Public Website

A volunteer is sought to assume complete editorial control of the Club’s quarterly Newsletter from the end of 2011, soliciting content, selecting that which is most appropriate, liaising with our proof-reader and interfacing directly with the graphics designer who takes care of layout. If this challenge is of genuine interest to you, please contact the Club Secretary via the AAC(UK) Office for further details.  

All photos by Mel Owen

At the start of the Via Ferrata della Fiamme Gialle

 

Setting off up the Via Ferrata della Fiamme Gialle

Typical Summit Scenery

Starting up the Via Ferrata Bolver Lugli

On the Via Ferrata Bolver Lugli

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Dolomites Meet 2006

by Jacky Rix-Brown

Late July saw some AAC members converge on San Martino di Castrozza through 3 different airports, a seaport, via trains & busses, and even a 2 month cycle ride! It’s not an easy start point for a meet, with many travel options, none ideal. However, it’s location below the Pala di San Martino - an imposing block of Dolomitic limestone, full of impressive rock structures and laced with via ferrate - made it well worth the journey.

On the other side of the town rose gentler greener hills, which in winter are the playground of many skiers. Here some of the group had spent a day or two acclimatising to altitude and honing fitness, whilst looking across at what was to come.

The area of the Pala itself has big contrasts. There are huge rock columns such as Saas Maor and Cima di Madonna to the south, towering over Rifugio Velo di Madonna. There is a large central area which is such a moonscape that you wouldn’t want to navigate its lumps and hollows in poor visibility. From its edge valleys descend which present a totally different view, with lush arrays of wild flowers, especially in Val di Canali, where the group stayed in Rifugio Treviso.

It was a small group, this being necessary for ease of movement on the via ferrate, and also to facilitate hut bookings. Some were friends from previous meets, others were on their first AAC meet. The restricted numbers meant all soon got to know each other and gelled into a harmonious group of friends who enjoyed an energetic week together.

Meet organisers Anne & Tish had put a lot of thought into the itinerary. It ensured the Via Ferrate could be tackled with light rucksacks, as it was always possible to leave other gear in a hut. It progressed through the via ferrate in increasing degrees of difficulty & exposure. There were alternative routes should anyone not wish to do a via ferrata. (Unfortunately necessitated for the author by an injury!). There were escape routes to the valley from each hut. The final day offered the hardest via ferrata AND 3192m. Cima della Vezzana, the highest peak in the group.

The first day was an easy walk of about 7km, rising 900m to the Rifugio Velo di Madonna. After the rigours of travel, and whilst getting used to the thin air at altitude, this gentle start was appreciated. But it didn’t reduce the appetites when the excellent evening meal arrived!

On this first day, although the preceding days had been clear, sunny and settled, a typical Alpine weather pattern started, which was set for the whole week. Mornings began with clear skies. As the sun rose higher so the air heated and clouds began to form. Then in the afternoon (noticeably earlier each day!) the weather broke with a heavy thunderstorm. This led to a degree of anxiety if the via ferrata was planned for the later part of the day. It was necessary to press on with minimal rests to ensure all were away from the ironwork before the lightning began.

The “silver lining” came in the form of relaxed afternoons (tea & cakes) in comfortable huts, some with showers (until the water ran low!), where there was always a warm welcome. The degree of comfort and standard of food varied but never to the point of complaint. Vello della Madonna and Treviso were best for food. Treviso had 4-bedded rooms with plenty of space, whilst newly-built Pradidali crammed 18 bunks into a room without space to move between them. Although Treviso had limited use of the shower, some cooled their feet, and one his whole body, in the crystal clear and icy cold waters of T.Canali below the hut. The evening in the final hut, Rosetta, was enlivened by a group of German men who sang in beautiful harmonies. Unable to compete the AAC men retired to bed, leaving the ladies to rack their brains for songs and join the musical evening! (Meet Song-sheet needed?)

All were up early next morning to enjoy a memorable last day, reaching the top of Cima della Vezzana, most by a 4C via ferrata. What a pity the weather had deteriorated, obscuring what should have been a wonderful view! Then there was the return to the valley for a welcome shower and a celebratory farewell meal – at which discussions on “where next year?” could be heard.

Useful Facts:-

Access:
Nearest airports Treviso/Venice & Verona
From Treviso train & bus via Feltre
From Verona, Innsbruck, Milan or Munich, train & bus via Trento
Maps: Tabacco Carta Topographica 1:25000 sheet 022
Websites: Trains www.trenitalia.com
Buses www.ttspa.it
Tourist office www.sanmartino.com (or phone +39 439 768 867)

Valley Accomodation:
Hotel Garni Suisse is reasonably priced, central, friendly and English is spoken. Tel: +39 439 68087
Youth Hostel is cheaper but farther out, Albergo per la Gioventu Montana +39 439 769 166
If stopping in Trento en route, Ostello della Gioventu “Giovane Europa”

Route taken on meet:

  • Sun: walk to Rifugio Velo.
  • Mon: linked Via Ferrata del Velo (2A) & Via Ferrat de la Vecchia (2A) & back to valley, lift to Rifugio.Rosetta.
  • Tue: walk to Rifugio Pradidali, then linked Via Ferrata Porton (3C) & Sentiero Attrezzato Nico Gusella (2B).
  • Wed: walk to Rifugio Treviso (via peak 2797m, & T.Canali), then Via Ferrata Canalone (4A).
  • Thu: Via Ferrata delle Fiamme Gialle (3C) & Croda Granda 2849m & return Rifigio Treviso – AVOIDED Vani Alti as dangerous (Swiss group did it & called it suicidal!).
  • Fri: walk to Rifugio Rosetta detouring to La Fradusta 2939m.
  • Sat: Via Ferrata Bolver Lugli (4C), or Cima Corona 2768m, then Cima della Vezzana 3192m, & return via hut & skilift to San Martino.

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Last updated 04 December 2007