First of two volumes describing the wonderful via ferratas of the Italian Dolomites. These scrambles, following routes with fixed cables, ladders and bridges and requiring a little basic equipment, are a great way for walkers and scramblers (with a head for heights) to get to places usually reserved for rock climbers and alpinists. Volume 1 covers the North, Central and Eastern areas around Pedraces/La Villa, Selva, Corvara, Arabba, Val di Fassa/Canazei, Falzarego, Cortina, Misurina, Sesto and Auronzo.
It details 75 routes in the north, central and east ranges including Cortina, Fassa, Sesto, Canazei and Corvara, with advice on choosing the best base. Routes range from short, accessible outings to long, technical challenges, offering a wide selection of grades and styles to suit both novices and seasoned ferratisti. Each via ferrata is meticulously described, with distances from 3 to 29km (2–18 miles) and durations of 2 to 12 hours. The only equipment these routes require are a helmet, harness, and via ferrata lanyard. They are best enjoyed between June and September, when the Dolomites are at their most accessible. The guidebook features 1:50,000 mapping and detailed colour photo topos for every via ferrata route (with select routes at 1:40,000), making navigation straightforward and route-finding clear even on complex terrain in the Dolomites.
Covers:
Val di Fassa/Canazei: Route 1 Sentiero Massimiliano, Route 2 Via Ferrata Laurenzi, Route 3 Via Ferrata Passo Santner, Route 4 Via Ferrata Roda di Vaèl, Route 5 Via Ferrata Masare, Route 6 Via Ferrata Catinaccio d’Antermoia, Route 7 Via Ferrata Franco Gadotti, Route 8 Via Ferrata I Magnifici Quattro, Route 9 Via Ferrata Kaiserjäger, Route 10 Sentiero Attrezzato Bepi Zac, Route 11 Via Ferrata Paolin-Piccolin, Route 12 Via Ferrata dei Finanzieri, Route 13 Via Ferrata Hans Seyffert, Route 14 Via Ferrata Eterna Brigata Cadore.
Selva: Route 15 Via Ferrata Sass Rigais Est/Sud, Route 16 Sentiero Attrezzato Piz Duledes, Route 17 Via Ferrata Sandro Pertini, (closed and wire removed), Route 18 Via Ferrata Oskar Schuster, Route 19 Via Ferrata Col Rodella, Route 20 Via Ferrata Mesules (Pössnecker).
Badia/La Villa: Route 21 Sentiero Attrezzato Günther Messner, Route 22 Sentiero Attrezzato Sass de Putia, Route 23 Via Ferrata Sasso Santa Croce, Route 24 Sentiero Attrezzato Piz de les Conturines, Route 25 Via Ferrata Furcia Rossa.
Corvara: Route 26 Via Ferrata Piz da Cir V, Route 27 Sentiero Attrezzato Gran Cir, Route 28 Via Ferrata Brigata Tridentina, Route 29 Via Ferrata Vallon, Route 30 Via Ferrata Piz da Lech, Route 31 Sentiero Attrezzato Sassongher.
Arabba: Route 32 Via Ferrata Cesare Piazzetta, Route 33 Via Ferrata delle Trincee, Route 34 Via Ferrata Sass de Rocia, Route 35 Sentiero Attrezzato Col di Lana.
Falzarego: Route 36 Sentiero Attrezzato Sass de Stria, Route 37 Via Ferrata Cesco Tomaselli, Route 38 Sentiero dei Kaiserjäger, Route 39 Sentiero Attrezzato Galleria del Lagazuoi, Route 40 Via Ferrata degli Alpini al Col dei Bos, Route 41 Via Ferrata Averau, Route 42 Via Ferrata Ra Gusela.
Cortina: Route 43 Via Ferrata Scala del Menighel, Route 44 Via Ferrata Giovanni Lipella, Route 45 Sentiero Attrezzato Grotta di Tofana, Route 46 Sentiero Astaldi, Route 47 Via Ferrata Punta Anna and Gianni Aglio, Route 48 Via Ferrata Lamon and Formenton, Route 49 Sentiero Giuseppe Olivieri, Route 50 Via Ferrata Maria e Andrea Ferrari, Route 51 Sentiero Attrezzato Giovanni Barbara/Lucio Dalaiti/Cengia de Mattia, Route 52 Via Ferrata Ettore Bovero, Route 53 Via Ferrata Michielli Strobel, Route 54 Sentiero Attrezzato Terza Cengia del Pomagagnon, Route 55 Sentiero Attrezzato Renè de Pol, Route 56 Via Ferrata Ivano Dibona, Route 57 Via Ferrata Marino Bianchi, Route 58 Via Ferrata Sci Club 18, Route 59 Via Ferrata Giro del Sorapiss.
Misurina: Route 60 Sentiero Attrezzato Capitano Bilgeri/Monte Piana/Monte Piano, Route 61 Via Ferrata Merlone, Route 62 Sentiero Attrezzato Alberto Bonacossa, Route 63 Sentiero delle Forcelle, Route 64 Via Ferrata De Luca/Innerkofler, Route 65 Via Ferrata delle Scalette/Curato Militare Hosp.
Sesto: Route 66 Via Ferrata Strada degli Alpini, Route 67 Via Ferrata Nord, Route 68 Via Ferrata Mario Zandonella, Route 69 Via Ferrata Aldo Roghel/Cengia Gabriella, Route 70 Via Ferrata Mazzetta.
Auronzo: Route 71 Sentiero Cengia del Doge, Route 72 Sentiero degli Alpini, Route 73 Sentiero Attrezzato Amalio da Pra, Route 74 Via Ferrata Sartor, Route 75 Via Ferrata Via di Guerra/CAI Portogruaro.
Mountain groups covered include: Puez Odle, Fanes, Sasso Lungo, Sella, Col di Lana, Sciliar, Catinaccio, Marmolada, Nuvolau, Dolomiti Ampezzo, Cristallo, Tofane, Sorapiss, Sesto, Cadini, Marmarole and Alpi Carnicie.
An attractive book with clear maps and superb photos.
By James Rushforth.
Card cover with plastic sleeve, 11.6cm x 17.2cm, 320 pages.
Third edition 2018 published by Cicerone.
ISBN:978-1-85284-846-0.