Venezia. At town Portogruaro we leave the highway towards Venice and continue right on the highway towards Pordenone. At the next highway junction near Conegliano, we continue right towards Belluno. Near Belluno the highway ends, and we continue in the direction of Cortina d'Ampezzo and Auronzo. When the road brings us into a valley Cadore we will get to a bigger crossroad, where the road goes towards Cortina d'Ampezzo left, and towards Auronzo right. Here we continue right towards Auronzo. Further, we follow the description above.

Path description:
At the mountain hut Auronzo we go on a gentle macadam road which leads towards the mountain hut Lavaredo slightly towards the east. After approximately 20 minutes of walking on a very panoramic road which leads below the mighty mountain walls of Tre Cime we get to the hut Lavaredo.
A little before the hut where there is a crossing, we continue left on a footpath where signposts point us to. The path here ascends diagonally on the scree below the slopes of Tre Cime and it brings us to the notch Forcella Lavaredo, where we again join wide gentle path which leads towards the mountain hut Locatelli.
On the notch, we immediately leave mentioned wide path and we go right upwards (towards the east) on the path towards Monte Paterno. Relatively poorly marked path ascends towards a wall of the peak Croda Passaporto and it brings us to the entrance in military tunnel.
Here we equip ourselves with a helmet and self-belay set, and we will also need a lamp. The path then through the mentioned tunnel, which is quite low brings us on precipitous ledge from which we have a breathtaking view on Tre Cime. After the crossing of ledges on the west side of the mountain, the path again brings us into a tunnel through which we come on the eastern side. Here as well, we for some time cross steep slopes towards the north, and then the path brings us on a little less steep slopes. After that, the path turns slightly to the left and starts ascending steeper. Further, we are ascending through the gully all the way to the notch Forcella del Camoscio where join also secured paths from north and east.
On the notch, we go left and with the help of steel cables we ascend over almost vertical wall. This part of the path is otherwise short, but demanding and that is why it is highly recommended use of self belaying. After that, the path becomes less demanding and through nice passages on the upper slope of the mountain we soon reach a very panoramic peak.

On the way: Rifugio Lavaredo (2344m), Forcella Lavaredo (2454m), Forcella Passaporto (2530m), Forcella del Camoscio (2650m)