Via Ferrata – Selva, Dolomites 2022
This year we went to Selva Val Gardena- Wolkenstein in the Italian Dolomites for a week of easy Via Ferrata and Strudel.
DAY 1: Travelled out
Easyjet flight to Verona and transport to Hotel Aaritz. We booked as a package with Inghams and were more than pleasantly surprised by their efficient and excellent service throughout. We got a free bus pass on our arrival and bought a 6 day lift pass on our first day out.
view from Ciampinoi
DAY 2: Ciampinoi – Citta dei Sassi – Passo Sella
As the weather looked very poor, we just took the Ciampinoi cable car and walked the balcony traverse across to Passo Sella; played on the infamous coffin lift to Rif. Tony Demetz at Furcela de Saslonch (2685m) for lunch; then we walked back down the main valley to Selva. We were very luck as we dodged the rain whilst having lunch. A great little introduction to the area, but overall lacking in Strudel.
GPX File: https://www.haroldstreet.org.uk/routes/download/?walk=5508
 Grand Cir via ferrata |
 view from Ciampac (2667m) |
DAY 3: Gran Cir (2592m) & Sass da Ciampac (2667m)
Again, the weather reports were not promising but we took the Dantercepies cable car to tackle the easy via ferrata on Grand Cir (Grade 1A). A great introduction to via ferrata with fantastic views and some friendly choughs. We then sheltered from a heavy shower in Rif. Jimmy eating Strudel, before ascending Sass da Ciampac (2667m) via Danter la Pizes, Furcela de Cir & Jeuf de Crespeina (2528m). We then returned to Selva down the very beautiful Val de Chedul. By now we had lost all confidence in the weather reports given another largely fine day.
GPX File: https://www.haroldstreet.org.uk/routes/download/?walk=5534
 Piz Duleda via ferrata |
 View from Piz Duleda (2909m) |
DAY 4: Piz Duleda (2909m)
We walked down towards Santa Christina and took the Col Raiser cable car up and had Strudel in Regensburger-Fireanza (2040m). From there we took the path up to the col at Furcella della Roa (2617m) then up to Piz Duleda (2909m) via easy via ferrata (Grade 1A). We returned via Forcalla Nives (2740m) and Forcalla de Sieles (2505m), seeing a marmot on the way and went for a second Strudel.
GPX File: https://www.haroldstreet.org.uk/routes/download/?walk=5509
 Av2 via ferrata |
 more via ferrata |
 view from Piz Boe |
DAY 5: Alta Via 2: Passo Gardena (2121m) to Sass Pordoi (2950m), via Piz Boe (3152m)
We decided to try a linear section of the AV2 that we’d failed to complete on our ill-fated 2013 trip (details here…). We ascended the easy via ferrata (Grade 1A) in Valle Setus and walked across to Rif. Franco Cavazza Pisciadu (2587m). We then did a lovely via ferrata traverse of L’Antersass (2908m) and had lunch at Rifugio Boe (2871m). We ascended Piz Boe (3152m) and continued on to the cable car at Sass Pordoi (2950m) to save a knee breaking descent to Sasso Pordoi (2239m) from where we got the bus back.
GPX File: https://www.haroldstreet.org.uk/routes/download/?walk=5535
 Via Ferrata Oskar-Schuster |
 across an exposed traverse… |
 up cables… |
 then up ladders… |
View from Sasso Piatto summit (2958m)
DAY 6: the Oskar-Schuster via ferrata to Sasso Piatto (2958m aka Plattkofel)
With a perfect weather forecast, we decided to try the exciting Oskar-Schuster via ferrata (Grade B/C 1+). We took the bus to Passo Sella and the coffin lift again to Furcela de Saslonch (2685m). From there we descended to Rif. Vicenza (2253m) for morning Strudel. The ferrata was excellent, well maintained and very exciting. Unprotected sections were never more than grade 1 scrambling. The descent was easy enough to the Friedrich-August-Weg and after a little break at Rif. Sandro Pertini (2300m), we made our way back to Passo Sella to get the bus back down.
GPX File: https://www.haroldstreet.org.uk/routes/download/?walk=5510
Further information… https://www.val-gardena.com/en/tours/detail/via-ferrata-oskar-schuster-plattkofel/
View from Passo Sella
DAY 7: Bimbling around
After two hard days, I was completely knackered. We took a bus down to St Ulrich – Ortsei and took the Seceda cable car up to the summit of Seceda (2519m). We then bimbled around on the high plateau over to Plan Clautier, had another strudel in Rif. Firenze and returned via the cable car from Col Raiser to St. Christina.
GPX File: https://www.haroldstreet.org.uk/routes/download/?walk=5511
view from Sass Pordoi (2950m)
DAY 8: Came home again
Fantastic trip – I’d highly recommend it and we will be going back for more in due course.
Author: Phil Newby
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