Alba di Canazei - Cima Ombretta (Via Ferrata Ombretta)

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 to the settlement Dobbiaco / Toblach, where we turn left 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 Falzarego (2105 meters) is a crossroad, where we continue straight downwards in the direction of Marmolada and mountain pass Passo Fedaia. At the next crossroads, we follow the road in the direction of Marmolada and mentioned mountain pass. After the mountain pass Fedaia (2057 meters), which is located by the artificial lake Lagho di Fedaia, the road again starts descending, and we follow it to the beginning of the settlement Alba, where we will on the left side notice a cableway Ciampac. We park on a large parking lot by the bottom station of the mentioned cableway. From Kranjska Gora to a starting point is approximately 280 km.
B) From Kranjska gora over a border crossing Rateče to Trbiž / Tarvisio and further on a highway towards Videm / Udine. We leave the highway at settlement Tolmezzo, from where we continue driving towards the settlement Ampezzo and forward towards Alpine mountain pass Passo della Mauria (1298 meters). The road then starts descending and brings us into a valley Cadore, where we continue right towards the settlement Auronzo di Cadore. At the next crossroads, we follow the signs for Cortina d'Ampezzo. When we get into Cortina d'Ampezzo, we follow the signs for Alpine mountain pass Passo Falzarego. On the mountain pass Falzarego (2105 meters) is a crossroad, where we continue straight downwards in the direction of Marmolada and mountain pass Passo Fedaia. At the next crossroads, we follow the road in the direction of Marmolada and mentioned mountain pass. After the mountain pass Fedaia (2057 meters), which is located by the artificial lake Lagho di Fedaia, the road again starts descending, and we follow it to the beginning of the settlement Alba, where we will on the left side notice a cableway Ciampac. We park on a large parking lot by the bottom station of the mentioned cableway. From Kranjska Gora to a starting point is approximately 270 km.
C) From Nova Gorica, we drive to Italy and drive forward on a highway to the settlement Portogruaro, where at the highway junction we turn in the direction of Belluno. We follow the highway to the exit for Belluno, and after the settlement Belluno we follow the road in the direction of the settlement Agordo and then Marmolada and Alpine mountain pass Passo Fedaia. After the mountain pass Fedaia (2057 meters), which is located by the artificial lake Lagho di Fedaia, the road starts descending, and we follow it to the beginning settlement Alba, where we will notice on the left side a cableway Ciampac. We park on a large parking lot by the bottom station of the mentioned cableway. From a border with Slovenia to a starting point is approximately 245 km.

Path description:
At the end of the parking lot, we continue slightly left following the signs »Locia de Contrin« on the forest road which is closed for public traffic. The road mostly runs through the forest and only occasionally a view opens up on the nearby peaks. The road then soon crosses a bridge and it brings us to a marked crossing where from the left joins the footpath from the settlement Penia. Further, the road is ascending mostly in zig-zags and higher from the road also few cart tracks branch off. We all the time continue straight on a well-settled road. Later road turns to the left and soon a footpath towards the ski slope Ciampac branches off to the right. We still continue on the road and after a short ascent, we come to the mountain hut Locia de Contrin.
From the mountain hut, we continue on a gently sloping macadam road which then soon crosses a gate. The road still leads through the valley by the stream Ruf de Contrin and by the pastures brings us to a crossing.
The path towards the saddle Forcia Neigra and summit Colac branches off to the right upwards, and we still continue on the road which then starts slightly descending. We soon come again to a crossing, where the path towards the mountain hut Rifugio Passo San Nicolò branches off to the right.
We continue on the road which here turns to the left and crosses a bridge. Panoramic road starts again ascending and it brings us to the mountain hut Baita Cianci.
From the mountain hut Baita Cianci we continue on the road which soon brings us into the forest and starts ascending a little steeper. On the path, there are then taking turns lanes of forest and meadows from which beautiful views start to open up on surrounding peaks. Such a path then brings us to the hut Rifugio Contrin.
From the mountain hut, we continue on a macadam road which quickly brings us to a crossing where the path number 606 towards Marmolada and saddle Passo Ombretta branches off to the left. We still continue on the road which leads us by pastures and then it slightly descends. The road then passes into a footpath which brings us below the slopes of the peak Ombretta Ogcidentale. The path here turns a little to the right and it ascends through a thin larch forest. After that, the path crosses the fence and soon brings us to a crossing.
We continue left on the path number 607 following the signs Cima Ombretta, and right leads the path towards the saddle Passo Pasche. The path further is ascending mostly on grassy slopes by rare larches and is ascending through the valley below the slopes of Ombretta. Higher grassy slopes slowly passes into scree on which we are then ascending for quite some time. The path continues to run through the valley below peaks of Ombretta towards the southeast and later brings us to a marked crossing.
We go left following the signs Cima Ombretta, and right leads the path towards the saddle Passo Cirelle. The path from the crossing starts ascending on the scree towards the walls of the peak Sasso Vernale. When we come below the wall we are again at the crossing. To the right leads the path towards the saddle Passo di Ombretola, and we continue left where there is the beginning of the climbing path Via Ferrata Ombretta.
At the beginning, the climbing path steeply ascends by the steel cable upwards and runs a little left from a steep gully. Next follows a short crossing to the right, and then the path steeply ascends with the help of stemples. Climbing path is for a short time still ascending by the steel cable, after that relatively short climbing path ends and brings us on the scree below the walls of the peak Sasso Vernale.
Further, the path runs on a wide and relatively gentle valley between the peaks Ombretta Ogcidentale In Sasso Vernale. Higher, the path starts ascending a little steeper on the scree and it brings us to a smaller saddle below Cima Ombretta.
On the saddle where a wonderful view opens up towards Marmolada we continue right and follows an ascent on a panoramic ridge to the top.

On the way: Locia de Contrin (1736m), Baita Cianci (1828m), Rifugio Contrin (2016m)