Climbing a via ferrata with friends in Cortina

[raffaele_guidolin]

In a beatiful sunny day of September, with fellow Local Guide @lucacrivell and two other friends we went to Cortina d’Ampezzo to climb two shorts “via ferrata".

Cortina is a beatiful village in the Italian Alps. Cortina and Milan will host the Winter Olympics in 2026.

The first “via ferrata” we climbed is called Astaldi.

It is quite easy, but the landscape is wonderful due to the wall of the Tofane Mountain which stood above us for thousands of meters (and hundreds below us; that is why we used climbing equipment).

This mountain trail is also beatiful due to the colors of the rock, which is not uniform (as usual) given that there is multiplicity of colors that represents a real joy for the eyes.

The second “via ferrata” we climbed is called Ferrari at Ra Bujela.
Ra Bujela is a rock located nearby the most spectacular jump of the downhill slope of Cortina.
Below you find a picture taken during the day of the race, which is held every year in January (and it it will be womed downhill race during the 2026 Olympics).

And this is the Ra Bujela rock in Summer time, just before we climbed it.

This via ferrata is short but quite difficult, as it it is very steep
Along the way, there are also two small bridges, which are a perfect spot to rest and take some pictures in a safely manner.

After 4 hours, we finally reached Rifugio Pomedes, where we had our lunch.

[Ant_Bad_Yogi]

@raffaele_guidolin Wow, that looks like fun. Your experience is breath taking and the photos are so beautiful. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

[lucacrivell]

Great day! Disclaimer for readers: this path requires a bit of experience in vie ferrate.

[raffaele_guidolin]

@Ant_Bad_Yogi thanks

[DanniS]

Hi @raffaele_guidolin ,

Thanks for sharing your post.

By the way, I moved it to Travel as Local Stories is mostly about Local Guides around the globe who are making a positive impact in their communities, efforts to improve accessibility, and more. This section was created for Local Guides who are advocates in their community.

Wow rock climbing seems really exciting yet quite scary. Have you done this kind of climbing before? I bet the views are spectacular. How much time did it take you to reach the top?

[KarolT]

Hi @raffaele_guidolin

Interesting report and beautiful pictures.

Regards from Slovakia.

Karol

[raffaele_guidolin]

Hi @DanniS , understood! Thanks.

Indeed, via Ferrata (Italian for “iron way”) is a path equipped with steel cable, ladders, bridges and other artificial equipment aimed at making easy an exposed route. In this way, even inexperienced climber or those who are unskilled in climbing technique (and this is my case) can climb vertical walls and reach the peaks of mountains.

Thanks to via ferrata, very normal people can reach the top of the mountain, where the views are spectacular.

[raffaele_guidolin]

Thank you @KarolT .

Have you ever tried a via ferrata?

[KarolT]

Hi @raffaele_guidolin

When I was a student, we went hiking in Slovakia in the High and Low Tatras mountains .

That was nice experience.

Karol

[KarolT]

Hi @raffaele_guidolin

Here is my report about my favorite hiking places in Slovakia:

https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/General-Discussion/7-most-beautiful-seesight-places-in-eastern-Slovakia/td-p/1608205#.XZRagfrLghM.link

Karol

[raffaele_guidolin]

@KarolT , really nice places.

One of the next summer holidays I will come to visit Slovakia with my family.

[KarolT]

Hi @raffaele_guidolin

My colleague is still active climber, so I can give you some suggestions of climbing in Slovakia.

Karol

[raffaele_guidolin]

Thanks @KarolT , we will keep in touch