Rifugio Pelizzo - Monte Mataiur/Matajur (via Ledina)

Access to starting point:
A) On Slovenian side: From the road Tolmin - Kobarid, in the settlement Idrsko to the left (from the direction Kobarid right) steep two-lane road branches off towards the village Livek (approximately 5 km). We continue here on a narrower road in Italy. On the other side of the border, the road starts slightly descending, at village Polava again widens, and slightly ascends towards the village Čepletišče / Cepletischis. From here we descend towards the crossroad (0.5 km), where we continue right, in the direction of village Matajur / Montemaggiore and Rifugio Pelizzo. Straight Sauodnja / Savogna. From Livek to the village Matajur is approximately 10 km, to Rifugo Pelizzo 13 km.
B) On Italian side: From Gorca direction we drive on a regional road towards Videm / Udine, to the turn-off for Krmin / Cormons. At the roundabout before Krmin we turn right towards Krmin / Cormons and Čedad / Cividale. We drive below underpass and then we immediately turn left. In larger and clumsy crossroad in Krmin we turn towards Čedad / Cividale del Friuli. We continue driving through more settlements on carefully treated Friulian plain. In good visibility we will see our destination Matajur in company of Krn at first on our right side, and from Čedad straight in front of us. In Čedad we get to the traffic light crossroad next to building, in which is at first pharmacy (farmacia) and then bank. At the crossroad, we turn sharply right (straight in front of us entrance in old part of the town and large free parking lot). To famous bridge Hudičev most (Friulian: Puint dal diaul) is only few minutes of walking.
We continue to a smaller roundabout, in front of which there's more signposts, among them also brown sign for Kolovrat. From here further we follow the signs for Kolovrat. By the river Nadiža we drive towards the settlement Špeter Slovenov / San Pietro al Natisone. Approximately 1 km before Špeter we get to a crossroad in the settlement Muost/Puint/Ponte San Quirino. Here we turn right (straight Špeter), and left over a bridge road from Čedad on other bank of river Nadiža, on which leads the path which you can find on Google Maps. We still follow the signs for Kolovrat, but only for approximately 1.5 km, where the road branches off to the right for Kolovrat and former border crossing and saddle Solarji / Solarie. We continue straight to bigger settlement Sauodnja / Savogna, also center of the eponymous municipality. Here we turn right over a bridge and we continue on the main road. We could also go after the bridge left upwards, but the path is very steep and narrow. On the bridge we see also red signs for Rifugio Pelizzo. The path soon starts ascending in zig-zags (approx. 3 km and 6 sharp turns). On the top we come to the next turn-off, where we turn left towards the village Matajur / Montemaggiore and Rifugio Pelizzo. Straight in front of us village Čepletišče (Cepletischis) and approximately 6 km to Livek. From the crossroad to the village Matajur separates us approximately 5.5 km moderately ascending two-lane road. Above the village Matajur the road narrows a little and after 3.5 km in a gentle ascent brings us to Rufugio Pelizzo.

Path description:
The path is very appropriate for all mountaineers, who don't like steep ascents and like to walk on (in snowless conditions) undemanding paths. The beginning of the path otherwise isn't marked, but there aren't any problems with orientation. After 20-30 minutes, when we are getting further away from destination and the starting point, we join the path which comes from the village Mašera / Masseris. The path from the village Mašera is by height difference and distance comparable with the one from Avsa. For those that the mentioned paths are too demanding, is this good shortcut, because we shorten it for approximately 1 hour of steepest ascent, and so we enjoy only in the most beautiful part of the path on Matajur.
In the winter path usually isn't beaten, so snowshoes are almost mandatory, and crampons if it is icy.
We park on a large parking lot on our left, which is little below Rifugio Pelizzo. Word rifugio in a literal translation means refuge, but in Italian also the mountain hut or cottage. Pelizzo by the size belongs more among the latter. From the parking lot, we descend on the road in the direction of arrival to a bigger turn (approximately 300 meters).
