Page 16 - 2014 AMA Summer

Cadet Centre for Adventurous Training (CCAT)
CADET ALPS – ITALIAN DOLOMITES 17-27 AUGUST 2013
Written by Kevin Edwards
The Dolomites are a large, complex area of limestone mountains situated in the north-east of Italy. These mountains are generally lower than those in the better known central Alpine regions, with the Marmolada at 3343m being the highest summit. However, what they lack in height, they make up for in the sheer amount of climbable rock. Vertical rock walls rising out of green meadows or fields of scree are the norm. Glaciers are small and confined to the highest northern facing mountains, so rarely is the climber faced with snow or ice to negotiate on the routes that access the numerous rock climbing towers which are the main attraction of this area. The weather is generally more stable in this region, although late afternoon thunder storms are an ever present threat. What the peaks lack in altitude they make up for in continuous steepness and what they lose scenically in the lack of large snow or glacier fields, they make up for in the abundance of mountain rock climbing routes, probably the best in Europe. All the mountain groups in the area have excellent paths, frequent mountain huts and fantastic via ferrate (iron ways), thus enabling the scrambler to penetrate high into the mountain environment, elsewhere the sole preserve of the experienced rock climber. There are numerous via ferrate, protected cableways and ladder mountain routes of all grades, providing many exciting challenges. Many of the original via ferrate were installed by specially trained Alpini troops during the 1st WW to enable efficient troop movement through the high mountains. They established elaborate tunnel systems to provide cover from fire and site gun positions, thus enabling them to use the high ground to dominate the valleys. The whole area is well connected with good roads and many uplift systems, giving easy access to the climbing areas.
14 ARMY MOUNTAINEER
This was the reason the Dolomites was chosen for this year’s annual CCAT Introduction to Alpine Mountaineering (IAM) course. As it was a central location, we were based in the Marmolada campsite in Canazei. This small town is well blessed with all the essential facilities, with two supermarkets, a tourist information office with weather forecasts in English, plus climbing shops for guidebooks, maps and the hire of via ferrata equipment.
Ten Army Cadet Force students were selected for the IAM course, comprising five Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (male and female) and five Senior cadets (male and female). Due to the required climbing ratios, six highly qualified and experienced leaders were employed to deliver the training. After investigation, the cheapest option was to drive from Capel Curig via the Dover Ferry which, with stops, was a journey of 26 hours each way. This left us with seven days of training.
Day one was a training day at a one-pitch climbing venue near Torri Sella to check that the students had the essential rock climbing skills to progress to the more challenging aspects of long, multi-pitch climbing routes. Not only was this essential for the instruction of the students, but as importantly, for the confidence of the instructors, who would be belayed by the students! We experienced our first thunder storm that evening, with torrential rain leading to a dull and cloudy morning, so the plan to multi pitch high on one of the Torres was shelved. Instead, we hired the necessary equipment and opted for one of the more challenging via ferrata, the 1500m Della Trincee ridge route on the opposite side of the valley to the Marmolada. This would lead us eventually to a height