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Via Ferratas of the Italian Dolomites: Vol 2

Southern Dolomites, Brenta and Lake Garda

Guidebook to 77 via ferrata routes in the Italian Dolomites in the southern regions, Brenta and Garda. Part of a two-volume set of guides to the Dolomite via ferratas. There are graded routes covering 14 mountain groups including the Civetta, around Trento and the Adige valley, with guidance on the best base for each of the via ferrata routes.

Seasons

Mainly mid-June until the end of September in the higher mountains, avoiding August if you can! Lake Garda area can often be climbed year round.

Centres

Bolzano, Valle di Primiero and San Martino di Castrozza, Agordino, Belluno, Bassano del Grappa, Vicenza, Brenta, Trento, Riva, Lake Garda, Rovereto.

Difficulty

All grades of routes from straightforward short sections of 'protected walking' to serious and strenuous mountain expeditions involving high levels of exposure and commitment.

Must See

All the via ferratas described are great, but don't tackle something too hard too quickly.
ISBN
9781852843809
Availability
Published
Published
1 Jun 2003
Reprinted
29 Jan 2024
Edition
First
Pages
320
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.80cm
Weight
360g
Overview

Guidebook to the via ferrata routes of the southern Italian Dolomites. This guide covers via ferrata routes in the major mountain ranges of Civetta, Schiara and Pala as well as those to the west in the Brenta. A significant addition (and, as far as we are aware, not previously published in any English language guidebook) is the inclusion of routes around the northern end of Lake Garda and the Piccole Dolomites north of Vicenza. Here the mountains are generally lower and you can enjoy ferrata climbing over a much extended season, with some routes accessible for most of the year. This is the second in a series of two guidebooks to the via ferratas of the Italian Dolomites. (Volume One covers the eastern, northern and central areas of the Dolomites, while Volume Two completes the picture, focusing on the southern, Brenta and Lake Garda areas.)

Table of Contents
Maps
Updates
Reviews

By Graham Fletcher

John Smith has been walking and climbing mountains around the world for around 30 years. He has a passion for the area and Via Ferratas, and this volume is the result of many enjoyable days in the Dolomites. Graham Fletcher started climbing over 30 years ago. After a busy professional career he took early retirement and has now returned to climbing, moving first to the west coast of Ireland, then to the Dolomites, and now back to the UK for the time being.

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By John Smith

Although John has a great love of travel, walking and climbing mountains around the world, he moved to Leeds over 30 years ago and has a firmly rooted base in beautiful Wharfedale in Yorkshire. Having said that he is a member of the Fell and Rock Climbing Club in the Lakes and “compleating” the Munros has spent many splendid mountain days in Scotland.

His first visit to the Dolomites was not until 1998 when he fell in love with the spectacular mountains, culture and Via Ferratas. John talked himself and Marion into jobs working with a fledgling Colletts Mountain Holidays spending two full summers in Arabba. In ticking off VF routes with a growing passion, he recognised the need for an up to date English language guidebook and also found that many routes existed which were not printed at all in English. A friendship with Graham and Meg Fletcher led to the guidebook writing project for Cicerone Press. Even though a lot of hard work was involved, the project was really rewarding; researching the routes and working with Graham was a shared labour of love with many enjoyable and exciting days in the Dolomites.

As well as re-visiting favourite VF routes, a continuing love affair with Italy has led John and Marion to spend time in the Sibillini mountains (Umbria) and Gran Sasso (Abruzzo). Further research considered the possibilty of another VF book covering the far north eastern corner of Italy, the Carnia / Julian Alps. Although several good routes were climbed in the area John decided not to take on any further guidebook work and now leads walking holidays with HF Holidays and has plenty of ideas for new personal mountain travels. (However much you do, there’s always plenty of new things out there waiting.)

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