Length: 5.09 mi (should be 2.6 mi but GPS went wild and added more miles?)
Elev. gain: 3638 ft
Time: 3:32:46
The hike:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/via-ferrata-brigata-tridentina-al-pisciadu-f718499
The Dolomites are the birthplace of via ferrata. These routes were built during WWI to help move troops and equipment quickly through the mountains. There are over 100 via ferrata routes in the Dolomites. Some even say there are over 600 or 700 of them.
I’ve always loved via ferrata, so there’s no way I’d leave the Dolomites without doing one. With so many different routes, it was hard to decide which one to do. I eventually settled on Via Ferrata Brigata Tridentina al Pisciadù as it is considered one of the most beautiful routes in the Dolomites and one of the most popular.
On the route map below, this route was to take the left trail from the car park to the yellow dotted line, which was the first set of via ferrata, hike to the next yellow dotted line (2nd set of via ferrata), then hike all the way to the top, turn right to the trail in blue (3rd set), and hike all the way down back to the car park.
Since I didn’t want to worry about finding the route and bringing my own safety equipment (I packed light for the trip), I hired a private guide to make things easier.
My guide Robert arrived at around 8:05 am, 20 minutes later than our scheduled meeting time due to an accident on the road. We immediately set out for the hike.
Robert, being much younger and experienced, hiked at a brisk speed. I struggled to keep up but managed somehow.
In just a few minutes, there was already an incredible view.
A few more minutes later, we arrived at the first set of rungs and cables. This section was relatively short and was pretty easy to climb.
Then we continued to hike to the next section.
I enjoyed the views along the way.
There was even a waterfall.
The second via ferrata section started at the right side of the waterfall.
During the hike (and the climb), Robert kept rushing me, saying the rain was coming. Sure enough, thick clouds started to roll in.
This section was much longer and a bit harder. Soon it started to rain and the rocks became slippery, which made the climb more difficult.
Robert must have thought I was too slow and took too long clipping and unclipping the carabiners, that he decided to use rope to tie us together and ensured me he would be my “safety” so I could skip the clippings and climb faster.
Despite the rain and Robert’s constant push to go faster, I couldn’t help but stop to enjoy the view (and used that as an excuse to catch my breath).
Some sections were almost vertical like in the picture below.
Finally we finished the second section and arrived at Lake Pisciadù after another short hike.
A short distance from the lake, we started our descent (the blue line in the map). This section is almost vertical. With the rain, the rocks were very slippery, which made the descent very difficult even with the cables.
The end of the rungs/cables was followed by a very long steep gravel path continuing downhill.
Robert, being my private guide with hiking poles to aid his descent, was way ahead of me. He only occasionally looked back to check on me as I struggled not to slip and fall on my way down.
After what seemed like forever, I finally made it back down to the car park. This via ferrata route usually takes about five hours. But with Robert’s urging, I finished it in three and a half hours. The climbing was a little less challenging than I expected (nothing too technical). Despite the bad weather, the rushing, and the not-so-considerate guide, I still enjoyed the hike very much.
Comment