Colac

Page Type:	Mountain/Rock
Lat/Lon:	46.44260°N / 11.78390°E
Elevation:	8907 ft / 2715 m
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Overview

Geographical Classification : Eastern Alps > Dolomites > Marmolada Group > Colàc

Colàc - also Collàc - is the highest summit of the Colàc-Buffaure Subgroup within the Marmolada Group. It is a mountain of many faces - broad and massive when seen from the eastern and western sides it looks like a high and narrow tower from the north while from the south it appears to be a medium sized rock popping up out of the surrounding meadows. Forca Neigra to the south of Colàc is just 200m lower than the summit and quite naturally it is here where the normal route starts.

Though located in a perfect lookout position Colàc didn't see too many visitors before 1980. In that year a ferrata was established on the mountain's north face. The Via Ferrata dei Finanzieri is one of the more difficult ferrate in the Dolomites. It traverses the steep northern base of Colàc which is notorious for rockfall induced by other parties higher up on the face. Due to its steepness the ascent of Colàc can be done in less than 2 1/2 hours.

This, of course, is due to the fact that there is a cable-car leading up from Penia to the Ciampac meadows directly at the base of the mountain. A second stage can take you to Sella Brunec while another cable-car heads for the Buffaure summit. All three are within a mere hour's hike apart from each other. Loneliness is something you will certainly not encounter in the vicinity of the mountain. Still - thanks to the difficult routes - the summit is far less crowded.

As said above, Colàc is a grade A outlook peak. The setting is perfect to the west of the Dolomite's highest summit Marmolada with all the Groups of the western Dolomites all around. Though not taken from the top (rather from the base near Forca Neigra) this panorama gives a good indication of what you can expect.

This is the last of my 2005 Dolomite Submissions dating back to the July vacation. It took me so long to submit because I didn't climb the mountain myself and my efforts to convince one of the SP-members who climbed it for a joint effort were not very successful, Finally member Wokka agreed to share pictures and route description for the Via Ferrata dei Finanzieri. Those of you who speak German can visit Wolfgang's homepage for more information on other Ferrate of the Dolomites.

Panoramic View

Colàc (far right) in front of the Sella-, Geisler/Odle and Saslonch/Langkofel/Sassolungo Groups.

The Setting

Colàc behind Torre Dantone as seen from Forca Neigra

Getting There

Hand drawn map of the Colàc - Buffaure Group (never mind the wrong Colàc altitude and different spelling.

• From the North (Brenner / Brennero)
  Follow motorway A22 down to Cornedo (north of Bozen / Bolzano). There turn east on SS241 (Dolomite Highway) across Karerpass / Passo Carezza to Vigo di Fassa. Turn north on SS48 to Pozza di Fassa where you need to turn east into Val di San Nicolò for the Buffaure trailhead. For Penia follow SS48 to Canazei and there turn east on SS641 direction Fedaia. After a couple of km you'll reach Penia and the bottom station of the Ciampac cable-car.
  
• From Verona
  Take A22 north until the exit Ora / Auer. There turn east on SS48 direction Val di Fiemme which in the end will take you to Val di Fassa with Pozza and Penia (see above).
  
• From Venezia
  Take motorway A27north up to its end at Belluno. From here follow SS51 north to Cortina d'Ampezzo where you turn west on SS48 which takes you to Livinallogo and accross Passo Pordoi to Canazei. Turn east on SS641 to Penia or follow SS48 to Pozza depending on your preferred trailhead.
  A second route takes you from the end of the motorway through Belluno southwest on SS50. In Belluno turn onto SS203d which turns into SS203 to Alleghe North of Alleghe turn east on SS641 accross Fedaia Pass to Penia, Canazei and Pozza.
  From Lienz (Austria)
  Take E66 west to Toblach / Dobbiaco, where you turn south onto SS51, direction Cortina d'Ampezzo. Here you turn west again onto SS48 to Livinallongo, Canazei and Pozza. For Penia turn east onto SS641 at Canazei.

Red Tape

When To Climb

Accommodation

• Marmolada
  via Pareda
  Canazei
  Tel.: +39 0462.601660
  Fax: +39 0462.601722


• Catinaccio
  via Avisio 15
  Pozza di Fassa
  Tel.: +39 0462.763305
  Fax: +39 0462.763501


• Soal
  via Dolomiti 32
  Pera di Fassa
  Tel.: +39 0462.764519
  Fax: +39 0462.764609


• Vidor
  Località Vidor
  Pozza di Fassa
  Tel.: +39 0462.763247
  Fax: +39 0462.764780

• valdifassa.it
  
• dolomitibooking.com
  
• fassa.com
  
• Moena
  
• Vigo di Fassa
  
• Campitello di Fassa
  
• Canazei

Weather Conditions

Maps & Books

• Climbing
  
  • Classic Dolomite Climbs: 102 High Quality Rock-Climbs Between the Uiaa Grades III and VII (also available on CD)
    Anette Kohler, Norbert Memmel
    Mountaineers Books
    ISBN: 0 8988 6693 6
  
  
• Vie Ferrate
  • Klettersteige Dolomiten
    H. Höfler, P. Werner
    Rother Verlag
    ISBN: 3 7633 3096 8
    
  • Hülslers Klettersteigführer
    E.E.Hülsler
    Bruckmann Verlag
    
    ISBN: 3 7654 4161 9
  
  
• Hiking and Trecking
  • Höhenwege in den Dolomiten
    H. Dumler
    Bruckmann Verlag
    ISBN: 3 7654 3860 X
    
  • Dolomiten
    P. Fleischmann
    Kompass Verlag
    ISBN: 3 8705 1409 4
    
  • Dolomiten 4
    F. Hauleitner
    Rother Verlag
    ISBN: 3-7633-4061-0
    
  • Die Marmolata. Königin der Dolomiten. Führungen durch ihr Reich
    L. Visentini
    Athesia
    ISBN: 8 8701 4172 1

• Val di Fassa, Marmolada, Gruppo di Sella
  Kompass Map WK 686
  ISBN: 3 8549 1768 6
  Scale: 1:25000
  
• Sellagruppe / Gruppo di Sella
  Kompass Map WK 59
  ISBN: 3 8549 1066 5
  Scale: 1:50000