Tuesday, December  3, 2024
Return to alavigne.net home
Via Ferrata
Table of Contents

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
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
Send feedback or leave comments (note: comments in message board below are separate from those in above message board)
send feedback | homemade custom message board
(897 messages)
(last message posted on Mon. Feb. 11, 04:44 EST 2019 by Anastasia)
Web Page & Design Copyright 2001-2024 by Andrew Lavigne. (Privacy Policy)