Passo Gardena - Rifugio Pisciadu (Via Ferrata Brigata Tridentina)

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 past settlements Dobbiaco / Toblach, Villabassa / Niederdorf, Monguelfo - Tesido / Welsberg - Taisten, Brunico / Brunec. Only a little after the last-mentioned settlement, past which leads a bypass road, we turn left into a valley Val Badia. Further, we drive through the mentioned valley and in the settlement La Villa we turn right towards the mountain pass Passo Gardena. Further, we follow an ascending road to a large parking lot some turns before the mountain pass Passo Gardena. At the parking lot is also a big sign with a caption »Via Ferrata – Klettersteig«.
B) From Nova Gorica, we drive to Italy and drive forward on the highway to the settlement Portogruaro, where at the highway junction we turn in the direction of the settlement Belluno. We follow the highway to its end (we don't turn in the direction towards Belluno), and then we continue driving 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 Passo Falzarego (2105 meters) we turn right in the direction of Val Badia and at first ascend on the neighbouring mountain pass Passo Valparola (2192 meters), from there we descend into the mentioned valley. In the settlement La Villa we turn left towards the mountain pass Passo Gardena. Further, we follow an ascending road to a large parking lot some turns before the mountain pass Passo Gardena. At the parking lot is also a big sign with a caption »Via Ferrata – Klettersteig«.

Path description:
From the parking lot, we go left following the signs »Via Ferrata Tridentina«. The path at first crosses a slope towards the east and runs mostly by dwarf pines and rare larches. The path which also slightly descends soon brings us to the beginning of the secured path.
The secured path at the beginning steeply ascends with the help of stemples, and then it is for some time ascending by the steel cable on usually wet terrain upwards. Next follows a shorter ascent on stemples, and then we come on less steep slopes. The path then leads us past large boulders and it brings us to a crossing.
At the crossing, we continue slightly left following the signs »Pisciadu Via Ferrata«. After that, the path crosses slopes towards the south and in front of us, we will soon notice a waterfall. Soon, we come again to a crossing and we continue right towards the waterfall following the signs »Pisciadu Via Ferrata«.
Right from the waterfall we again enter the wall and we start ascending steeply on a secured path Via Ferrata Brigata Tridentina. The path is further very well secured and is all the time ascending right from the wide gully through which runs a stream with numerous waterfalls. From the path, we have all the time breathtaking views on the precipitous walls of surrounding peaks and downwards towards the settlement Colfosco and Alta Badia.
The secured path later turns a little to the left and it brings us to a crossing. Left we can leave the secured path and on easier terrain ascend towards the mountain hut Pisciadu. Right we continue on a secured path, which is ascending on the walls of the tower Torre Exner. The path in this part becomes even a little more demanding and at the ascent also some strength in arms is needed. The path few times vertically ascends, and we have stemples and a shorter ladder for help. Higher, the path crosses a wall to the left and it brings us to a hanging bridge. From the bridge only a short ascent follows by the steel cable, after that the secured path ends.
Panoramic path further turns a little to the left and then follows an undemanding ascent to the hut Rifugio Pisciadu.
We descend right on the path 666 back towards the starting point. The path on which we descend is in the upper part also secured with a steel cable.
The described path is otherwise one of the most popular secured path in the Dolomites. To avoid crowds on the path, it is recommended to start the tour very early.

Trip can be extended to: Rifugio Boe , Cima Pisciadu , Piz Boe