The Tour of the Three Peaks
The excursion starts from Rifugio Auronzo, reachable from Misurina in about ten minutes' drive along the road to dual carriageway (16% gradient!), With a payment rate (20 € per car), which results in the refuge without starting the round with an 'escalation' of 500 meters in altitude from Misurina.
The entire route, that, turning around the
Tre Cime di Lavaredo can enjoy the immense beauty of a large number of observation points, runs entirely above the upper limit of the forest, crossed by screes along dirt roads and comfortable paths.
From Auronzo Refuge (2320 m), which offers a wide panoramic view of the Valley and dell'Ansiei
Auronzo di Cadore, the Catini Misurina (2839 m), Misurina Lake and Lake Antorno, the Sorapiss ( 3205 m) and Mount Cristallino Misurina (2775 m) along the path 101, an unpaved road, with trend flat to Refuge Lavaredo (2344 m). Walking at the foot of the south of the Three peaks after about fifteen minutes to a small chapel, the Cappella degli Alpini, dedicated to Mary Help of Christians and, nearby, a stele recalls Paul Grohmann, pioneer of climbing in the
Dolomites. In front you see the Croda dei Toni (3094 m) and, when the road turns to the left, the Croda Pass (2701 m).
Reached the hut Lavaredo climb towards the Forcella Lavaredo (2454 m), one of two points of the route where there is to sweat a little '(but not too saw only 110 meters in altitude). Arrived at the top of the range, the highest point of movement, are important to observation point on unique mountain landscapes: on the left rise the majestic Three Peaks, and from here you can see near and in front, a large number of mountains that open crown, of which, the closer are the Monte Rudo (2826 m) of the Croda Rondoi (2859 m), the Tower of Scarperi (2687 m), Mount Morning (m 2464), the Tower of Toblini (m 2617) and Sasso di Sesto (2539 m) at the foot of which stands out the Refuge A. Locatelli, while on the right rises the Monte Paterno (2619 m) and still Croda Passport (2701 m). On the left, the wall of the Cima Piccola where you can clearly see, using binoculars delll'immancabile, the climbers involved in climbing the peak.
From here you can decide to continue the trip towards the Rifugio Locatelli, and extending about 2.5 hours along the trail that leads to 104 Pian di Cengia, turning around the Monte Paterno then arrive at Rifugio Locatelli east path to return to the 101.
We decide to aim directly at Rifugio Locatelli. Fell from the fork, you can follow 2 different paths: the first follows the coast with some ups and scree to reach the Rifugio Locatelli directly, the second down for a 50ina of meters from the fork and after a climb leads to the Rifugio Locatelli (2438 m), located on Fork Toblino. Moving away slightly from the hut towards the ridge on the right, you see the Alps of the two plans with plans of Lakes and beyond, towards the valley, the narrow valley that descends Sassovecchio to Val Fiscalina and Sesto di Pusteria. On the left side of the valley stands Sassovecchio the Crodon San Candido (2891 m) on the right and the Cima Una (2698 m).
We are halfway through our trip and plains that surround the refuge makes this place ideal for a picnic lunch and avoid the astronomical prices of refuge (a € 1.5 Coffee, 3.6 € a slice of strudel!). Will be guests of the many alpine gracchi and if you are lucky the raven, the largest corvide of the
Dolomites.
Behind the hut, in a somewhat 'higher, there is a small church which commemorates the fallen of bloody battles fought between these wonderful mountains. From here you can add a little variation to the route to climb the Sasso di Sesto. It 'a simple path that leads in 1 hour or so to enjoy a breathtaking view on the North side of the Three Peaks and the whole of the
Dolomites of Sesto, without all the noise and the huge number of people who crowd the refuge.
Consigliato!
From Shelter to continue down the path to the right than those who watch the Three Peaks, the 105th The first section is slightly downhill, which is accentuated beyond the first junction where you continue to the left, following signs to the Refuge Auronzo reaching Pian da Rin, where the "antisorgenti" River Rienza. The water source for short runs, then disappear back underground, to reappear much further downstream, where we put the real sources of the River Rienza, left tributary of the Drava River, which pours the waters of the Three Peaks in the Danube and therefore in the Black Sea
From here begins the most 'demanding' of the entire trip: one climbs for long stretch along the path, first with constant slope and then in continuous light-ups and reach the Col Forcellini. Proceeding along the path that continues to trend up and down, crossing a small stream whose waters come from one of three small lakes that are far upstream and as soon as you begin to climb, we reach the Malga Longa, where you can do a break and buy cheese, milk and yogurt mountain.
From here, going for a short stretch on the left you see the three lakes of the Three Peaks. The landscape that you cross, always in front of the Three Peaks, it's fantastic. In some places where hikers are 'grainy' and we remain somewhat 'isolated grandeur of the nearby majestic Peaks and the silence is' deafening' around us makes this almost mystical.
Reached the summit of the climb, the trail continues along a trend from flat and slightly uphill, cutting a large scree at the end of which reaches the Middle Fork, where the trail splits. From here, follow the path of the left tackles is the last short stretch of movement, where a continuous light ups also cross a point where the rocks are constantly wet and slippery, and where, a security dell'escursionismo , was asked a short chain which can also be supported. Nothing transcendental, do not worry ;-)
After about four hours' walk will review the Auronzo Refuge where you can return the car back to the valley leading to the heart and mind one of the most beautiful landscapes of all Dolma!