A fascinating and demanding route that climbs the northern slopes of the Schiara, crossing dense forests, deep gorges and high‑altitude environments of rare beauty. Starting from Costa dei Pinèi, in the heart of the Val Cordevole, the trail first reaches Rifugio Bianchet and then the isolated Bivacco Dalla Bernardina, set within one of the most impressive glacial cirques of the Dolomiti Bellunesi.
Itinerary
The hike begins at Costa dei Pinèi (486 m), along the Val Cordevole state road, between La Muda and La Stanga. Here a forest road, reserved for authorized vehicles, branches off to the right and immediately starts climbing, traversing the slope for a long stretch to reach the entrance of the valley at a higher elevation.
For those wishing to shorten the route, a steep and well‑marked shortcut starts near the bridge over the stream—an option that allows you to gain altitude more quickly.
The trail continues high on the right side of the valley, which retains the wild character of a deep gorge, with the imposing Cime dei Feruch rising behind. After about two hours of walking, the path crosses to the opposite side and reaches Rifugio Bianchet (1250 m), located on the wide Pian dei Gat, also known as Pian delle Nebbie.
From the hut, the trail climbs southward through the forest and enters the Valon de la S’ciara. It ascends the valley to around 1500 meters, where it bends right to reach a steep grassy slope. From here, the route turns sharply left, entering the magnificent cirque of Van de la S’ciara, a solitary and spectacular high‑mountain amphitheatre.
The ascent continues over easy rock steps and then through a series of smooth gullies equipped with metal aids. The final stretch climbs over scree to the Forcella della Gusela (2300 m), where the fixed Bivacco Dalla Bernardina stands—a natural balcony overlooking the Dolomiti Bellunesi.
The descent follows the same route, with caution required on steep sections and in case of poor visibility.
