Via Valeria, first repeat on Crozzon di Brenta

This route offers some beautiful pitches that gradually increase in difficulty and culminate with the crux fifth pitch, up rock and ice and past some really great climbing. We needed circa five hours, plus another hour to quickly abseil off the bolt belays, comfortably equipped by the first ascentionists. I'd say that except for the ice that was fairly brittle and fragile, the rest of the climb was great and never banal. We reached the base, strapped on our skis for the descent before darkness set in and reached our car after 11 non-stop hours on the go.

Thanks are certainly due to Gianni and Aldo for having discovered and then made the first ascent of this wonderful line, located in such a beautiful setting. And thanks also to my friend and climbing partner Giorgio, for sharing beautiful moments on this spectacular route called Valeria.

Cristian Defant


ROUTE TOPO: Valeria, Brenta Dolomites