Alba - Val Contrin - Passo Ombretta - Rifugio Falier - Pas de Ombretola - Val de Contrin - Alba

A demanding, circular hike connecting the Contrin (Val di Fassa) and Onorio Falier (Malga Ciapela/Val Pettorina) refuges, via the Ombretta Pass. Along the route you are overlooked by the imposing south face of the Marmolada, the Queen of the Dolomites.

From Alba the route climbs up to the Contrin Refuge (path no. 602). Behind the hut, turn right onto trail no. 607. After passing a stream, the route travels the long diagonal that reaches the top of the rocky bank of the "Lastè de Contrin" and leads to a plateau. Here go left (to the right starts trail no. 609 for "Pasché" Pass) up the slopes of glacier-rounded rocks that divide two small gorges. Continue walking along the ridge of the scree beds that line the base of majestic cliffs. Keep to the right along the bottom of the gorge until you reach a big rock plate. At this point abandon trail no. 607 and take left onto trail no. 612. After a flat section, go up two sharp bends leading through the scree beds coming down from the Vernale and then onto the long diagonal that ends at Ombrettola Pass. If you resist the short-cuts and keep to the path, the descent through the scree beds on the opposite slope shouldn’t be a problem. After this it is easy to walk through the meadows further down and then zig-zag through the low alder wood to reach a flat section that leads to the Falier Refuge. Close to the refuge there is trail no. 610 that leads to Ombretta Pass. The narrow bends at the beginning then widen out into the easily travelled war pathway, followed by a demanding final section through the debris near the summit. To reach the Ombretta summit, go left along a path of black lavic rock, passing by the "Dal Bianco" bivouac, and then climb up on the partially equipped ridge (Via Ferrata d’Ombretta - Vernale). Walk through into a detrital gorge and climb up the rather difficult slope to the crest. Follow the crest to the left until you reach the iron cross erected on the peak (1 hr 45 to go and return to be added to the time). From there, descend into Val Rosalìa on the easy trail that runs along the right slope of the gorge. With a tight serpentine, overcome a steep slope that eventually levels out and cross lovely flower-strewn meadows to the Contrin Refuge and from there down to Alba.