Passo di Giau - Rifugio Nuvolau (Via Ferrata de Ragusela)

Access to starting point:
First, we drive to Cortina d'Ampezzo (to here it is possible over the border crossing Rateče or Predel to Trbiž / Tarvisio and then on the highway in the direction of Vidma / Udine to the exit Tolmezzo. From Tolmezzo we follow the road in the direction of the settlement Ampezzo and mountain pass Passo della Mauria. The road then descends and brings us to a junction, where we continue left (also possible right) in the direction of Cortina d'Ampezzo. At all following junctions, we follow the signs for Cortina d'Ampezzo. Or from the Primorska side, where we drive on the highway in the direction of Trst / Trieste. Further, we drive on the Italian highway in the direction of Padova, but only to the highway junction, where we continue in the direction of Veneto and Belluno. Near Belluno the highway ends, and at the next junctions we continue in the direction of Cortina d'Ampezzo and then follow the signs for the alpine pass Passo di Falzarego. We then follow this ascending road to a junction at an altitude of approximately 1400 m. At the junction, we continue left in the direction of the alpine pass Passo di Giau and Marmolada. We park on the large parking lot on the mentioned alpine pass.

Route description:
From the pass we continue on a wide path past the hut Rifugio Passo Giau. After a short ascent on a wide path we come to a junction, where we turn right on path 443 following the signs »Rif. Nuvolau Ferrata«. The path then starts to descend slightly and crosses the slopes below the summit Ragusela (2595 m). To the left an unmarked path will soon branch off, which leads towards the ridge of the summit Ra Gusela. We continue slightly descending towards the east and then come to a marked junction. We continue left following the signs »438« and »Via Ferrata«. Here the path starts ascending over scree on the eastern side of Mount Ragusela and brings us to a small notch. From the notch we then descend a few meters and then the path becomes more demanding. First we ascend along the steel cable through a wide gully, then follows an ascent over a short ladder. The demanding part of the path is very short and soon we are on the gentle slopes below the summit Nuvolau. The path then turns slightly to the left and soon we come to a poorly visible junction where to the left an unmarked path branches off towards the summit Ra Gusela. We continue crossing the gentle slopes towards the south ridge of the summit Nuvolau. When we reach the ridge the path becomes demanding again. First we ascend along the steel cable on the slightly exposed ridge, then we ascend again over a short ladder. A few meters of walking along the steep ridge follow and we are already at the hut Rifugio Nuvolau.

The trip can be extended to the following destinations: Rifugio Averau ( 20 min), Averau (1 h 5 min)

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