From Rifugio Brasca, we continue towards the upper Val Codera, but soon, at Alpe Coeder, we leave the main trail by turning right (marked signs of the Sentiero Roma towards Val d’Averta and Passo del Barbacan).
The trail initially ascends through a fir forest, with a path that is not always obvious but well marked, on the left-hand (hydrographic) side of the valley (right for those ascending). We then emerge onto a clearing. After a second, fairly steep meadow, the trail begins to wind through a long series of hairpin turns until it reaches a rocky outcrop and a small gully (locality Punt del Valà), which we cross via two small wooden footbridges, passing near a rocky drop.
After a short climb, we cross another patch of larches, at the exit of which we reach Alpe Pisci (1636 m). Here we cross a small stream from right to left, resuming the ascent with quick switchbacks that take us past a characteristic ancient larch with a particularly twisted trunk.
The trail climbs a large landslide body that spills into the deep Averta valley, reaching a fork. The “historic” section from the fork to the alpine pasture is now interrupted in several places due to landslides, so it is advisable not to turn left but to continue straight ahead (a boulder shows a white arrow bordered in red indicating the correct direction). We ascend through the forest, which gradually thins out, until we reach open terrain and, after crossing some small valleys with a few ups and downs and ascending a grassy slope, we arrive at the huts of Alpe Averta (1957 m).
Leaving the huts behind, we follow the marked path, which veers slightly to the right and becomes increasingly indistinct among a multitude of rhododendrons (though, following the abundant markers, it is impossible to go wrong), taking an east-southeast direction. After passing a steep and narrow ridge of debris, we reach a beautiful grassy plateau, La Prada, with large boulders and a spring, at an altitude of 2120 meters. Here we come to a fork and must pay attention (especially in case of fog) not to follow the right-hand deviation, marked on a boulder, towards Passo dell’Oro, which leads into the homonymous valley.
We then ascend, keeping sight of the trail, to the left (east-northeast) through debris, until we enter the gully that gradually narrows near the notch of the pass. With some effort, we reach Passo del Barbacan northwest (2598 m).