Via Ferrata Passo Santner - Passo Santner
Copia link
Planetmountain.com
1 / 4
Planetmountain
The Ferrata del Santner, situated on Catinaccio’s impressive west face, seems to have been made specifically to extenuate the beauty and very particular nature of the entire Dolomites massif. It follows a natural line diagonally leftwards and, leading relatively easily into the heart of King Laurin’s kingdom, is quite simply unforgettable. One of the most famous rock formations in the Dolomites meets the eye at the gateway to the Gartl valley: the mythical Torri del Vaiolet. The Ferrata Passo Santner is without a doubt one of the most beautiful and famous round-trips in the Dolomites.
From Pozza di Fassa drive to Passo Costalunga and continue on right at the fork for the Laurin chairlift at M.ga Frommer. Take this to Rif. Fronza alle Coronelle. From Carezza take the chairlift to Rif. Paolina and continue on path no. 552-549 to Rif. Fronza.
From Vigo di Fassa take the cable car Ciampediè to Rifugio Ciampediè and then continue on paths no. 549 and 552 to Rif. Fronza.
From Rif. Fronza take path no. 550 up polished rocks quickly to the fork. Turn off left onto path no. 542 to cross Catinaccio’s SW face. The start of the ferrata proper is located on a scree terrace.
ItineraryFrom the scree terrace follow the ferrate across ladders, pegs and cables up north through gullys and across minor saddles. The path twists and turns in search of the easiest line through this rock maze to reach the highest col at 2680m. Cross this and descend carefully into a gully which often remains covered in snow. Climb up the opposite flank on the gully’s left-hand side to reach Passo Santner, 2760m, just a few minutes walk away from Rifugio Santner and the Via Normale climbing routes to the Catinaccio peaks. The panorama westwards onto the green Alto Adige deep below is stupendous.
DescentFrom Passo Santner follow path no. 542 down into the Gartl and the monumental Tre Torri del Vajolet. Reach Rifugio Re Alberto (2700m) and the lake at the foot of these famous towers, to continue through the large basin on path no. 542 through this massif, polished by the thousands of footsteps to the famous refuges Vajolet and Preuss (2243m). Proceed towards the Gardeccia basin to then follow signs right (no. 541). This path traverses beneath the Catinaccio’s east face to the fork and path no. 550, which leads steeply up to and over Passo delle Coronelle (2630m) to then return to Rif. Fronza. Alternatively, for those wishing to return to Rif. Ciampediè and Vigo di Fassa, follow path no. 546 from Rif. Vajolet to Rifugio Gardeccia and then continue on path no. 540 to climb up to Rifugio Ciampediè.
GearNormal via ferrata kit.
Maps/BibliographyVia Ferratas of the Italian Dolomites: Vol 1 by John Smith and Graham Fletcher Cicerone Press 2002
DifficultyNot particularly difficult, well-equipped ferrata. Take care when crossing the final gully before climbing up to Passo Santner, as this is often covered in hard-packed snow.
Comments
