Cicerone Guides: Via Ferratas of the Italian Dolomites, Volume 2 Southern Dolomites, Brenta and Lake Garda

About this book

This guide covers 77 via ferrata routes in the Italian Dolomites. As part of a two-volume set of guides to the Dolomite via ferratas, this volume includes the southern Dolomite regions, in 10 areas including those of Belluno, Brenta, Trento, Lake Garda, the 'Piccole Dolomites' and San Martino di Castrozza. As well as the detailed route descriptions, the guide includes maps, advice on how to climb via ferratas, information on the local area's history and geology, how to travel to and around the Dolomites and and the best places to stay.

Many via ferratas were originally built to aid the movements of alpine military units during the First World War, and now they represent one of the major attractions in the Dolomites. They are a range of protected routes, with fixed cables, ladders and even gorge-spanning bridges, which aid ascent to places normally reserved for expert rock climbers. In recent years, old wartime routes have been restored and many new routes added to give a network of routes around the whole Dolomite region. Some of the new ferratas are ‘sport routes’, often technically quite hard, as you will see from our assessment of the grades. Routes are regularly checked, maintained and waymarked by the Italian Alpine Club, CAI (Club Alpino Italiano).

This the second of a two-volume set of guides to the via ferrata routes in the Italian Dolomites. Volume One focuses on the Northern, Central and Eastern Dolomites.
- 77 via ferrata routes grouped by 10 valley bases, with guidance on choosing the best base for attacking each of the routes
- all graded according to the authors’ own simple system that identifies both the 'difficulty' and 'seriousness' of a route
- ranges include the Pala di San Martino, the Civetta, the Schiara near Belluno, the Alpi Vicentine, the Brenta Dolomites and the hills surrounding Lago di Garda

Contents

Route Listing
Key to Diagrams
Preface

Introduction
- How to use this Guide
- Route Groupings
- When to Go
- Travel to the Dolomites
- Accommodation
- Local Transport
- Telephones
- Map Availability and Place Names
- Weather
- Route Grading
- Equipment
- Cable Etiquette
- What to Wear?
- Accidents and Mountain Rescue
- Some History
- Geology
- Flora
- Wildlife

Routes and Bases
- Bolzano
- Valle di Primiero and San Martino di Castrozza
- Agordino
- Belluno
- Bassano del Grappa
- Vicenza
- Brenta
- Trento
- Riva, Lake Garda
- Rovereto

Appendix 1: Glossary of Mountain Terms
Appendix 2: Index of Routes in Grade Order
Appendix 3: Index of Routes by Mountain Group
Appendix 4: Mountain Rescue
Appendix 5: Useful Addresses
Appendix 6: Bibliography

Customer Reviews

Biography

John Smith has been walking and climbing around the world for around 30 years. He has a passion for Via Ferratas, and this volume is the result of many enjoyable days in the Dolomites. Graham Fletcher started climbing over 30 years ago. After a busy professional career he took early retirement and has now returned to climbing.