Via Ferrata - Protected Climbing Paths in the Dolomites - Via Ferrata Camillo Depaoli -

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Sentiero Attrezzato
Camillo Depaoli

Mountain(s) / Location: Pale di San Martino Group	Maximum Height: 2326 m / 7630 ft
Fletcher/Smith Rating: 1A Hofler/Werner Rating: -	[ Show on Satellite Locator Map ]

The Via Ferrata Camillo Depaoli is one of the easier ways to climb into the jagged peaks at the southern tip of the Pale di San Martino group of the Dolomites. Starting off not far from the town of Fiera di Premiero, It begins as a farm-road route, then transitions to a traversing forest path below steep cliffs. Eventually the route finds a relative weakness in the cliffs and climbs up on ferrata wire, never difficult or especially exposed. The total time on actual ferrata is fairly small - perhaps a hundred metres or so.

The approach and climb of the VF Camillo Depaoli is along #734 - a 6+ kilometre trail that climbs to a point just below the Rifugio Velo della Madonna. Trail 734 starts in the forested slopes north of the town of Fiera di Premiero, and is accessible via small paved farm roads. There are parking areas here and there, and there may be time and seasonal restrictions regarding when you can park (usually marked on signs) - although it is not clear how strongly these regulations are enforced. You can look at the trackmap to see precisely where I chose to park when I did this route.

courtesy JInnes

Fosne Meadows

Good Signage

Crossing Meadows

Once you have attained trail 734, it is a simple matter of walking uphill and north along a well-defined trail. After the farm roads and meadows of the southern slopes, the trail begins a traverse below the towering walls of Cimerlo, mostly staying in the trees, but occasionally crossing open gullies and runs of scree.

Joining 734

Forest Traverse

Scree section

After about 1.5 km or so of northerly traversing, a sign is reached. This sign marks a sharp right-hand turn in the trail (and there is also a faint un-marked path leading left down into the valley at this point). From here, trail 734 climbs steeply up towards treeline and to the alpine terrain beyond.

courtesy JInnes

Resuming ascent

Up through crags

Treeline

After climbing up through increasingly patchy forest and interesting crags, 734 arrives at treeline. There are now excellent views back down into the Val Cismon below. Above you stands a high, blank wall of rock. However, the VF (Sentiero Attrezzato) Camillo Depaoli does not climb this formidable-looking obstacle. Instead, the trail veers left, angling over and up towards easier climbing terrain.

Formidable Wall

Ever-more dramatic terrain

Start Marker

Another hundred metres' worth of elevation gain and fifteen more minutes of time brings you to the start of the VF wires, prominently marked by a big red metal Via Ferrata sign and the waymark for trail 734 painted on the bedrock.

courtesy JInnes

Clear markings

Intermittent protection

Rocky Gullies

The climbing starts off easy and stays easy, on new and solidly-placed wire. Additionally, there are stemples and small ladders whenever the terrain gets the least bit steep. The wire is more of a convenient handrail than a necessity. There are some unprotected sections, but these are not particularly exposed. Where there is scrambling or climbing, it is mostly in a closed-in gully with minimal exposure.

courtesy RHanel

New Kit

Nearing top

Topping out

Twenty or perhaps twenty-five minutes of easy climbing brings one to the top of the ferrata, where a small bit of grassy ridgecrest is reached. From here trail 734 curves sharply eastward into a high alpine valley, traversing towards its head, where the dramatic towers of the Sass Maor and Cima della Madonna pierce the sky. At the foot of the Cima lies the rifugio Velo della Madonna, situated atop a rock buttress.

Cadin Sora Ronz

Cima della Madonna

End VF Camillo Depaoli

Trail 734 does not actually reach the rifugio. Instead it ends at a well-marked junction about fifteen minutes' walk below it.

Rifugio Velo della Madonna

Interactive trackmap with photo points -Trail 734 / VF Camillo Depaoli - click map to view

Interactive trackmap with photo points - Trail 734 / VF Camillo Depaoli - click to view

VF Camillo Depaoli - Climb Data (ascent only)

Start Time: 1:33p.m.

End Time: 5:28p.m.

