The ascent of Colac (2715m)

There was a certain amount of indecision about our plans for the day this morning, given the wet forecast for the afternoon. Despite the overcast skies and even the odd spot of rain on the short drive to Canazei, we decided to try and make a quick ascent of the local peak called Colac. Pulling up in the car park, we both agreed that our objective looked a lot bigger than in the photo we'd got! The skies were covered in a layer of high clouds, but despite this, it looked like it might hold off for a bit. "We'll just have to razz it" said Clare, and with that we got a cable car ticket and left the valley. 

The lift whizzed us up to about 2000m and then a short walk saw us at the base of the cliffs, where are an improbable looking via ferrata cable led up some alarmingly steep sections of rock. 

Approaching the base of the route

Within about ten minutes we'd caught up a very large and slow moving guided party. It suddenly looked as though we were in for a long day. That was until the guy at the back let us pass him. Everyone then cottoned on to the fact that the two Brits were keen to shimmy on past at high speed, and very graciously let us past.

Ascending the initial slabs

After a slabby area, we had to climb some overhanging 'stempels' (like a ladder of large staples). Thankfully, we'd just overtaken the last Italian, who looked like he was about to have second thoughts about his plan for the day. From here on, we were free to climb at our own speed and Clare set a blistering pace, whooping from the top of the Stempels and calling at me to 'keep up'!

'Stempel' Exposure! 

Looking down the ladders

Follow the cable...

We had a spot of lunch on a ledge below the summit and caught sight of the group still far below. Thank goodness they let us pass! The cable then led us up onto the ridge, and finally the summit.

The summit ridge

The final summit steps

On top! (2715m)

Summit Team

We'd climbed nearly 700m of ascent in under two hours and the weather seemed to be staying settled for the time being, so we spent a good bit of time on the summit, cooling down, eating, and enjoying the views. But as they say, the summit is only half way - we still had to get ourselves down! This took almost as long as the climb did. More cables led away from the summit, down the far side of the peak, so that we made a full traverse of the mountain. The path led us through some spectacular scenery as we descended.

Descending through the peaks

Back down in the meadows, we took off our harnesses, helmets and had a little breather. There were a few rain spots falling, but it didn't look like we were about to get caught out, so we ate the last of our food and watched some Marmots whistling to each other.

Taking a short break (or potentially a quick nap)

On the last part of the walk, we got really close to a Marmot, before he disappeared down his burrow.

Marmot Spotting - by the rock

By the time we got back to the van, we were both feeling pretty shattered, so drove straight back to the pad for showers and a big lunch. And we couldn't have timed it better. Once we'd eaten, we took a coffee out onto the balcony, only to discover that it was pouring down with rain! Great timing indeed...