via ferrata presentationthe cirspitze & kit hireSunday & Thursday - VF PresentationJoin us in the evening for an introduction tothe key aspects of Via Ferrata to help youdecide if it is suitable for you, featuringsafety, technique, equipment andphotographic close ups of local routes.Mondays & Fridays - The CirspitzeWe offer the Cirspitze VF Route at theGardena Pass (Grade 2B) near Corvara twiceweekly as it is recognised as a goodintroduction. Whilst relatively short andaccessible, it is indicative of the technicaldifficulties that would be experienced onhigher grade routes, including genuineexposure and the need to be sure-footed andvertigo-free. We recommend attending thepresentation described above before joiningthis or any other Via Ferrata. Hire locally at approx. ?10 per day. Kitincludes a helmet, harness and a self belayset made up of tails, karabiners and a KISA(Kinetic Impact Shock Absorber). 22

JSC 2The pleasure and exhilaration displayed onthe faces of those returning from a day onthe Via Ferrata bears testimony to the sheerexcitement on offer in the Dolomites.Originally built to assist the movements ofmilitary units in WWI, Via Ferrata is a keyDolomites attraction. They are, in effect,protected scrambling routes, comprised ofskillfully installed fixed cables, ladders andgorge-spanning bridges, which aid ascents todramatic high terrain and/or summits, afterwhich you can walk on to a nearby rifugio orreturn to the starting point via a path. Graded from 1A (a protected scramble) to 5C(considerable experience required), they arenot solely the domain of the technicallyadept rock climber. Indeed, whilst it isessential you are vertigo-free and sure-footed with a reasonable level of fitness andan awareness of alpine dangers, some routesallow the man on the street to get furtherfrom the street than he ever thoughtpossible. We are close to arguably the bestconcentration of Via Ferrata in the world,but having your own transport isdays of sheer exhilaration in the home of via ferratarecommended if you come here primarily forthis exhilarating pursuit, as, by their verynature, several routes are off the beatentrack and not serviced by public transport.Many Via Ferrata routes have been built inrecent years and today we have an extensiveand well-charted network maintained by theC.A.I. (Club Alpino Italiano). Trail signs tostarting points are excellent and the routesare well waymarked. Usually it's a case offollowing the cable!Via FerrataHigh Level Adventure on Cables, Ladders and Gorge Spanning Bridgesorganised via ferrata with collett'sFive days a week (not Wednesdays orSaturdays), Collett's offers twoorganised Via Ferrata. One is likely to bemore technically challenging andexposed than the other. Remember: allVia Ferrata require a head for heightsand surefootedness.self-guidingIf you prefer to venture out on the ViaFerrata on a self-guided basis, thesupport and local knowledge of our ViaFerrata Organisers is at hand, notablyeach evening at Office Hour. They willgive you a helpful insight into thecharacteristics of local routes, so thatyou can create suitable and excitingdays out, whether you intend joining agroup or self-guiding. Dotted around our chalets, there arealso our Ideas & Information Files, whichdocument about 20 popular local routes.We have easy-to-carry Route Laminatescorresponding to each of these routesand you are welcome to borrow theseon a daily basis.If you are coming here for the ViaFerrata, we suggest you acquire theDolomites Via Ferrata guide by JohnSmith & Graham Fletcher, two formerCollett's VF team members. It is a good guide andincludes useful noteson safety. It is published byCicerone and isavailable throughCollett's for £15.95. ISBN: 185284592923