Cinque Torri, Dolomites climbing and the Delicious Climbing Dolomiti event by Paolino Tassi

"From a distance the Cinque Torri seemed like miniature mountains that sooner or later, like mushrooms, would grow and touch each other, but at their base one notices a scattered disorder, which suggests millions of peculiarities. This beauty was yet another delicate incarnation of their precariousness."

With these words Manolo describes his encounter with the Cinque Torri in the book "Eravamo Immortali”, that talks about his episodes of his adventurous life, such as when he climbed at the crag which ever since ever has been home to the Cortina Scoiattoli mountaineering club, and not only to them.

Actually, when you walk through the Cinque Torri you do feel lost, as your surrounded by rocky towers that confuse the horizon and you don’t understand which is the way out. You can’t fail however to remain fascinated by their beauty, that enchants hikers and climbers alike.

Climbing at the Cinque Torri is never trivial: the classic routes have a decidedly mountaineering feel to them given the not particularly abundant in-situ pro, rope manoeuvres are an essential part of the game here! Those used to sport climbing may find it difficult to unravel their way out of these countless walls, with their varied and bizarre aspects. It's what renders the Cinque Torri so fascinating and what adds to the adventure of climbing.

Starting up a pitch, tied in to the rope, is a series of moves, of manoeuvres, carabiners, pegs, bolts, chalk, glances between climbing partners who share those same vertical meters.

In today’s social media world, where what is lacking more and more is the human touch, being someone’s climbing partner seems to me a great thing! That's why we decided to organise a climbing meeting at the Cinque Torri, to reward climbing partnerships via this non-competition with its almost ancient flavour. The idea is for like-minded people to meet up, tie in and have a great vertical day together

There is no climber in the Dolomites who has not touched the Dolomite rock of the Torri, and for us Cortina Mountain Guides teaching children how to climb on these towers, in particular Quarta Bassa, is a must. A few days ago I accompanied my children up Quarta Alta, at the top my smallest saw some climbers on the summit of Torre Inglese and sai: "Daddy, daddy, look over there... let's go there, too!"

The towers through the eyes of a child are infinite, they are all there to be climbed. But what amazed me the most was the fact that a 5-year-old boy wanted to climb that spire for its beauty, without caring less about whether it was difficult or easy.

On another occasion time I accompanied a skiing legend, Glen Plake, up the Miriam route on Torre Grande. When he saw the towers he took off his helmet and put on an elegant bowler hat. I asked him if it wasn’t perhaps a little dangerous ... he told me that a place such as this one deserved maximum elegance.

There are endless anecdotes that each of us have about these rock faces, and we can’t wait to share them all together, to tie in to the same rope on the main rock climbing stage of the Dolomites. But don’t do as my friend Glen, and remember one of the fundamental rules of mountaineering: wear a helmet and don’t fall off!

Should the weather be bad this year we can head across to the brand new and beautiful indoor climbing wall (our sixth tower) named after Lino Lacedelli. The guys from Cortina 360 are waiting for us and we can use the gym all morning.

Information: info and registration

Paolino Tassi (Guide Alpine Cortina - Gruppo Scoiattoli Cortina