Untere Valentinalm - Mahderkopf

Access to the starting point:
After crossing the Rateče or Predel border crossing, drive to Trbiž/Tarvisio and then continue along the motorway towards Udine/Vidmo. Leave the motorway at Carnico and follow the signs first to Tolmezzo and then to Austria and the Pso di Croce Carnico Pass/Plockenpass. From the pass, descend to the Austrian side, and after a few kilometres you will see signs for Untere Valentinalm, which will direct you to the left onto the ascending road. Follow the road to the mountain hut on the mountain pasture, near which there is also a parking area, where you park.
Access from the Ziljska valley (Austria) is also possible.

Path description:
From the parking lot, take the road closed by a ramp towards Lake Wolayer See. Soon, a marked trail branches off the road to the right and then crosses the mountain road several times. After about 1 hour's walk, you will reach mountain pasture Obere Valentinalm, where a shepherd's hut is situated.
From mountain pasture, which offers a fine view of the walls of the Kellerspitzen (2769 m) and the partly grassy Rauchkofl, continue slightly to the right on a less visible path, which soon joins a wide path that leaves the road just 10 m before mountain pasture. When the two paths merge, the path is completely laid out and leads into a beautiful high mountain valley surrounded by mighty walls. At first wide and grassy, the valley soon narrows a little, curves slightly to the left and leads to the foot of the vast scree of Monte Coglianso. The valley, along the edge of which the mountain path also runs, slowly turns to the right. Higher up the valley, the path retreats slightly to the right, where it crosses the slopes of the Rauchkofle in a moderate ascent. After a two and a half hour walk from the starting point along a rugged and scenic route, the saddle Valentintörl is reached, where the crossroads are located.
Just a few metres before the signposts at the saddle, you will see a torrential ravine on the right. The marked path leading to Rauchkofel climbs up the ravine. The ascent of the torrential ravine is aided by some fixed safety gear (the fixed safety gear is in a rather poor state of repair in July 2009), which are not strictly necessary in dry conditions (this part is also exposed to falling rocks). After a short ascent, the steepness eases and the path leads us out of the ravine onto a folded and extensive grassy slope. At the end of the grassy plain the path turns slightly to the left and after a short climb leads to a marked crossroads.
Continue straight ahead (right Rauchkofel) on the path, which begins to descend and turns slightly to the left. After a short descent, you reach a small swamp, where you leave the marked path and continue to the right on a less visible path that continues gently descending over extensive grassy slopes. The path soon passes onto an indistinct ridge, where it gradually begins to disappear. The path continues along and along the ridge, which leads us to a small watering place for animals with beautiful views. There is only a short descent, and then the 'path' begins to climb again. Follow this less visible path, which continues to climb moderately, all the way to the top of Mahderkopf.

On the way: Obere Valentinalm (1540m), Valentintörl (2138m)

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