Two icefalls in Valle dell'Orco and Piantonetto

Often the first ascent of an icefall is accompanied by a degree of uncertainty. Has is perhaps already been climbed before? is the question which many ask themselves as they make their way upwards. This holds true above all for drips which are off the beaten track and which seldom come into condition, as precise information is usually extremely hard to come by. Cascata delle Miniere in Valle dell'Orco (250m, V/3+ - 4/R) and Ciao TFR fit this bill and were both climbed recently by Marco Appino with Umberto Bado (the former) and Mauro Appino and Renzo Vottero (the latter).

As Appino writes, both drips rarely come into condition so particular "care" is required to climb them at exactly the right moment. The first ascent of both is accompanied by a question mark, since Appino discovered in-situ gear at the first belay (out of a total of 6 pitches) on La Cascata delle miniere, while Ciao TFR is located in Vallone di Piantonetto in the Gran Paradiso National Park and the conditional is therefore obligatory.

Regardless of how things may be, these two "unnamed climbs" have now been baptised.... We thought it would be interesting to delve into this, so that these climbs can receive the light of day and also to find out if anyone claims the "paternity" of the first ascent... ;-)

>>> CASCATA DELLE MINIERE

>>> CIAO TFR