Aided path Cuestalta

Introduction:

Review of the Aided Path Cuestalta to the homonymous mountain located on the border between Italy and Austria. The itinerary is long and never too demanding with a section on the ridge aided in the most demanding and exposed points.

Starting location:

The starting point of the itinerary is Malga Pramosio in the municipality of Paluzza in the province of Udine. The hut can be reached along a dirt road in good condition from the town of Claulis along the state road that from Tolmezzo rises to the Passo di Monte Croce Carnico on the border with Austria. at the entrance to the town we will notice a clear sign for the Pramosio Forest. We follow the road to the end near the hut which also offers the possibility of overnight stay. Directions for Google Maps available here.

Approach:

Park the car at the Pramosio casera (1521 m) we begin to follow the path 407 which extends towards the east (right). Our first goal is to reach the Rifugio Fabiani, located under the Passo Pecol di Chiaula. Shortly after the departure we ignore the junction of the path 404 and we remain on the path 407. We pass the Sella di Cercevesa and the ruins of the homonymous casera. In short we reach a new crossroads (1h 15 'from the parking lot): on the right the 407 goes down, we stay on the path 448 which, as shown, cuts the Cuestalta ridge along the hillside. We continue without particular problems (attention to the fund in case of heavy rains) up to a subsequent saddle: on the left the path 448 which leads us through the normal Italian access route to Cuestalta we continue along the hillside on 448a in the direction of the Fabiani Hut.

We continue now on the path 448a that bends towards the Red Crete that we reach after a stretch of ridge a little exposed but not difficult (1770 m - 1h from the junction of 407 - 2h 15 'total). From Creta Rossa we descend steeply to the neighbor Fabiani hut (1539 m - 2h 40 'total). From the hut we follow the path 454 ascending to Passo Pecol di Chiaula (1797 - 3h total) which marks the state border between Italy and Austria. Several testimonies of the Great War in this area, including galleries, trenches and barracks.

We continue now in Austrian territory descending towards the visible hut with a chapel next to it. Going down for a few minutes we meet tracks on the left that you can take, alternatively (recommended) go down up to meet a signposted junction where following the sign for the Kleiner Trieb 421 on the left we climb towards the top of Medatte. We climb steeply until we reach the cross of Punta Medatte (2095 m - 1h from Passo Pecol di Chiaula - 4h total).

Via Ferrata:

Then the ridge section begins with the aided passages. Punta Medatte (Kleiner Trieb in German) is separated from the nearby Cuestalta (Hoher Trieb) by a saddle. We will descend along the ridge which is aided with a handrail cable at the exposed points. From the saddle (10 'from Punta Medatte) begins the short ferrata ascending to Cuestalta.

We climb a few unprotected rocks until we meet the cable that initially there drive along some rocks then proceed from left to right on a small wall. The via ferrata, of an easy level, jumpp on a very ridge rich of holds that it is pleasant to climb durgin the progression. Being a ridge route it is exposed but never excessively. The climb is very logical and deposits us just below the peak of Cuestalta marked by a metal cross that we reach by means of a path (2199 m - 20 'from the saddle - 30' from Punta Medatte - 4h 30 'total).

Descent:

We then begin the descent from the Cuestalta. Beside the sections in steep descent we meet some ruins of trenches and we reach the crossroads between the path 448 (normal Italian way) and the path that continues on the ridge and reaches the Passo Pramosio. We remain on the path that it extends on a ridge only exposed to sections and free of other sections of climbing. We pass close to Monte Scarniz that it is possible to climb with a short detour. We continue on the path on the ridge until we reach the Passo Pramosio (1785 m - 1h 15 'from the Cuestalta - 5h 30' total).

From the pass it is visible a few hundred meters downstream the Pramosio hut that we reach after a stretch of path and then a dirt road (6h 15 'total).

Notes:

The Path Aided to the Cuestalta is inserted inside a beautiful itinerary that cuts a piece of the ridge on the border of Italian-Austrian state rich of history tied to the Great War. The itinerary is long but not excessively demanding. The aided part helps to climb a ridge in the most vertical and exposed sections.

Opportunities:

The Cuestalta Aided path extends along the border which, besides being rich in history, offers other aided routes. However, these are generally more difficult and more athletic than this. In increasing order of difficulty we meet relatively close the Ferrata Steinbergerweg al Cellon, the Ferrata at Coglians and the Via Ferrata Senza Confini. Descending further down we meet the Fifty ferrata of the Clap, the Via Ferrata Cassiopea and the Via Ferrata Adventure Climb.