Challenging loop hike in the Friulian Dolomites, along the Troi dai Sclops route (gentian trail) passing the Giaf refuge and Casera Valbinon
A loop hike reserved for fit people capable of moving on sometimes unstable terrain such as steep scree and rocky sections.
The route takes place inside the Friulian Dolomites Natural Park, overlooking the basin of Forni di Sopra from whose valley-floor it starts.
The Giaf refuge launches the walker towards the rocky world of these Dolomites, then reaching the Urtisiel pass where the panorama expands. In this hike a short detour leads to the Urtisiel East peak, worth a visit with only a slight extension of the route. Descending again to the pass, the long green traverse reaches the basin of the isolated Casera Valbinon and the subsequent clearing of Canpuros, paradisiacal places.
From the nearby Lavinal pass a long steep descent leads back to the Borsaia locality, close to the starting point of this spectacular hiking loop.
The suggested route is ascending to the Urtisiel pass from the Giaf refuge.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Along the route the Giaf refuge and Casera Valbinon are refreshment and refuge points managed during the summer season.
At Canpuros the typical wooden hut offers refuge possibilities in case of need.
The Urtisiel East peak is reserved for expert hikers (E.E.).
From the parking lot proceed upwards on the refuge road until a hairpin bend from which, to the right, the path branches off leading directly near the refuge.
Arriving at Giaf, near the hill, the signs suggest the path to take to the Urtisiel pass. Long on the path, first through the woods and then over open scree, you ascend towards the pass, leaving on the right the path to the Cason pass.
Once you reach the Urtisiel pass, the Urtisiel East peak is reached by following the trail that just beyond the pass (to the south) branches left among the dwarf pines. Follow it (markers and blazes), climb a steep gully and the last rocks, to reach the summit cross.
Retracing your steps near the pass, continue descending towards Casera Valbinon, which can be seen on the other side of the small valley. With a long traverse, you reach the Valbinon meadows and proceed to the left, following the signs for Troi dai Sclops.
passing near the Canpuros hut.
With a quick ascent, you gain the magnificent plateau of Canpuros, where at the beginning of the meadows, to the left, you enter trail CAI 367 passing near the Canpuros hut.
Having reached the Lavinal pass, descend steeply into the small valley on scree, following the gully with a couple of evident left detours.
At the bottom of the valley, keeping left on loose scree, you reach the junction for the Giaf refuge (signs) but continue straight downhill to the dirt road which, followed descending, leads to the locality Borsaia where the asphalt road passes. To the left, in a few hundred meters, you return to the starting parking lot, closing the loop.
Forni di Sopra is served by the local public transport line with daily runs.
From the town to the starting point (on foot) allow about 1 hour.
From Tolmezzo, along the Tagliamento Valley, reach Forni di Sopra following the S.S. 52 Carnica. After Forni di Sopra, past a group of houses, on the left a road branches off to the Giaf refuge (local signs) which must be followed for about 1 km up to the parking near the bridge where vehicle access is forbidden, which is the starting point of the itinerary.
Parking near the bridge over the Giaf stream.
Tabacco hiking map 1:25000 - No. 016 Central Cadore Dolomites
Standard hiking equipment; trekking poles highly recommended.
Better to use high boots rather than low trekking shoes given the many scree fields to cross.
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.