Did our first Dolomiti Via Ferrata today! It's been ages since I've done any Via Ferrata routes and it just so happens that there is a good introductory one on the Col Rodella, which is a short cable car ride away from our apartment.
There was another huge storm and downpour last night, so we gave the cliff chance to dry out by not opting for the first lift up this morning (and it is a Sunday after all!).
Having said that, we were still at the base of the route by 9.30, having had a leisurely breakfast. It felt weird being able to get a cable car to 2400m and having not even broken sweat! We weren't complaing though and set off up the route feeling fresh in the glow of the morning sunlight.
Not being a regular Via Ferrata user, we had hired the required lanyards from the local climbing store. We were going to buy a set each (€99), until we realised that we could hire a set for €7! (These keep you safe(ish) by being clipped to a wire that follows the route to the top).
The route was graded VF3A and was just the gentle intro that we were looking for on a sunny Sunday morning. Steep enough to be interesting, but never terrifying or too exposed.
There were a few other teams on the route, but everyone was moving along at roughly the same pace, so there was never much of a hold up.
Then all too soon, we found ourselves approaching the summit.
Made all the better by viewing them from the comfort of a deck chair! Some enterprising Italians had built a cafe with viewing terrace right on top of the mountain and the cable led pretty much straight into the bar! We didn't really feel like we'd earned a drink yet - we both still felt fresh as daisies, but the lure of luxuriating in style was too intoxicating to resist!
We decided to make more of the day by walking home rather than taking the cable car. So after a cuppachino and watching numerous paragliders take off in front of us, we found the start of footpath number 529 and headed back to the village, passing some big cows along the way!
It was a lovely walk that descended 1000m back to the valley. First through the flower filled meadows, then down through the pine forests.
And an hour later we arrived back in the village where we found a market was in full swing!
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