Duration: 3h55m

Distance: 6.13 km (3.81 mi)

Average Speed: 1.6 km/hr (1.0 mph)

Start Elevation: 4338ft (1322m) *

Max Elevation: 7650ft (2332m) *

Min Elevation: 4335ft (1321m) *

End Elevation: 7649ft (2331m) *

* : +/- 75 feet

Total Elevation Gain: 3376ft (1029m) *

Total Elevation Loss: 79ft (24m) *

* : +/- 75 feet

Elevation Graph

Quick Reference Ferrate Route Index

Mountain(s)	Name of Route	Height	Difficulty1*	Difficulty2**
Latemar Group	S.A. Campanili del Latemar	2846m / 9337'	2C	B
Punta Polse	V.F. Attilio Sieff	1450m / 4757'	2A	-
Cima Dodici & Sass Aut	V.F. Franco Gadotti	2637m / 8651'	2C	C
Gran Cir / Grosse Tschierspitze	Gran Cir / Grosse Tschierspitze	2592m / 8503'	1A	A
Piz da Cir V / Tschierspitze V	Piz da Cir V / Tschierspitze V	2520m / 8267'	2A	C
Exner Tower, Sella Group	VF Brigata Tridentina (aka Pisciadu Climbing Path)	2585m / 8480'	3B	D
Little Lagazuoi	Lagazuoi Tunnels	2752m / 9028'	1A	A
Col Rosa	V.F. Ettore Bovero	2166m / 7106'	3B	E
Punta Fiammes	V.F. Michielli Strobel	2240m / 7348'	3B	D
n/a	V.F. Giovanni Barbara	1400m / 4593'	1A	C
Masare	V.F. Masare	2727m / 8946'	2B	C
Roda de Vael (Rotwand)	V.F. Roda de Vael (Rotwand)	2806m / 9205'	1B	C
Cima Auta	V.F. Paolin-Piccolin	2624m / 8608'	3B	C
n/a	V.F. Canalone	1700m / 5577'	4A	-
Colac	V.F. dei Finanzieri	2715m / 8907'	3C	E
La Mesola / Padon ridge	V.F. delle trincee	2727m / 8946'	4B	F
Piz da Lec	V.F. Piz da Lec	2910m / 9547'	3B	D
Cima di Mezzo, Cristallo Group	V.F. Marino Bianchi	3154m / 10,347'	2B	D
Brenta Group	Via delle Bocchette Centrale	2800m / 9186'	3C	D
Pasubio Group	Sentiero Attrezzato Gaetano Falcipieri	2040m / 6690'	2A	-
Monte Casale	Via Ferrata Che Guevara	1632m / 5350'	3C	-
Monte Rochetta / Piccoli Dolomiti	Via Ferrata Fausto Susatti	900m / 3000'	2A	-
Monte Rochetta / Piccoli Dolomiti	Via Ferrata del Centenario SAT	1250m / 4100'	3A	-
Monte Baldo / Piccoli Dolomiti	Via Ferrata delle Taccole	2150m / 7050'	4A	-
n/a	Sentiero Attrezzato Rio Sallagoni	400m / 1325'	4A	-
Fanes Group	Via Ferrata Cesco Tomaselli	2970m / 9733'	5C	F
Fanes Group	V.F. Tomaselli Descent Route	2970m / 9733'	3C	-
Fanes Group	V.F. al Col dei Bos / degli Alpini	2519m / 8265'	3B	-
Monte Lessini / Vicentine Alps	Via Ferrata Carlo Campalani	2157m / 7076'	3B	-
Monte Lessini / Vicentine Alps	Sentiero Alpinistico Angelo Pojesi	1967m / 6455'	2B	-
Shoulder of Cimon della Pala / Pale Group	Via Ferrata Bolver Luigi	3005m / 9860'	4C	F
Pala / Pale Group	Sentiero Attrezzato Camillo Depaoli	2326m / 7830'	1A	-
Pala / Pale Group	Sentiero Attrezzato Dino Buzzati	2500m / 8200'	2C	C
Monte Civetta / Civetta Group	Via Ferrata Alleghesi	3220m / 10,560'	4C	E
Sesto Group	Sentiero De Luca / Innerkofler	2640m / 8660'	2B	D
Sesto Group	Via Ferrata delle Scalette	2618m / 8588'	3B	D
Sesto Group	Sentiero Curato Militare Hosp	2618m / 8588'	2A	-
Sesto Group	Ferrata Nord (al Croda Rossa di Sesto)	2933m / 9624'	2B	B
Punta Anna / Tofana Group	Via Ferrata Punta Anna	2740m / 9000'	5C	F
Tofana di Mezzo / Tofana Group	Via Ferrata Gianni Aglio	3244m / 10,650'	5C	F
n/a	Via Ferrata Ivano Dibona	3008m / 9900'	2B	C
Tofana Group	Sentiero Astaldi	2303m / 7553'	1A	-
Brenta Group	Sentiero SOSAT	2449m / 8036'	2B	D
Brenta Group	Sentiero Oliva Detassis	2822m / 9260'	4B	-
Brenta Group	Sentiero Bocchette Alte	2998m / 9836'	4C	E
Brenta Group	Sentiero Afredo Benini	2901m / 9517'	2C	D

(*) Difficulty rating from the newer Cicerone Guide by Fletcher and Smith
(**) Difficulty rating from older Cicerone Guide by Hofler/Werner

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