Ferrata dell'Orsa

Overview

This physically demanding route leads to Forcella dell'Orsa in the Pale di San Martino, combining the approach through the wild Val Angheraz with the Ferrata dell'Orsa (also known as the Sentiero del Dottore). The itinerary unfolds in a remote, scenically stunning sector, offering an authentic and little-traveled experience. The via ferrata is of moderate difficulty, with exposed sections in its initial stretch. The final climb to the fork, while not technically complex, requires careful route-finding due to sometimes sparse signage. The descent is long and involved, including additional elevation gain, making the entire loop extremely demanding from an athletic standpoint. The route alternates between vertical rock progression and sections of trail on unstable terrain, creating a discontinuous, physically taxing rhythm that is rewarded by vast, solitary panoramas.

Approach

The route begins at Col di Prà, a hamlet of Taibon Agordino in the province of Belluno. From the inn (858 m), take the dirt road to the left, following trail 767 that penetrates into Val Angheraz. The ascent continues steadily along the forest track. After about an hour and a half (1270 m), the trail markers veer right, leaving the road to enter the wilder, more rugged part of the valley, between the Agner on the left and the Coston del Miel on the right. Cross a wide, dry streambed and continue toward the imposing walls of Croda Grande. Carefully spot the faint trail that bends right, leading to the base of the target wall, recognizable by a large diagonal cleft that marks it. The start of the ferrata is here, at 1560 meters, reachable in about two hours from the parking lot. The approach takes place in a narrow valley setting, with a linear but steady progression that prepares you for the technical phase ahead.

Via Ferrata

The climb begins immediately with vertical progression, using the diagonal fissure to the right. The rock is solid and compact, offering good holds; the initial section, while becoming progressively exposed, presents no high technical difficulty. After overcoming a first metal ladder, you tackle a more articulated wall, where the cable continues left along other cracks. You then reach a series of three somewhat dated metal ladders that allow you to climb under a rocky roof. After another vertical stretch, you traverse a ledge to the right, emerging from the shadowy environment of the fissure. Finally, you tackle a few simple rock steps among dwarf pines and meadows, completing the first equipped section in about thirty minutes. This initial development is typically vertical and continuous, concentrating the technical effort in a steep, enclosed setting.

Now ascend a mixed gully of grass and scree to the right, until you reach a ledge that you follow to the left. Here you find the steel cable again, useful for overcoming a few easy rock steps, before arriving at a gravelly gully. Keeping to the right, climb up to a crucial but poorly marked junction. To the left, with white-red trail markers, the climb continues toward Forcella dell'Orsa, with a final stretch of ferrata. To the right, with faded yellow-green marks, you take the Sentiero Furlan (or del Dottore), which climbs the grassy gully toward Forcella di Miel, cutting at least an hour off the hike; the trail here is faint and requires good navigation skills. This passage marks a transition from technical rock progression to a more alpine itinerary, on ledges and scree, where attention shifts from exposure to reading the terrain.

Continuing toward Forcella dell'Orsa (left option), you follow a partially exposed trail that climbs toward the objective. Cross a scree slope (snow-covered early in the season) and tackle non-difficult passages. Moving to the left side of the valley, you finally glimpse the fork. In this solitary environment, it's not uncommon to spot roe deer. A final short equipped section climbs a debris-filled gully, leading to Forcella dell'Orsa at 2330 meters. The time from the start of the ferrata is about 2 hours and 30 minutes, for a total of 4 hours and 30 minutes from the beginning of the hike. The final part is characterized by a broken rhythm, with ups and downs on unstable terrain and airy passages on ledges, in a panoramic and wild setting that rewards the effort.

Descent

The return is long and involved. From the fork, ignore the trail 707 to the left for Rifugio Treviso and keep right on a faint path that passes under the distinctive Colle Canali, until you reach Passo Canali (2460 m) in about half an hour. From the pass, descend north along trail 707, cross a basin, and climb the opposite slope following marker 705, until you gain Forcella di Miel (2520 m) in 45 minutes from Passo Canali (1 hour 15 minutes from the end of the ferrata). Just before the fork, on the right, you'll notice the faint trail coming from the deviation described on the ascent. This section of ridge and hanging valley requires additional physical effort, with ups and downs that significantly prolong the commitment.

From Forcella di Miel, take trail 705, which begins a long, steep descent along the Vallone del Miel, losing altitude rapidly through numerous switchbacks. Reaching a junction, keep right on the 705, which continues descending until it meets a forest road. Following the markers to the right, you finally return to Col di Prà and the parking lot. The descent from Forcella di Miel takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes, for a total of about 4 hours from the end of the ferrata and 8 hours and 30 minutes overall for the entire loop. The descent is monotonous and draining, with a sustained pace on uneven terrain, concluding the hike by testing your endurance.

Useful Notes

The Ferrata dell'Orsa is of moderate overall difficulty, with the most challenging passages concentrated in the first exposed section. It is essential to pay maximum attention to route-finding after the first part of the ferrata, both to locate the continuation toward Forcella dell'Orsa and to find the deviation for the Sentiero Furlan toward Forcella di Miel. The length and commitment of the route recommend tackling it only in stable weather conditions. In particular, fog in the section between Passo Canali and Forcella di Miel can create serious navigation problems. This historic itinerary follows the route identified and equipped in 1925 by Giulio "il Dottor" Vianello, president of the CAI of Treviso, to connect Val Canali with Val di San Lucano. The route is therefore an exploratory path, requiring autonomy and terrain assessment skills beyond simple rope progression technique.