Monday 10/07/2017 Via Ferrata Gustavo Vidi
Madonna Di-Campiglio, ITALY
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
About 1km north of Madonna Di Campiglio, at Passo Campo Carlo, we caught the gondola up to Passo del Groste. This had the advantage of avoiding a lengthy slog up a fairly long and winding path up through the meadows below the mountains. From here we our aim was to walk and scramble the Via Ferrata Gustavo Vidi.
This route would be considered introductory level via ferrata but still definitely not for the faint hearted or anyone with a fear of heights. Back in Madonna Di Campiglio we had hired harnesses and a helmet for the day from an outdoors hire store.
Max elevation: 3682 m
Total climbing: 464 m
Total descent: -805 m
Average speed: 5.63 km/h
Total time: 03:54:54
As we awoke to sunshine and a favourable weather forecast, via ferrata was on our mind. After hiring our gear we walked up to the gondola station and were quickly on our way, not really sure what to expect.
The conditions were initially sunny and without much wind so we were pretty warm on the start of the steep climb from the gondola station. We soon decided it was time to gear up, with harnesses and helmets adorned to prepare for what lay ahead.
The first few sections before the cables began were probably the most difficult of the whole route! This was because there was a lot of exposure, with a narrow, gravelly path with several hundred metres drop-off on both sides. We were very brave and pushed on regardless.
The steel cables used to clip onto were certainly reassuring and after a while we had perfected the technique of swapping the carabiners to pass points where the cables were anchored to the rock. It was actually quite fun (or “funny” as the person who served us in the outdoor shop described it).
View along via ferrata Gustavo Vidi
Around the end of the climb the fog the rolled in, which made for some really interesting and mystic views. It added an element of intrigue, as we knew there was a huge drop just to our side but couldn’t see the bottom. We stopped for lunch on the one seat provided on the route, making sure we were attached for the duration!
Before we knew it the via ferrata section was over and it was a run of the mill descent on a gravelly path down to the gondola mid station which we had passed through on the ride up.
It was a great day and not nearly as challenging as we thought it could have been. It would be possible for those really confident and sure footed to do this route without the harness but still much better to be on the safe side. A helmet should be mandatory as there is plenty of rock above.
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