CIAMPEDIE - RODA DI VAEL REFUGE - CIGOLADE PASS - GARDECCIA

High-level hikes

Take the cable car to Ciampedìe (1,998 m), make for the Ciampedìe refuge and then go down to the Negritella refuge. Now follow the ski-run (path no. 545) to the left and when you get past the rock wall there is a turning to the right up into the forest. A little bit further on cross the ski slope diagonally and keep on walking in the wood again. The path runs through the trees and the going is easy. You will come to the Rondolae rocks which stick right out into the path. Follow the sign to Malga Vael, that you reach shortly after crossing the stream. Take the dirt road uphill that leads to the “Buja de Vael”. Keep the left and then begins the climb up towards the Baita Marino Pederiva and Roda di Vael refuge at 2,280 m (2 hrs). Now you take path no. 541 to the right and make your way across the grassy area beneath the Roda de Vael mountain. There is now a fairly difficult climb up the scree and into the gully between the I Mugoni (Mugogn) and the Cigolade (Le Zigolade) mountains. You will then reach the Cigolade Pass (Pas da le Zigolade) (1 hour 30; 3 hrs 30). Go down the opposite side. Initially the path twists and turns down but then becomes flatter. You will cross path no. 550 which leads down to the basin of Gardeccia to the right and up to the Passo Coronelle (Pas da le Coronele) to the left. Keep going until you come to the dirt road which leads to the Vajolet refuge and Preuss refuge. Turn down to the right and you will soon get to the Stella Alpina, Baita Enrosadira and Gardeccia refuges (1 hour 30; 5 hrs). From Gardeccia take the wide, easy path back to Ciampedìe (45 mins; 5 hrs 45).