Corsi Refuge and Vallone Pass

In the presence of Jof Fuart and the Rio Bianco Peak

The route reaches the Corsi Refuge located at the foot of the southern side of Jof Fuart, and develops in a harsh and fascinating environment, passing across numerous, well-preserved war works of the Austro-Hungarian lines. Even several toponyms and the denominations of some trails (Re di Sassonia, dei Tedeschi) remind us the situation in this area at the end of the '800s.
The route unfolds in untamed, harsh and scarcely frequented. Thus the presence of steinbocks and chamois is habitual.

Technical data:

• Start point: Cave del Predil-Canale della Trincea (990mt)
• Arrival point: Cave del Predil-Canale della Trincea (990mt)
• Difference in height: 1300mt
• Maximum elevation: 2194mt
• Minimum elevation: 990mt
• Length: 10.1 km
• Estimated travel time: 7 hours, 20 minutes
• Cartography: Tabacco chart 1:25000 sheet #019 – Western Julian Alps - Tarvisiano
• Difficulty: expert excursionists

Description:
The trail starts north from the Val Rio del Lago road, before the bridge over the Rio Bianco and Rio della Trincea (toward Sella Nevea). The trail then reaches the war mule track to Cima Pesce. Still on trail, hike up until you walk across trail 629 “Re di Sassonia” (elevation 1430mt)

Proceed toward Corsi Refuge, following CAI 629 north on the southern side of the Cime Piccole di Rio Bianco and yet another stretch of ups-and-downs with charming pools nearby. Further upstream, you’ll cross the fork of “Sentiero dei Tedeschi” (elevation 1700mt) that starts from the nearby Malga Grantagar. Turn right and pass a rocky belt after which you’ll reach the open shoulder where Refuge Corsi (elevation 1854mt) is located. Here you’ll walk across CAI 625 trail that comes from Passo degli Scalini.

The route proceeds east (CAI 625) and reaches Vallone Pass (elevation 2180mt). The area around the pass is rich with remains of war works (tunnels, ladders, slits) where you can go through the “Sentiero del Centenario”, an equipped trail dedicated to expert excursionists and equipped with flashlights.

The suggested route declines instead along the screes of Vallone di Rio Bianco and toward CAI Gorizia Bivouac and the Rio Bianco Shelter (elevation 1950mt). It’s not unusual to see steinbocks in the area around Gorizia Bivouac.

Further down, after passing a pine wood and another wood, you’ll arrive to the historical Brunner Refuge (elevation 1432mt), already hunting cabin of the Saxony King (fork to trails #629 and #656). You can reach Val Rio del Lago through CAI 625, down to the left of Rio Bianco (elevation 980mt)

Access:
From highway A23 Vince-Tarvisio, exit for Carnia. Proceed for about 20km along S.S. 13 Pontebbana toward Tarvisio. At Chiusaforte, take Val Raccolana until you arrive to Nevea Pass. From here toward Cave del Predil for about 5.5Km until you are at the bridge over Canale della Trincea (990mt). CAI indications and parking lot.
You can also reach the start point from Tarvisio, driving along Val Rio del Lago.