Sant'Uberto - Col Bechei

Access to starting point:
Over the border crossing Rateče we drive to Trbiž / Tarvisio, where we go on a 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 in the direction of the settlement Misurina (left mountain pass Tre Croci). From here we descend on the road to a bigger crossroad where we continue left towards Cortina d'Ampezzo (right Austria). From the mentioned crossroad, we continue for approximately 10 km towards Cortina d'Ampezzo, and then in a sharp left turn we go right on the road towards the mountain hut Rifugio Ra Stua. We park on a parking lot, which is located at the very beginning of the mentioned road.

Path description:
From the parking lot, we go left on a cart track following the signs »Valle di Fanes« (path number 10). Cart track from a parking lot starts descending and it quickly brings us to a marked crossing. At the crossing, we go right on a footpath following the signs »Valle di Fanes«. From the crossing, the path starts descending through the forest and brings us on an asphalt road.
We continue right on the road and we cross a bridge over the stream Rio di Fanes. The road which runs by the stream then brings us to a crossroad.
Right leads demanding path named Sentiero dei Canyons, and we go left (path number 10) on a road which is short time still paved with an asphalt and then becomes a macadam. Further, the road is mostly slightly ascending through the forest, occasionally also views open up on the nearby peaks.
Later footpath towards the saddle Posporcora branches off to the left, and we still continue on a macadam road. The road then turns a little to the right and over a bridge crosses deep gorge Gola di Fanes. We still continue on the road and quickly we are again at the crossing. Near the crossing there are also few benches and tables.
At the crossing, we continue left on the road, straight leads the path Scorciatoia (shortcut), which is a little steeper and later again joins the road. From the mentioned shortcut then also the path Sentiero dei Canyons branches off. And at the crossing to the right leads the path towards the waterfall Cascata di Fanes to which there is only few minutes of walking on an exposed ledge (recommended use of self belaying).
So we continue left and still ascending on a macadam road which is appropriate also for mountain bikers. After a short ascent, we come to another crossing where the path 401 towards the notch Forcella Posporcora branches off to the left. We go right and continue to ascend on the road through the forest from which views are opening up more frequently on surrounding peaks. The road further few times steeply ascends and is occasionally also paved with concrete. Higher, the path Sentiero dei Canyons branches off to the left, which leads also towards the valley Val Travenanzes.
Our path then slowly turns to the right and again gets closer to the stream Rio di Fanes. Here from the right side joins the path Scorciatoia, little after that also the path to the last waterfall on the stream Rio di Fanes branches off to the right. To waterfall there is only few minutes of walking on an exposed path. Also here is recommended to use self belaying.
At the crossing, the road turns slightly to the left and further runs by the mentioned stream. The path then soon brings us out of the forest and wonderful views open up on surrounding peaks. Panoramic path then brings us to the lake Lago di Fanes.
At the end of the lake, we cross a bridge and we continue on a gentle cart track by the stream. The path brings us to a fence where we leave nature park Dolomites d'Ampezzo and enter the nature park Fanes-Senes-Braies. Here runs also the border between region Veneto and South Tyrol (Trentino - Alto Adige). We continue on a cart track which short time still runs by the stream and then a little steeper ascends and from grassy slopes brings us into the forest. Forest is becoming thinner and from the path, we have a nice view towards the peaks above the valley Valle di Fanes. Our path for some time again runs by the stream and it brings us to a crossing.
Left leads the road towards the mountain pasture Malga Fanes Grande, and here we leave the road and go right on the path 10A, which leads towards the mountain hut Rifugio Fanes. Next follows an ascent on grassy slopes by rare dwarf pines and then we again join the macadam road. We continue right and we follow panoramic road to the lake Lago di Limo.
At the lake, we leave the macadam road which leads towards the mountain hut Rifugio Fanes and we go right on a footpath where signs »Col Bechei« point us to. The path at first leads us by the lake and then starts ascending on a slope on the eastern side of the lake. Here the path runs mostly on a grassy slope and a little higher turns a little to the right and brings us on the south slopes. By the path there are here also some benches and a well with a drinking water. Further, we are ascending through a small valley towards the east and from the path increasingly beautiful views starting to open up mainly towards the south where there is clearly visible mountain group Tofana. We continue ascending on a mostly grassy terrain towards the east all the way to a small saddle on the south side of the peak Col Bechei where there are also signposts.
At the crossing where joins a little less beaten east path, we continue left towards the summit Col Bechei where also signposts point us to. From the crossing, we start ascending a little steeper on a grassy slope, which a little higher passes into rocky terrain. The path here turns slightly to the right and runs on a little steeper slope. Because on the path, there is quite a lot of crumbly gravel on this part also some caution is needed. Technically ascent isn't demanding. The path then brings us to the ridge from where a view opens up also on the northern side and to the top, which we already see in front of us only a short ascent follows.
We can descend on the ascent route or on the eastern path, which from described path branches off on the already mentioned smaller grassy saddle on the south side of the peak.

On the way: Lago di Fanes (1832m), Lago di Limo (2159m)