Dolomites Via Ferrata
- Scrambling in the Dolomites of Northern Italy
- Explore the Cristallo, Tre Cime and Tofanes groups
- Climb the best Dolomites peaks, no rock climbing expertise needed
- All Via Ferrata equipment provided
- Ideal for confident scramblers with a head for hights
Dating back to the First World War, when they were used to access mountain-top military positions, the via ferrata or 'iron ways' of the Dolomites cross some of the region's steepest and most impressive limestone cliffs and towers. Re-equipped and upgraded with staples, chains, ladders, cables and bridges, they provide the keen scrambler with an exciting, but safe passage through precipitous terrain which would otherwise be the domain of the rock climber. This professionally-guided via ferrata holiday begins at the Lavaredo Refuge, close to the amazing towers of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and includes 6 days of exploration on classic routes, many of which lead to airy summits with exceptional views. No rock climbing experience is required to take part in this holiday but a head for heights is essential, as we travel between refuges, tackling routes such as the Via Scalette on the Torre Toblin (2617m), the Via G Lipella on the Tofana de Rozes and the Via Ivano Dibona on Monte Cristallo - with its airy bridge that featured in the film 'Cliffhanger'. Excitement guaranteed on this high level trekking holiday!
Is this holiday for you?
This refuge-based mountain holiday provides 6 days of hiking and scrambling amongst the impressive rock towers of the eastern Dolomites. The objective of the holiday is to reach a number of summits by way of via ferratas. All of the technical equipment needed for via ferrata climbing is provided and training will be given. Confident scramblers with a good head for heights should have no difficulty with the chosen routes. This will be a reasonably demanding trip, with a succession of 6 to 7 hour days during which group members will be required to climb ladders and cables and to scramble on rock using their arms for continuous periods.
Via Ferrata Climbing
A few basic items of equipment are needed for safe ‘via ferrata' climbing. A climbing harness and climbing helmet, together with a 'via ferrata lanyard' which is used to connect the harness to the steel rope or cable (which is the usual form of protection on a via ferrata). This lanyard has 2 separate nylon straps, each of which has a large diameter, auto-locking carabiner on the end. Importantly, a via ferrata lanyard must also incorporate a dynamic system to protect against shock loads becoming excessive, in the case of a fall. These items of equipment are provided. When climbing, both carabiners are locked onto the protection cable and allowed to slide freely, until the next fixed protection point is reached. To pass a fixed protection point, the carabiners are unclipped one at a time and reclipped beyond the protection point. In this way, there is always at least one attachment to the cable. Providing this procedure is carefully adhered to, via ferrata climbing is simple and safe.
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