Via ferrata, Dolomites 2008

Via ferrata, Dolomites 2008

Sunday 31 August

Summary: Punta Sud (3C ascent, 5C descent), knackering of hands, Laguzuoi Tunnels (1A), came down in dark, scree slopes, failing torches, burrowing through undergrowth


Myself at the summit of Punta Sud, 2980m (9777ft)

Monday 1 September

Summary: Hotel Fiames, river crossing, rained off, restaurant next door with the comedy bat

Tuesday 2

Summary: Refuge di Dobano, Tofana di Rozes (4C) including summit variation, following the family with the red helmets, tremendous descent


Myself on the ascent of Tofana di Rozes


Dave and Guy on the (rather steep)ascent of Tofana di Rozes


Myself & Guy near to the summit of Tofana di Rozes, 3225m (10581ft)

Summary: mountain biking, 900m (2953ft) of descent, getting lost, lots of cycling uphill, Guy crashing onto his face, Dave's near miss with an Audi, Cortina shopping, buy via ferrata gloves, grumpy Italian shop assistants (not all of them)

Myself & Guy mountain biking downhill from Rif. duca Aosta, 2098m (6883ft)

Thursday 2

Summary: Via Ferrata delle Trincee (4B) 2727m (8947ft), doing the tunnels from the wrong end, Dave falling off the cannon, cake & coffee, marmots


Myself walking across the bridge.  Look, no hands!

Friday 3

Summary: Tres Cime, Rifugio Locatelli, tunnels, Via Ferrata Monte Paterno (2B) 2744m (9002ft), the rat

In front of Monte Paterno


Summit of Monte Paterno

People: Nennard (waiter from Serbia), Vito, nice waitress whose name we never found out, the pizza chef

Places: Treviso, Camping Sass Dlacia, Cortina d'Ampezzo

Other: Nissan Note hire car, Koninger beer, grappa, red wine, Polenta (cornmeal mush), surprise pizzas, spooky tunnels, taking drinks to bed, always being last in the bar, expensive breakfast, Linkin Park, Def Leppard, Nickelback