Page 28 - Army Mountaineer Winter 2022

EXPEDITIONNEWS
How far?
out of Innsbruck, it all becomes evidently worth it. Resting high above our campsite is the Marmolada Glacier. After setting up camp in the town of Canazei a few of us set off to explore, most in need of food and a good leg stretch.
The next morning was an introduction to the via ferrata kit we had been issued as well as how to use it effectively. We then hopped into the bus and travelled up to the mountains behind Canazei to the start of the Campitello di Fassa, a grade 2 intro- ductory via ferrata that would slowly ease the nerves of the novice climbers of the group. The day ended with a debrief at the café on top of the climb with enough time to watch the heavy clouds roll through the craggy peaks behind us.
Day 2 required another short drive out of Canazei to the Parco Natrurale delle Dolomiti d’Ampezzo; a large and imposing sight to see. The narrow footpath took us to the base of the Ferrata degli Alpini, a popular grade 3 via ferrata and the ruins of an old field hospital. The summit of the climb sits adjacent to the Galleria Lagazuoi, a twisting network of tunnels and bunkers dug into the mountain by the Italian forces during WW1. The walk to the Galleria Lagazuoi crossed the open space of No Man’s Land between the Aus- tro-Hungarian occupied mountains to the north and the narrow trenches of the Italian forces. After a somewhat knee jarring descent through the tunnels, we emerged into the bright sunlit valley floor again and proceeded to drive back to camp.
Sass Pordoi South Face
Day 3 started with a cable car ride to the Livinallongo del Col do Lana to the start of the Ferrata Delle Trincee; a route with many exposed sections of minimal footholds and tricky traverses. With the weather slightly overcast, the route became a little less arduous and the cool wind that blew through the Col was greatly received, by me at least. The route climbed steeply up at first but levelled out after a short while which meant following the cable through the ridge, weaving in and out as it went. Eventually bridging a gap between two peaks with a wooden bridge. Once finished it was back to the cable car and down the mountain, narrowly avoiding the rain that had loomed over us since the start of the climb.
The next day was the start of our longest day out on the rock with an estimated completion time of between three and five hours. This was the Brigata Tridentina via ferrata; a grade 3B route made popular by its somewhat challenging climb and beautiful vistas along the way, as well as another wooden bridge connecting the Torre Exner with the Mur de Pisciadú. From the top of the climb, it was a short walk to our temporary camp for the night at the Rifugio Pisciadú.
The final morning, after our 7am start with coffee and croissants, we poured over the map for a brief assessment of the route down. We set out to climb Piz Boé, one of the highest mountains in the region. Sitting on the top of the mountain
Via Ferrata Ladder
at 3152m above sea level is the Piz Boé Rifugio. Never have I been so ready to spend 7 Euros on a can of coke. After lunch at the Rifugio Boe we descended to the cable car station at the Terrazza delle Dolomiti and back to Canazei for tea and medals.
The following week consisted of continu- ation training in the form of either moun- taineering, climbing or via ferrata. Luckily the Dolomites offer some of the best terrain in the world, so we were spoilt for choice. With 5 days of continuation training under our belts, the realisation of the 20 hour drive home dawned on us. On the morning of 14th June, around 8am, we started the journey back to RAF Wyton passing through Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, France and finally the English Channel. Being back in the UK was bittersweet. Sweet because we were glad to have the journey over, but bitter because we won’t be waking to the sunrise over the Dolomites again. Needless to say, it’s not an experience any of us will be forgetting soon!
28 / ARMY MOUNTAINEER
Sunset from Rifugio Pisciadu
Via ferrata traverse