Driving the mountain passes is a slow and exciting activity. Between the constant hair pin turns (see GPS), cyclists, buses, car, pedestrians and narrower roads, you really have to pay attention at all times.
Paying attention but taking chances
Wheelz
Goat x-ing
Ryan's brethren
Fritz dominating Sella Pass
Alright, headed up on the Pisciadu path to the Brigata Tridentina Via Ferrata near Gardner Pass
After a short hike of 10 minutes we were clipping into the cables and going for it
My first impression: it's like a playground for grown ups in a bitcin' setting
Typical via ferrata action of pegs in slab and the protection cable
A steeper section on the introductory section. After this it was a section of hiking for 10 minutes before the main via ferrata
Signs are abundant yet sometimes confusing
The via ferrata climbs the rock to the right of that awesome waterfall
Allison starting up the main section. Most of the via ferrata would be 5.2ish if it weren't for the pegs and ladder rungs
The sound of th waterfall during this section muted the voices of the tens of other via ferrata explorers ahead of us
Fritz surveys the scene above. (It was a backlog of climbers) but awesome nonetheless.
Fritz and the town of Corvara in the valley
Allison demonstrating how it's done
Wide open cruising
Near the middle of the main section it got quite a bit steeper
We're headed up to that saddle
Looking back at other climbers and the town of Corvara
If one had had enough of the via ferrata they could bail off here to the left and take a trail up to the hut. However, the best was yet to come on the via ferrata
Moving into a steep section
Steep ladder rungs
The steepest part was protected by a real ladder
And for the finale, a boldy constructed suspension bridge over a gap between the two walls
View towards Corvara from the bridge
My turn on the bridge
It wasn't built with 6'5“ guys in mind
After the via ferrata's difficulties we found a nice grassy spot to lunch
Sandwiches and cheese. Yum.
The rifugio F. Cavazza al Pisciadu hut, our destination
A look back at the rock tower of th via ferrata and the suspension bridge. Corvara can be seen in the valley.
At the hut we sat down for a beer and macchiato
Pretty spot-on with the altimeter
High mountain lake near the hut
Beginning the descent via the Val de Mesdi valley. Is that redundant?
Another view of the suspension bridge along the via ferrata
View of via ferrataers [sic] on the wall below the ladder
Even some cables on the descent. How cushy.
Nice easy trail on the descent
Heading back to the parking platz
Almost there. We got back around 3:00pm. Round trip time was 5 hours.
Back in Cortina for the night!
