Baita Sun Bar - Monte Antelao (Via Normale)

Access to the starting point:
Access from Gorenjska: Via Border crossing Rateče or Predel to Trbiž / Tarvisio and then along 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 towards Cortina d'Ampezzo. At all subsequent junctions, follow the signs for Cortina d'Ampezzo. Follow the road until San Vito di Cadore, where you leave the main road towards Cortina d'Ampezzo and turn right, following the signs for the Rifugio Scotter hut and the Ski San Vito ski resort. There is a church on the left side of the road at the crossroads. The road then turns to the right and leads to a crossroads. Turn left up the road and follow the signs for the Rifugio Scotter hut. Follow the road to the Sun Bar where there are also signs forbidding further traffic. Park in the large parking lot on the right hand side of the road.

From the coastal side. At Portogruaro, leave the motorway towards Venice and turn right on the motorway towards Pordenone. At the next motorway junction near Conegliano, turn right towards Belluno. The motorway ends near Belluno and we continue towards Cortina d'Ampezzo at the next junctions. Continue as described above.

Path description:
The road, which runs straight ahead and was originally asphalted, was destroyed by the collapse and is closed. It is also closed to pedestrians and cyclists. We turn left at the starting point onto a dirt road. The relatively level road soon crosses a barrier and leads us above the torrent bed. The road then turns left and crosses the stream. There are also warning signs indicating that crossing the riverbed in the event of heavi rain is dangerous due to the possibility of sudden large waves. The road then climbs steeply and is paved in places. The ascent is mainly through woods and the road then turns right to a footpath leading to the Rifugio Scotter hut. The forest then becomes thinner and thinner and beautiful views of the surrounding peaks begin to open up, with the nearby Monte Antelao standing out in particular. Soon we come to a crossroads where the old road, which is closed, joins us from the right.

Continue walking on the road, which is also asphalted on a short stretch. Shortly before the cottage, we come to a crossroads where we continue to the right and follow a few steps to the cottage.

From the starting point to the hut there is also an organised shuttle service. They start at 8:30, return ticket price is 10€ (August 2018).

From the hut, climb the stairs to the road leading to the Rifugio San Marco. Follow the road only as far as the first left turn where there is a crossroads.

At the crossroads, turn right onto the footpath and follow the signs for the Forcella Piccola notch and the Rifugio Galassi hut. The trail continues along dwarf pines towards the north-east. It then climbs a little higher in the keys, and in some places the path has been rebuilt as it was damaged by torrents. As we approach steeper slopes we reach a crossroads where the path from the Rifugio San Marco hut joins from the left.

Continue to the right and then, for some time, cross the slopes to the south-east, mostly in a gentle ascent. From the trail, we have an increasingly beautiful view to the west, where Monte Pelmo is clearly visible. As we approach the slopes of the nearby Becchi di Imposponda, the path turns left and starts to climb up the valley towards the Forcella Piccola. The path climbs up the left side of the valley and at the end there is a short descent to the notch where there is a marked crossroads.

The straight path leads to the Rifugio Galassi hut, which is a 10-minute descent, and we turn right to where the signs "Monte Antelao - Via Normale" direct us. From the crossroads we start climbing southwards on a partly grassy slope. The path then follows the left side of the valley upwards and leads to a short plain where the view to the east opens up. Here the grassy terrain ends and we continue climbing on scree. The path over the scree turns to the right and leads us uphill to the cirque cairn where there is a memorial plaque. From here on, the path becomes significantly more difficult.

After a short steeper climb, the path quickly turns to the right and is followed by a crossing of smooth rocks. The route then climbs up a steep slope where some easy climbing (grade 1) is required. The route climbs on ledges and broken rock and is also somewhat exposed most of the time. This route then leads to a ridge where the view to the west opens up.

Continue left along the initially still narrow ridge, which quickly leads to a broad slope with scree slabs called Le Laste. The slope, which also has some rubble and rocks, is not too steep. Cross it to the right and the path then turns left and climbs up the right-hand slope from where we have a very nice view to the west where Monte Pelmo stands out. The slope narrows a little later and there is a short descent into a small notch. From the stubble there is a very short, more difficult climb which leads to the central part of Le Lasta, where in November 2014 there was a huge collapse which changed the appearance of the mountain in this part.

The slope is relatively flat at the beginning and is strewn with many rocks that are the result of the collapse. The ascent is not difficult and the path soon turns left. Cross the slope to the far left, which is slightly less exposed to falling rocks. Continue straight up along the left-hand edge. Here you also have a view to the left of the Ghiacciaio del Antelao glacier. The slope we are climbing is not too steep, but as it runs on smooth slabs with some sand or mud on them, it is very dangerous to slip in places. The left-hand edge is then climbed all the way to the top of the pass.


At the end of the pass, head into a short rocky gully, which leads to a higher level. Further on, the route is again marked with red dots and occasionally some easier climbing is required. A little higher up, at the steepest part, a rope hanging in a steep gully can also help. A short but narrow and very exposed ledge leads to the rope. The difficult climb is short (about 3 metres). There are a few short steeper climbs and then we soon see the summit. There is a short descent and a final climb to a very scenic summit.

Descend along the ascent route.

The climb described is suitable for experienced mountaineers only and involves climbing up to grade 2. The ascent is on the northern slopes, where snow stays long into the summer, although the slope is often wet. There is also a significant risk of falling rocks in the area of the col.

The description and pictures refer to the situation in 2018 (August).

On the way: Rifugio Scotter Palatini (1580m), Forcella Piccola (2120m)

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