Summer in the Alps - 2005 - Thursday 25 August - Via Ferrata Ettore Bovero (Col Rosa) and a Walk to Rif Vandelli

Thursday 25 August (1) - Via Ferrata Col Rosa (by Sue) 
Another Dry Day!

Martin drove Ken and me to Camping Olympia for 8:30 am. Already clouds were hanging on Tofane and Cristallo. A wide path in the woods rose gently, then we turned left onto a path that climbed more briskly. Soon clothing was removed until we were down to shorts and t-shirts. Guidebook times were followed - 1½ hours to Passo Posporcora then half an hour to the start of the VF. 

A good bit of warming up on this section! From the foot of the VF there was a good view of the upper waterfall we'd been behind a few days earlier, and we could hear the roar of water. 

The final 300 metres to the summit of Col Rosa is the 'Ettore Bovero' via ferrata, and it is mostly vertical. I led to start, but Ken went first after a while, and both of us found some sections a challenge. The rock is solid but the exposure on the arete is significant. The step around a ledge is also pretty airy and Ken wouldn't stop for a photo!

Both our knees got knocked against the rock, drawing blood in Ken's case. Eventually the vertical nature of the ascent lessened and we were left with the final offset rungs that led to the summit. Although hazy, there was a good view down to Cortina. We sat next to the summit cross, with the summit to ourselves, just as we had the via ferrata. We spent a while reading comments in the summit visitor's book.

It was a leisurely hour or so, enjoying the views, eating lunch, and exploring the tunnels, whose entrance was from a trench about 25 metres from the summit. 

Then, a warm descent through scrub and gentians, enjoying bilberries on the way. The descent steepened, and a rest at the bottom, next to the river, was welcome.

A helicopter picked up several people in practice runs from the top of the Michielli Strobel VF to its base near Hotel Fiames. We were soon there, enjoying strudel and drinks, before Helen and Martin arrived.

The Col Rosa route is indicated below in red (the blue line is our earlier Giovanni Barbara route). Col Rosa is about 8 km, with 800 metres ascent.

Thursday 25 August (2) - Rif Vandelli (by Martin)

Whilst Ken and Sue were delivered to camping Olympia at 8:30 for a Col Rosa via ferrata 3B extravaganza, Helen was lazing at camp. I returned to do some much needed washing of clothes, then Helen and I set off for the Tre Croci Pass (10:30) for another pleasant stroll along the crowded path to Rifugio Vandelli (see 16/8 entry) where unfortunately the hot chocolate machine had broken down. It was warm, but after a clear start, very hazy with high cloud. Helen and I went up to Lago di Sorapiss for a pleasant alfresco lunch - during which an entire school of children passed by - we had earlier overtaken them whilst they had been restrained on the path up by whistle blowing teachers.

Left hut 12:20, left lake at 13.20. Strolled back down to Tre Croci ~ 300 metre ascent/descent - by 15:05. Sue phoned to say she and Ken had got back to Hotel Fiames, so we joined them there at 15:30 before returning to Cortina for the usual trip to the Co-op, and a compulsory gelati stop. (Nice Italian ice cream.)

Our route today, 10 km with 300 metres ascent (maybe)

Then a tomato sauce, spinach ricotta, courgettes and mushrooms, etc meal at camp, before schnapps and Scrabble (even Sue played, to avoid reading her dive guide). 

"Justa tell me whata you want" (ie 'don't murder my nice Italian language') said the nice lady in the campsite cafe.

Next Day