Page 27 - RAFMA Winter 2003

Its May and I still haven't found a climbing partner for the Alps this year but, as luck would have it, Sue Hinton was up in the Lakes for a bit of Classic Rock. Turns out she is going to the Dolomites - that's near enough, so within minutes, I'm on the next booking to go.
The best thing to do, seems to be to fly from Stanstead to Treviso, which only
costs around 85 pounds and
then hire a car from there.
We headed to Cortina for,
what was to have been, a few days - but in the end stayed there for the whole ten days. The camp site there is only about 7 pounds a night.
From Cortina, there is
masses to do in one-
day trips. We tried Via
Ferratas at all levels
from 2B (really easy) to SC
(very steep). These were the Michelli
Stobel (3B), Tomaselli (SC), Ivano
Dibona (2B) and Giovanni Lipella (4C) all of which lead to summits between 2240m and 3225m.
The climbing was similarly wonderful on
Claire Sharp and Sue Hinton on Via Ferrata Giovanni Lipella.
North West Corner Comici (IV) on Punta col de Varda (2504m ), North West Corner (IV) of Torre Barancio to Torre Romana (2308m), North Face of Torre Barancio (IV) (2308m ), South Face of the
Cirna Grande (III) (2998m) and South Rib of Hexenstein (IV+) (2477m)
The weather is generally set fine for August and September, and ski lifts and cable cars take out the dull walk-ins. Generally speaking, it is worth carrying a reasonable rack as the
spacing and positioning of any in-situ bolts and pegs is somewhat random. Also, carry water as there
is none on the hill.
Food is readily available in
Cortina and we only cooked for ourselves on one evening. I can recommend "Camping Cortina" for a
good site to base yourselves from. That's about it to be quite honest - but I have to say, that due to the heat, it was all a bit of an effort really!
'
d e V arda (2504m) corner Comici
It's A« a Bit of an
wors on Via Ferrata)
SSV«
Rozés 13225mV
-V.
. / 3
Lit
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Ade riarns on PuntojCol
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