To the Croda de R’Ancona

Description

The starting point of the tour is the car park near the bridge over the Ru de r'Ancona (1,493 m), more precisely at km 113.200 of State Road 51 di Alemagna. The place can be reached in less than 10 minutes by car from Cortina, in the direction of Toblach. The path enters the forest on the other side of the road. Soon you’ll come across a feeding trough where the Natural Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites rangers provide salt and fodder for roe deer and red deer when needed. With numerous zigzags you quickly gain height, until you reach the first exposed section of the climb. The panorama certainly does not disappoint, from Val Padeon to the distant Sorapis, the Tofane di Mezzo and di Dentro, Valon Bianco and Val di Fanes. Once in sight of the first Italian fortifications, you can see an inscription on a concrete column bearing the name of Lieutenant Meneghetti. His heroic behaviour during a war action on Monte Piana was recognised with a solemn commendation. In the narrow hollow there is also a book, placed here in recent times, which lists the names of the few walkers who pass through on this path. The ascent then begins, following the faint track and the few “little men” that help to find the right path. Along the way, you’ll encounter other emplacements and war tunnels, from which there is a beautiful view of the mountains south of the Croda d'Ancona. You’ll soon come out on Ra Ciadenes, the large ridge that lowers to the east of the Croda de Ancona, and continue briefly through the pines, following the obvious path in the direction of the visible summit. Now the trickiest part of the ascent begins: at first you carefully cross a small rocky drop (grade I) and then ascend to the magnificent Bus de r´Ancona (2,160 m). So far, you have overcome an altitude difference of about 660 metres. Looking out of the Bus de r'Ancona window, you can see the steep gully and the whole valley below. Legend has it that the architect of the hole in the rock was none other than the devil, who was forced to flee the Valle d’Ampezzo after attempting to subject the population to his will. After a well-deserved break, it is time to set off towards the most challenging part of the climb. From the Bus de r'Ancona, there are 200 metres of difference in altitude to reach the summit of the Croda d'Ancona. Seen from here, the ascent appears hindered by some rock faces, but in reality only a few metres of elementary climbing will be required to reach the destination. The descent is made along the road of the outward journey.