Article Marmolada

From the lake Fedaia 2000m we can be taken by cable car (more like an iron pen for up to two people) to the cottage Pian dei Fiacconi 2600m, so we can help a lot with the elevation gain. The cable car costs 15 euros there and back. From the top station of the cable car we continue down to the crossroads in the direction of Marmolada. From here we descend further to walk over the rock, behind which we will climb a gravel terrain and a snow field into the saddle. The snow field is covered with ice, suitable for cats. We walk under the saddle where the ferrata begins. Here we go fully equipped, compared to the previous act. The ferrata is mild into the saddle, except for one more airy section, when we have only a little legroom, otherwise the slope falls almost vertically down. Another road from the rifugio Contrin connects in the saddle. From the saddle the terrain changes quickly, we step on the climbing irons on a smooth rock and in a few moments a number of ladders on a steep slope await us. The ladders are followed by sections supplemented with iron pegs for attachment. Ferrata is well secured, but the whole ascent is quite airy. The ferrata ends behind a narrow saddle below the summit and we continue along the snow field. The terrain is no longer so steep and the peak is in sight. The iron cross and the tin shed, serving as a stall with small snacks and a bivouac in need, form two supporting points of the peak, from which there are beautiful views of the surroundings. Since not everyone in the party has cats, we divide into two groups. Those without cats go the same way down, we with cats will try our way across the glacier. Initially, we descend directly from the top of the snow field to the place where the ferrata begins, such a light B. The descent is quick and comfortable thanks to the dry rock. On a glacier covered with a considerable layer of snow, we put on cats and head down quickly along the paved sidewalk. We overcome three clearly visible cracks, the last of which is about 1 m wide, we jump over it and move down a steep descent, where the glacier is considerably melted. Here the cats work 100%. From the glacier there are a lot of paths to get to the cottage and the cable car. Well, we probably met somewhere, so we go wild. The terrain is not particularly difficult, you just have to keep going. We chase the cable car like that, and at the bottom we wait for friends who have a longer one and know that they won't be able to catch the cable car.

view from the cable car

behind the rock we step into the saddle along the snow field

about halfway up the ascent is a place to relax with views

below the top is a saddle and behind it the end of a ferrata

top panorama

in the west, the Sassolungo massif boasts beautifully

we set up along the snow field to the ferrata leading to the glacier

massive Piz Boe

The last of the three cracks on the glacier, this one was the largest

the last and steepest section of the glacier and then just walk to the cable car