Via Ferrata – Corvara, Dolomites 2023
Pisc Cir V via ferrata (B/C)
This September we had a lovely week in Corvara doing Via Ferrata, and frightening ourselves every day:
Day 1: Pice Cir V via ferrata (B/C)
Took cable cars up to Jimmi Hut and walked up to the Dantercepies Station below Pice Cir V aka Kleine Cirspitze (grade B/C). The climb was fairly busy as it was a Sunday with several small children putting us to shame. Beautiful weather and views of the Boe massif.
- Distance 5.6 km Ascent 304 m Descent 744 m
- GPX: https://www.haroldstreet.org.uk/routes/download/?walk=6109
- Detail: https://www.bergsteigen.com/touren/klettersteig/kleine-cirspitze-klettersteig/
Day 2: Vallon via ferrata (C) Piz Boe
Vallon Via Ferrata bridge (C)
Feeling emboldened by our success of the previous day, we took the Piz Boe cable car and Vallon chair lift to do the Vallon via ferrata (grade C). This started off easily then we encountered a scary suspension bridge, and the last two sections were very steep earning the C grade. We continued up to the Refugio Fassa on Piz Boe (3152m) for a rewarding strudel then descended via the Lichtenfelser Steig via ferrata (Grade A) back to the start.
- Distance 7.6 km Ascent 718 m Descent 760 m
- GPX: https://www.haroldstreet.org.uk/routes/download/?walk=6110
- Detail: https://www.bergsteigen.com/touren/klettersteig/vallon-klettersteig-und-lichtenfelser-weg-piz-boe/
View from Piz Boe towards Sasso Piatto
Day 3: Pisciadu via ferrata (C)
By now, we were feeling very intrepid, and decided to try the legendary Pisciadu via ferrata (Grade C). We took a bus up to the car park and had some difficulty negotiating building works which had closed off the path to the lower section. We took path 29a to regain the route and started the long climb up the gorge, getting steadily steeper all the way. Eventually we came across some vertical exposed climbing and a very scary ladder. Shortly after, we topped out at the famous suspension bridge across the gorge and had a short flat walk to the Refugio Pisciadu for another well earned strudel. We then descended back to the car park via Val Setus (Grade A).
- Distance 5 km Ascent 801 m Descent 816 m
- GPX: https://www.haroldstreet.org.uk/routes/download/?walk=6111
- Detail: https://www.bergsteigen.com/touren/klettersteig/pisciadu-klettersteig-sella-gruppe/
 Pisciadu Via Ferrata (Grade C) |
 Steep… |
 Steeper… |
 Near Vertical… |
 Vertical Ladder! |
 Suspension Bridge!! |
Day 4: Rest Day
Despite the short distances involved above, we were completely knackered by Day 4. So it was a welcome relief that the forecast was for rain all day! We took a cable car up to Col Alt, strolled across to Piz Sorega, took another cable car down to San Ciascian. Then we walked down the river path to La Ila for lunch, and caught a bus back to Corvara to avoid the rain.
Piz Boe from Col Pradat (showing Pisciadu Ferrata)
Day 5: Sassongher 2667m (A-)
The Sassongher dominates the Corvara skyline so we had to climb it. We took a taxi to the Col Pradat cable car station in Colfosco on a very grey foggy morning. We were quickly rewarded with an amazing cloud inversion as the cable car took us above the clouds. We took paths 4a & 7 up the Sassongher 2667m and a short bit of Grade A- cabling near the summit for amazing views. We returned via the Colfosco cable car for lunch in the village.
- Distance 7.7 km Ascent 683 m Descent 863 m
- GPX: https://www.haroldstreet.org.uk/routes/download/?walk=6112
- Details: https://www.bergsteigen.com/touren/klettersteig/sassongher/
Sassongher 2667m (A-)
Day 6: Piz de Lech 2916m (B)
Piz de Lech “easy route” Ladder (B)
By now we knew our limits, and Grade C was ours. We looked at the ferrata on Piz de Lech aka Boeseekofel (C/D) and decided against it. Instead we opted for walking up the descent route to reach the summit from the “easy” side. It turned out to be a bit of a foggy day and we were a little surprised to find an intimidating ladder (Grade B) on our “easy” route. The clouds also reduced our views from the summit. Descending the ladder turned out to be less terrifying than anticipated. After a studel top-up at Rifugio Franz Kostner we continued on the 637/636 paths to the amazing karst limestone formations at Bec de Roces (2187m).
- Distance 6.9 km Ascent 441 m Descent 879 m
- GPX: https://www.haroldstreet.org.uk/routes/download/?walk=6113
- Detail: https://www.bergsteigen.com/touren/klettersteig/boeseekofel-klettersteig-normalweg/
Author: Phil Newby
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