Rifugio Bai de Dones - Averau (Trincee)

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. The road above Cortina d'Ampezzo starts ascending steeper, and we follow it for quite some time, more precisely to the spot, where just before a sharp right turn we go left on a road which we quickly get to a large parking lot at the mountain hut Rifugio Bai de Dones. From Kranjska Gora to the starting point is 208 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. The road above Cortina d'Ampezzo starts ascending steeper, and we follow it for quite some time, more precisely to the spot, where just before a sharp right turn we go left on a road which we quickly get to a large parking lot at the mountain hut Rifugio Bai de Dones. From Kranjska Gora to the starting point is 198 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 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. The road above Cortina d'Ampezzo starts ascending steeper, and we follow it for quite some time, more precisely to the spot, where just before a sharp right turn we go left on a road which we quickly get to a large parking lot at the mountain hut Rifugio Bai de Dones. From the border crossing to the starting point, there is approximately 230 km.

Path description:
From the parking lot, we go towards the east on the path 425 following the signs »Cinque Torri, Rifugio Scoiattoli«. At the beginning for few meters we walk on a macadam road, and then blazes point us to the left on a nicely settled footpath. Here at first we walk on a little swampy terrain, and the path then quickly brings us into the forest and then leads us past the lake Lago Bai de Dones. Behind the lake path turns slightly to the right and also slightly descends. Such a path then brings us to a crossing where from the left side joins the path 424.
At the crossing, the path turns again to the right and soon starts ascending through the forest. The path is for some time still ascending through the forest and then it joins an asphalt road.
Further, we are ascending on the road from which the views start opening up mainly towards Tofanas. Later, the path brings us to a marked crossing.
Further, on the road isn't far to the hut Rifugio Cinque Torri, and we go right on a footpath named Trincee. From the crossing, we walk on a narrow footpath through thinner and thinner larch forest. Such a path then brings us to renovated military trenches on which we walk for some time. Here is by the path also many information boards, which describe events in the first world war. When we get closer to the famous towers Cinque Torri from the left joins the path from the mountain hut Rifugio Cinque Torri. At the crossing, we continue right and towers, which are very popular among climbers we bypass on the right north side. When we come on the west side, follows a short descent and then the path starts again ascending. By the path there are still numerous military tunnels and some renovated military buildings. And in the last part to the hut Scoiattoli follows an ascent by mostly grassy slopes.
From the mountain hut Rifugio Scoiattoli, from which there is a nice view towards Cinque Torri, we go right following the signs Rifugio Nuvolau and Rifugio Averau. The path ahead leads us on a stone road, or for walking more pleasant parallel mountain path, which is ascending on the left side of the road. After a good 20 minutes of a moderate ascent, over panoramic, at first also a grassy slope, the footpath splits into two parts (crossing is unmarked).
The left path which continues on a moderately steep slope leads on Nuvolau, and we continue on the right path, which joins the before mentioned road. We continue on the road which brings us into a smaller valley between the peaks Nuvolau and Averau, and we continue there all the way to the saddle between the both mentioned peaks, where there stands the mountain hut Averau.
From the mountain hut, we go to the right and we continue on a mountain road. Already after few meters caption »Ferrata Averau« point us left upwards. After that, the path at first crosses scree on the eastern side of the mountain and soon turns to the left where we enter the climbing part of the path. At the beginning of the climbing path we ascend steeply by the steel cable over a steep wall, and then we come to a crossing. Left slightly easier path vertically ascends on stemples through a draught-hole. And right path also ascends almost vertically, only that there isn't any stemples on the path. It should be noted, that the left path is often wet and also snow stays a little longer time. After a short steep section of the path both paths join again and then follows a crossing with the help of steel cables to the right. The climbing part of the path quickly ends and we soon come on less steep upper slopes of the mountain. In the last part, the path isn't demanding anymore and we soon reach a very scenic peak.
Rifugio Bai de Dones - Rifugio Scoiattoli 1:45, Rifugio Scoiattoli - Rifugio Averau 30 minutes, Rifugio Averau - Averau 45 minutes.

On the way: Lago Bai de Dones (1895m), Rifugio Scoiattoli (2255m), Rifugio Averau (2413m)