Via Ferrata del Vajont - Via ferrata della Memoria - Gola del Vajont
Ferrata della Memoria is a new via ferrata based on an idea by Fabio Bristot “Rufus”, a member of the Bellunese Dolomites Mountain Rescue squad who wanted to remember the Vajont tragedy through this new route.
The new via ferrata runs along the right bank of the Vajont gorge, through the municipalities of Longarone (BL), Castellavazzo (BL) and Erto (PN).
From Venice drive north along the motorway to reach Longarone.
AccessThe start of the new ferrata can easily be reached via the 251 state road that leads from Longarone to Erto. From Codissago drive up to the 6th hairpin bend and signpost for the ferrata. Turn off the main road and continue right along the narrow road that, after circa 100m, leads to a car park. Leave the car here, the path start on the right close to a tunnel.
ItineraryDescend for a few meters to reach the spectacular gully that brought water from river Vajont to the Codissago mill at the end of 1800.
Continue up this gully to reach the first tunnel, circa 150m long, head torch recommended. This leads to ledge, equipped with steel cable, another shorter tunnel and a second, more exposed but easier ledge. This leads to a ladder that marked the start of the difficulties; the first 100m are demanding and exposed.
Immediately after this, thanks to a series of ledges, the ferrata leads to the central ledge and the second vertical section. Although difficult, it is less demanding than the previous vertical section, and then leads rightwards to another ledge and second ladder. From here it continues to a notch in the rock, built for the cable car that transported concrete from Longarone for the Vajont dam. Proceed from here for a further 5 minutes to reach path no #380 that leads to the Vajont dam. By turning off left you can return to the starting point.
In total the ferrata is comprised of 600m in the starting gully, followed by another 60m on the vertical sections. The first section is easy, the second section very difficult. Time: 2 - 2.5 hours.
From the Vajont dam:
a) Walk down the Troi de S. Antoni: 1 hour circa.
Via ferrata kit, harness, gloves, helmet, mountain shoes, headtorch, rucksack and change of clothes.
NotesThe ferrata was financed thanks to the “SaferAlps" cross-border project which designs safety aspects of vie ferrate in the province of Belluno and the rest of the Alps. Fundamental support was provided by DolomitiCert, CAI Veneto, the University of Salzburg and the Mountain Rescue Service.
The Cortina Mountain Guides built the Ferrata della Memoria, applying their know-how gained through decades construction and maintaing some of the most famous via ferrata in the Dolomites, situated mainly around Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Ferrata molto panoramica e con il giusto mix di esposizione, lunghezza e difficoltà. A me personalmente è piaciuta molto! https://youtu.be/QelyXV5vGSI
Consiglio di non parcheggiare nell' area di partenza della ferrata, meglio farlo a Casso (si scende per il sentiero di S. Antonio per raggiungere l'attacco e alla fine della ferrata si riprende il sentiero in leggera salita) o in uno dei tanti slarghi della strada. Tanti vetri nel parcheggio: aprono le auto.