In the snow conditions there is a road closure above the village Matajur. The shortest path to turn below Rifugio Pelizzo, where starts our path, is on mildly ascending road (approximately 40 min. of walking), which we can few times shorten on a steep shortcuts.
At the turn through the gap in protective fence we descend on an embankment below the road and on a footpath to the nearby forest. Soon after the entrance into the forest, we will notice first blazes. The path continues to descend towards the riverbed of a torrent Skrila. If there is a lot of snow, then this part of the path can be quite demanding, because steepness even more increases, and snow here is usually icy.
After the crossing of the riverbed of a torrent path starts moderately ascending to the left on slopes below Ledina. After a short ascent footpath almost flattens and crosses steep grassy slopes. In the snow conditions is on this otherwise short part of the path the passage can be dangerous. On the south grassy slopes below Ledina snow quickly softens and we can slip. If there is more than 0.5 meters of snow, especially few days after a snowfall, it is better to choose some other path.
After a shorter crossing of grassy slopes below Ledina footpath again starts ascending towards the forest. We are all the time going away from the starting point and our destination. In the forest, the path starts ascending steeper. After a short ascent, we come out of the forest and we join the path which comes from the village Mašera / Masseris. At this point we are farthest away from our destination (approximately 30 minutes from the starting point). From here on our path will again go towards the summit Matajur. We continue with the ascent to the left, right downwards village Mašera.
After a short ascent on a grassy terrain we again step into the forest, where the path is winding among rocks. On this part of the path, we especially have to pay attention, because leaves can cover the footpath. On the end of this area we have to turn right (if we don't pay attention and we just go straight, we don't go in right way).
The footpath turns out of the forest and then crosses rarely vegetated slopes. From here a view opens up towards Mrzli vrh above Idrska planina and Krn. In gentle to moderate ascent it brings us on a cart track - Old path from Livek.
We continue walking on a cart track to the left, right Avsa and Livek. In light ascent we walk slopes of Ledina, from where we clearly see our destination Matajur and the path which is still in front of us, and the path which we walked from the starting point below Rif. Pelizzo. In the snow conditions on this part of the path can be a lot of snow, which can be soft. Also here snowshoes come in handy, even though skiers made ski track. Even if on the south slopes below Rif. Pelizzo there isn't any snow, on this part of the path can stay for a long time. If it is icy, at least small crampons will come in handy.
Cart track after approximately 15 minutes of relaxing walking it brings us to a clearing, on which stands a rocky cottage. Behind us is approximately 1 hour of walking from the starting point. We continue for few minutes on a cart track, then footpath branches off to the right, which only cuts a turn, and in few steps, it brings us to a saddle. Here joins the path from Rif. Pelizzo past a source Skrila. In front of us we clearly see our destination, peak Matajur, and behind us is rising mighty Krn with its neighbors. Signpost says, that to the top is 20 more minutes, you can add 10 minutes and enjoy in increasingly beautiful views.
The path continues few steps on a cart track to turn, where blazes point us on a footpath which leads straight uphill. And cart track in a gentle ascent crosses southeast slopes of Matajur towards Dom na Matajure. If there is near 1m of snow, you won't see a cart track. If snow isn't settled or, if is very soft, crossing of the slopes towards Dom na Matajure isn't recommended. Instead wide cart track there are only steep slopes, where we can trigger avalanche, or it is triggered from the slopes above us.
From the turn our path continues on a footpath which is relatively steeply ascending to a smaller saddle, where from the right joins the path from Avsa. From here views in front of us widens on Kanin mountain chain and Rombon, Mangart, Jalovec, and Razor. Next follows a shorter ascent on the eastern ridge, from which a view reaches all the way from Dolomites to Spodnje Bohinjske gore. After the crossing of the ridge the path is for few minutes moderately ascending towards the summit, which we all the time see in front of us.
.
.
.