Rifugio Auronzo - Monte Paterno (Ferrata De Luca-Innerkofler)

Access to starting point:
Access from Gorenjska: Via the Rateče border crossing we drive to Trbiž / Tarvisio, where we head onto the motorway in the direction of Videm / Udine. We leave the motorway at the Tolmezzo exit and 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 the Cadore valley, where we continue right (left Belluno and Cortina d'Ampezzo) in the direction of the settlement Auronzo. After a few more km of driving we come to the next major crossroad, where we turn right towards the Misurina pass and Tre Cime (left Tre Crocci pass). From the Misurina pass the road starts descending and quickly brings us to a crossroad where signs for Tre Cime direct us right onto the toll mountain road, which after 7 km brings us to a large parking lot near the mountain hut Rifugio Auronzo.
From the Primorska side: We drive on the motorway towards Venice / Venezia. At Portogruaro we leave the motorway towards Venice and continue right on the motorway towards Pordenone. At the next motorway junction near Conegliano we continue right towards Belluno. Near Belluno the motorway ends, and we continue in the direction of Cortina d'Ampezzo and Auronzo. When the road brings us into the Cadore valley we will arrive at a larger crossroad, where the road to Cortina d'Ampezzo goes left, and to Auronzo right. Here we continue right towards Auronzo. Further, follow the above description.

Route description:
At the Rifugio Auronzo we head onto the macadam road that leads towards the Rifugio Lavaredo slightly to the east. After approximately 20 minutes of walking on a very panoramic road that leads below the mighty walls of Tre Cime we arrive at the Rifugio Lavaredo.
From the hut we continue slightly to the left and start to ascend the scree towards the notch (Forcella Lavaredo) between Monte Paterno and Tre Cime. At the notch, where there is a path junction, we take the wide path that from the notch starts to descend slightly towards the north. To the right branches off the path that leads to Monte Paterno from the south side and path 104, which starts to descend towards the east. On the descent towards Rifugio Locatelli we can choose the lower wide path or the upper somewhat more difficult one, which crosses the slopes below the western wall of Monte Paterno. At the hut, from where there is a very nice view of Monte Paterno and Tre Cime, the two paths join again.
From the hut we continue sharply to the right and start to ascend the northern ridge of Monte Paterno. Soon we enter a tunnel from the First World War. For the ascent through the tunnel we will definitely need a headlamp, as the tunnel is more than 500 metres long. Occasionally wonderful views open up through the windows in the tunnel towards Tre Cime and the lakes Laghi dei Piani. From the tunnel we then reach the eastern slopes of the mountain and soon enter the climbing section of the path. The path first ascends steeply to the right, then turns left and ascends on a well-secured path towards the notch Forcella del Camoscio. At the notch, where our path joins the other two, we go right. With the help of steel cables we ascend over an almost vertical wall. This part of the path is short but demanding, which is why the use of self-belaying is highly recommended. The path then becomes less demanding and through nice passages on the summit slope of the mountain we soon reach the very panoramic summit.

Along the route: Rifugio Lavaredo (2344m), Forcella Lavaredo (2454m), Rifugio Locatelli (2405m), Forcella del Camoscio (2650m)

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