Rifugio Carducci, 2.297 m

Loneliness in the southern valleys of Sexten

• Start: Hotel Alpenblick
• Train/bus: bus Cortina d’Ampezzo – Misurina – Auronzo;
• Time of walk: rise 4h, descent 2 ½; total 6 ½h
• Huts: Rifugio Carducci
• Map: KOMPASS no 625

Over the Forcella Giralba (2431 m), a marked path leads from the Val Fiscalina to the Val Giralba, from South Tyrol to Bellunese - and from one of the region's tourist hotspots to solitude. This becomes clear very quickly when you set off early in the morning from the few houses of Giralba and take the old war path up to the Rif. Carducci: no colourful hordes of hikers like on fair-weather days over there on the ascent to the Zsigmondyhütte, but plenty of the famous Bergesruh'. The scenery is fascinating in its wildness: The first eye-catcher is the mighty bastion of Monte Giralba di sotto (2995 m), above the Pian de le Salare you have a clear view of the jagged western flank of the Croda di Ligonto and finally the eastern face of the Zwölferkofel (3094 m) comes into view. Those who make the short detour from the hut to the Forcella Giralba will be rewarded with a view of the magnificent scenery of the Bachern valley. The start is from the hotel by car or public bus in the direction of the Kreuzberg Pass and on to the Comelico as far as Giralba. From the hamlet of Giralba (935 m), follow the sandy road into the forest for a short while, then the former war path that climbs steeply through the lower Val Giralba. After about ¾ hour, the path changes to the left side of the valley; it continues over a few hairpin bends to the gravel field of Pian de le Salere (1365 m). The view into the wild ditch of the Val Stalata and the rock falls of the Cima Bagni (2983 m) is gripping. Now in the left branch of the valley - the Val Giralba alta - continue uphill in many serpentines on the artfully constructed Mulattiera. To the right is the mighty chunk of Monte Giralba di sotto (on the ribbons of which the "Ferrata Cengia Gabriella" runs); in retrospect, the Croda di Ligonto shows almost even more forbiddingly rugged cliff. After a last valley step, you finally reach the beautifully situated Rifugio Carducci (2297 m) in the cirque floor below the Forcella Giralba. Descent on the ascent path.

Elevation profile

Compass map