The first two weeks of September 2002 - Clare, Andy Longyear and I will be flying to Italy - then on to a villa near Arabba and not far from the Sella group of mountains, to spend two solid weeks tackling the famous Via Ferrata - or "Iron Way" as they are known.

The Dolomites are photographically spectacular - rising almost vertically for thousands of feet - they have been strung with hundreds of iron ladders / pegs and cables since the first world war - when Italy declared war on the Austrians. As the mountains ran along the border between them, they needed to be able to sneak over to fight - hence the idea to string ladders and metal "pathways" over these massive cliffs. Now they provide some of the most accessible climbing in the world - simple kit providing safety to clip onto the cables while you scramble and climd on these vertiginous cliffsides.

There are paths literally carved into the cliffs. Bridges of wired lats. ladders of steel hammered into the rock. And these thin metal routes provide the only way of reaching these incredible heights - previously accessible by only the better rock climbers.

I shall be providing a section on the via ferrata on my return. Pictures / Advice / Shopping / Kit / routes / accomodation etc etc.

In the meantime - visit Colletts website. I have plagiarised a couple of their pictures until I can take my own.

Their details are on the right...

Come back near the end of September for more info...

OTHER SITES

Paul Benham's Excellent Site

Via Ferrata.org - English Version (not all though) - but worth a look :)