Malga Ciapela - Cima Ombretta (via Passo Ombretta)

Access to the starting point:
a) First, drive to Cortina d'Ampezzo (you can get here via Border crossing Rateče or Predel to Trbiž / Tarvisio and then take the motorway towards Udine to the Tolmezzo exit. From Tolmezzo, follow the road towards Ampezzo and the Passo della Mauria mountain pass. The road then descends and leads to a crossroads where you turn left (possibly right) towards Cortina d'Ampezzo. At all subsequent junctions, follow the signs for Cortina d'Ampezzo and then follow the signs for the Passo di Falzarego Alpine Pass. In the first part of the ascent towards the Falzarego Pass, you will reach a crossroads where the signs for Passo di Giau (2233 m) and Marmolado point to the left. After the Giau Pass, the road starts to descend and we follow it through the settlements in the lower part towards Marmolada or Passo di Fedaia. We then follow the road towards the Passo di Fedaia to a crossroads just before the bottom station of the gondola. Here, turn left onto the narrow asphalted road towards mountain pasture Malga Ciapela. The road then leads past the bivouac and the Malga Ciapela tourist farm. Just after the farm, the asphalted road ends. Here we park in one of the roadside car parks.

b) Access from Primorska: Take the motorway towards Padua, but only as far as the motorway junction, where you continue towards Veneto and Belluno. Near Belluno the motorway ends and we follow the road towards Belluno, where we turn right at a major junction towards Agordo. From there, follow the frequent signs for Marmolada or Passo di Fedaia. Follow the road towards Passo di Fedaia to a crossroads just before the bottom station of the gondola. Here, turn left onto the narrow asphalted road towards mountain pasture Malga Ciapela. The road then leads past the bivouac and the Malga Ciapela tourist farm. Just after the farm, the asphalted road ends. Here we park in one of the roadside car parks.

Path description:
From the parking lot, turn onto the macadam road, which is closed to traffic. First cross the bridge and then the road will lead you to a marked crossroads.

A footpath branches off to the left towards the Passo di Forca Rossa saddle, and we continue to the right on the dirt road, which climbs steeply. Soon we come to another crossroads. This time we head right into the forest on the footpath towards mountain pasture Malga Ombretta and the Falier hut. Further along the road and later on the mulatier, a second slightly sloping path leads to the same mountain pasture.

From the crossroads, the footpath begins to climb steeply and occasionally a fine view of the nearby peaks opens up from the path. The path then turns slightly to the right and crosses a steep slope as it ascends. The path is not difficult in this part as it is protected by a fence, and there are also steps to help us. The slope becomes less steep again and the path opens up to a view of a small dam along the way. The path continues to climb through the forest and later crosses a mulatier. The path becomes slightly more level and soon leads us out of the forest to the lookout mountain pasture Malga Ombretta where there is also a small hut.

From the hut, follow the path westwards through the pastures. The path then turns slightly to the right, following the right side of the valley. The path then leads through a short lane of woods and there is only a short climb to the Rifugio Failer hut, which is situated below the slopes of the summit of Cima Obretta.

From the hut, continue along route 610 towards the Passo Ombretta saddle. From the hut, the path ascends along the mulatier mainly through dwarf pines to the north. As you get a little closer to the Marmolada walls, dwarf pines ends and the trail turns to the left. The increasingly scenic route then climbs westwards and runs on terrain partly covered with grass. The grassy slopes later turn to scree and the path continues to climb gently westwards for some time. In the last part of the ascent towards the Passo Ombretta saddle, the path turns right and starts to climb steeply on scree up to the aforementioned saddle, where there is also a crossroads.

At the saddle continue left and there is only a short climb to the bivouac.

From the bivouac, continue southwards and after a short climb, the path leads to the jeklenice. Here the path turns slightly to the left and climbs up a rocky slope using the fixed safety gear. The sheltered path is short and quickly leads to scree. The path continues southwards along the scree and gradually becomes steeper. Higher up, the slope becomes quite steep and also dangerous for slipping. This path then leads to the saddle below the Cima Ombretta di Mezzo.

Here the path turns left and follows the south side of the ridge to the east. The path crosses a rather exposed slope at this point, which is not protected, so some caution is needed when crossing. The path then becomes slightly easier again and leads to a small saddle below the summit of Cima Ombretta.

At the saddle where the southern path joins us from the right, we continue straight ahead and soon reach the summit along a very scenic ridge.

On the way: Malga Ombretta (1904m), Rifugio Onorio Falier (2074m), Passo Ombretta (2702m), Bivacco Dal Bianco (2730m)

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