> Climb the Via Ferrata Terza Cengia on day one
> Spend the night at Rifugio Son Forca below Monte Cristallo
> Stand on the shore of the turquoise Lago di Sorapis
Late afternoon on the terrace of Rifugio Son Forca. The cables of the ferrata are behind you, your harness is drying on the railing and Cortina lies far below, small enough to hide behind your thumb. Across the valley the Tofane catch the last light. Somebody orders a second round. Fair enough.
This two-day trek starts and ends in Cortina d'Ampezzo. Day one climbs around 1,250 metres from town, up the Via Ferrata Terza Cengia, to Rifugio Son Forca at the foot of Monte Cristallo. Day two drops into the forest, follows cliff paths and metal stairs to Lago di Sorapis and climbs below the Sorapiss group to Rifugio Faloria, where the cable car takes you back down to Cortina. One night in a mountain hut, half board included.
This is a trek for experienced, adventurous hikers. You need a via ferrata kit (harness, lanyard, helmet) and a head for heights, and day two has exposed sections with cables. That second day is also a race against the clock: about seven hours of walking, and you have to catch the last cable car down from Faloria, which already leaves in the mid-afternoon. Start early and keep moving, there is little room for error.
A short but serious first day, with around 1,250 metres of climbing from the centre of Cortina. The original route takes you over the Via Ferrata Terza Cengia, the grand finale of the day. For that you need a via ferrata kit, a helmet and a head for heights. Not keen on the ferrata? There is a shortcut that skips it and takes you straight to the hut.
The first two kilometres follow a ski lift, and the little lift hut at the top marks the 2-kilometre point. From there you continue on white paths through green grass, with grey mountain walls surrounding you. After about 3.7 kilometres you cross a path where you choose your route: the signposts on the tree show the way, and for the via ferrata adventure you turn left.
From the crossroads the path slowly gets narrower, rockier and steeper, while the view of Cortina spreads out below you. After a total of 6.9 kilometres the Via Ferrata Terza Cengia starts, so make sure you are geared up for the next stretch. It is a relatively easy via ferrata with a few more technical sections, but the terrain stays exposed and open, so keep a cool head.
After the ferrata there is a short descent, and compared to earlier in the day the rest of the way is relatively flat. When you start to climb one last time, the hut is almost there. Sit down on the sunny terrace of Rifugio Son Forca and relive your via ferrata adventure.
A long and demanding day with a deadline: you have to catch the last cable car from Rifugio Faloria down to Cortina, so check the timetable before you go. Miss it, and you face an extra 5 kilometres and around 900 metres of descent down to Cortina. Have an early breakfast and do not wait until 8:00 to start walking: set off as early as you can and keep an eye on the clock. Is the time pressure too much for you? There is a shortcut, but it skips Lago di Sorapis, the highlight of the day.
The day starts with a descent. It begins easy but soon gets more challenging, with a narrow rocky passage where cables help you across. The first 7 kilometres take you down through the forest to the lowest point of the day, at around 1,730 metres. Then the trail climbs along the cliffs of the Sorapiss group, with metal staircases and a path cut into the rock face, to Rifugio Vandelli. Take a quick break here to recharge, but keep it short. Just beyond the hut lies the milky turquoise Lago di Sorapis at 1,923 metres, one of the most photographed sights of the Dolomites.
From the lake, head back the way you came and bend to the left for the most challenging climb of the day: around 350 metres up a steep and very narrow path. The views are beautiful, but every step needs to be steady, and in places there is little room to let others pass or to take a proper break. After the high point, close to 2,300 metres, a traverse with exposed sections below the Sorapiss group leads to Rifugio Faloria. Grab a drink on the terrace if the clock allows, then take the cable car back down to town.
