Gruppo: Dolomiti d’Ampezzo – Fanis

The Cengia Veronesi is a technically not difficult but very exposed itinerary, not to be taken lightly already for the approach: in order to reach it, in fact, you have to follow a section of the difficult Ferrata Tomaselli. In return, it offers magnificent landscapes in the heart of the Fanis group. Here we describe it in the direction of Cima Fanis – Forcella Lech, but nothing forbids it in reverse direction, uphill.

You have to get under Cima Fanis Sud. The quickest way coincides with the approach of Ferrata Tomaselli: you reach the Falzarego Pass (2105 m) — from Cortina d’Ampezzo, from San Cassiano in Val Badia or from Alleghe (Belluno) — you park in the large square at the valley station and climb with the cable car to the Lagazuoi Refuge (open up Google Maps). From here there are three options, in increasing order of engagement. The first follows the approach of the Tomaselli on the eastern side of the Grande Lagazuoi, from Forcella Travenazes to Forcella Gasser Depot, then up to saddle Fanes; then the maximum attention is paid to a census that detaches on the left (omit), you walk it and you get to the nod from which the road (2h from the mountain station). The second reaches the Bivacco Chiesa always along the Tomaselli, it follows the first difficult stretch — including the famous traverse — and flows into the starting census (1h45 from the mountain station): it is the option described here for the times. The third walks through the difficult Ferrata Tomaselli (3h), descends the downhill ferrata and identifies a half-coast path that, with a first equipped section, leads to the tunnel for Cengia Veronesi (4h from the mountain station).

From the second nod after the attack of Tomaselli we pay attention to a crossroads where Tomaselli continues to the right while the Cengia Veronesi goes left, with unfortunately faded signs. It starts immediately with an exposed and uninsured nod, followed by an even more exposed and narrow passage, in light descent but protected. After this, you go up a canal up to a saddle and continue to the left to a cave (a meeting point with approach 3): you can cross it for about 100 meters with a frontal stack, pouring on the opposite side of Cima Fanis. On the other hand, the long nod follows the track that, between modest climbs on exposed traits, leads to a edge that alternates short stretches equipped with long stretches, even very exposed, completely without protection. The nod runs with a remarkable precipice on the left and requires firm foot, even without any technical difficulties. We proceed up to a first fork between Cima Fanis and Piz Scottoni and then, with minor exposure, towards the Forcella Lech, where the route ends (1h15 from the deviation from Tomaselli, 3h overall).

It is a difficult path to classify: the census in itself is very exposed and at times not equipped, but for the experienced hiker with a firm foot does not pose problems, indeed it becomes a very pleasant experience for the views. It is the constant exposure, more than the technique, to be able to trouble those who lack experience.

Itinerary of high mountain (max. 2843 m), to be faced in the summer season with stable weather. Reserved for experienced hikers, accustomed to exposure and autonomy on unprotected terrain.

From Forcella Lech (2486 m) you descend a steep detritic canyon that quickly loses altitude in the direction of Lake Lagazuoi. Before reaching the lake, at a crossroads, it is advisable to keep the left without going too far, to start further on the path 20 that climbs to Forcella Lagazuoi; from here, to backwards, you return to the mountain station of the cable car and then to the parking (2h from Forcella Lech, 5h overall).

Natural matching is precisely with Ferrata TomaselliThe Cengia Veronesi is often a variant or extension.