The Dolomites and Via Ferrata 2007

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Saturday, July 28

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Up to this point, we had been on relatively unused routes. The Via delle Bocchette, though, especially the middle part of it, is world-reknown and very busy.

courtesy DBoyd

Now on Bochette Alte

Spallone dei Massodi

Knife-edged route

Our climb north along the Via delle Bocchette Alte was not as scenic as it could have been - afternoon clouds had formed around this, the highest part of the Brenta, and much of our views were of puffy whiteness. There were occasional breaks, and what we did glimpse was spectacular. This would be one fantastically scenic route on a crystal clear day!

courtesy DBoyd

Down the ladder of friends

Ladder of friends

Descending the ladder

Up we went, down we went, across we went, then down and up, and then over again. The route has several steep ascents and descents, usually achieved with big ladders, and goes sideways along many ledges.

courtesy DBoyd

courtesy PChen

Following the crest

North on the Bocchette Alte

Andrew on Bocchette Alte

courtesy DBoyd

Unprotected ridgewalk

Super knife-edge

Start of some ledges

Misty ledge traverses

Steep, narrow gully

Ferrata-Jam

Midway through this section, along a ledge and in the middle of a cloud bank, we ran into the biggest ferrata-jam of my short ferrata career. At a short ladder, a large party of southbound climbers and northbound climbers met. What followed was a slow, painful, multi-lingual gesture-and-shout-filled process. Climbing around and over opposing traffic is tricky and requires finesse and patience. Exasperating! this place is just too busy on a summer weekend day!

Ferrata-Jam

Garbari Ledge

Pedrotti section

Once past the jam, we made it a point to try and pass any slower parties by quickly darting past during the non-protected points of the climb. By this method, we managed to make it to the Bocca del Tuckett, the end of the Via Alte, without any further holdups. We had just completed the highest and 'hardest' of the Brenta ferrata routes, and I can now say with relative confidence that none of the Brenta routes are particularly challenging, as far as the 'technical' aspect is concerned.

courtesy PChen

Cloud-wreathed peaks

Cima Sella and company

Descending to Bocca del Tuckett

(If you'd like to read more about the Bocchette Alte route, please click here to go to my dedicated Via Ferrata page's route description.)

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