Ice climbing: passion in unforgettable landscapeAlberto Salogni
The previous issue of “Eco delle Dolomiti” was dedicated to water, in this issue we can talk about when this element solidifies, creating structures that mountaineers love to climb. Frozen waterfall climbing is different from rock climbing. First of all, ice is an extremely changeable element. Depending on the way it’s facing, the temperature and humidity, the conditions can change in only a few hours. A waterfall in excellent conditions in the morning can suddenly collapse in the afternoon, merely because warm wind has started to blow. In the Fiemme and Fassa valleys there are many frozen structures that allow slow climbs of up to 200 metres at various levels of difficulty. Some are located at high altitude, especially in the Sella and Sassolungo ranges, but also others are more or less on the valley floor and are easily accessed. In the area underlying Passo Mànghen pass there are some lovely waterfalls, such as Predazzo above, and others in the surrounding areas of Fontanazzo and Campitello di Fassa. In Fontanazzo, where the Avisio flows in winter, you can note two types of sport’s person: those in tight colourful outfits who race on cross-country skis in order to prepare themselves for the Marcialonga cross-country ski marathon and the other type with enormous rucksacks filled with rope, crampons, picks and ice screws, heading toward the frozen rivers. They are two different sports but both very arduous. I love living in these valleys because all winter sports can take place here. And what could be nicer than being passionate about an outdoor sport? Ok, climbing up a frozen waterfall is not a joke and can be very dangerous. Often the waterfalls are located in very dark ravines where the sun never shines. Often your mobile has no signal when it’s needed or if there’s an accident you can go into hypothermia. When it says fifteen degrees below zero on the barometer, it’s hard to say “let’s go” but when you reach your goal every effort is forgotten and everything seems wonderful: ice climbing allows you to see incredible shapes and colours. Some scenery is so surreal that sometimes it’s like being on another planet; and the mountaineer is part of it all, being on the inside. My last climb last winter is one of my favourites: Rio Pelòus in Campitello di Fassa, right behind the del Col Rodella cable railway. (excerpt from “Uomini in verticale” (Vertical Men), by Alberto Salogni , Editrice Uni-Service publisher , Trento 2007)
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