24th Falzerago (such a pretty spot)
So the Torri Piccola waited. It was a scramble to the start of the climb, which itself was hard to identify. We were made aware of people on the route as a rock thudded down our scramble up route. The route itself was good, steady and positive (especially after yesterday’s friable rock) Near the top we passed 4 Italians clipped into one belay point and all hanging off one karabiner. Lawr urged me to hurry as he was keen to get passed them quickly. At the top it was abseil only off. The first being a 15m drop to a ‘path’. From here round the corner were two abseil hooks (which, apparently, looked like you could lower fire engines from). After Lawr had set up the abseil he went over the edge and was quickly out of sight. Sitting on the very windy top looking out over the valley I felt a song coming on…’on my own…’ I was quickly brought back by Lawr shouting up to start my descent. As I moved to position the rope popped out of the second abseil hook and the second part of my song came into my head, ‘why did it end this way…’.
Anyway it was a 22m vertical slab. Lawr was sure of the distance due to the amount of our 55m rope that was on the ground. It was a challenging scramble down to the path, before we wandered along the path back to the van. Unbelievably there was a guy with a Welsh Grand Slam t-shirt on. Thankfully he wasn’t Welsh and I didn’t have to listen to the ‘banter’. The guy was Italian and spoke little English.
It was sunnier and warmer now than this morning.
Highs – successful climb, 1st alpine abseil
Lows – uncertain weather, last day here
Note – next visit to Dolomites we’ll bring double ropes
So the Torri Piccola waited. It was a scramble to the start of the climb, which itself was hard to identify. We were made aware of people on the route as a rock thudded down our scramble up route. The route itself was good, steady and positive (especially after yesterday’s friable rock) Near the top we passed 4 Italians clipped into one belay point and all hanging off one karabiner. Lawr urged me to hurry as he was keen to get passed them quickly. At the top it was abseil only off. The first being a 15m drop to a ‘path’. From here round the corner were two abseil hooks (which, apparently, looked like you could lower fire engines from). After Lawr had set up the abseil he went over the edge and was quickly out of sight. Sitting on the very windy top looking out over the valley I felt a song coming on…’on my own…’ I was quickly brought back by Lawr shouting up to start my descent. As I moved to position the rope popped out of the second abseil hook and the second part of my song came into my head, ‘why did it end this way…’.
Anyway it was a 22m vertical slab. Lawr was sure of the distance due to the amount of our 55m rope that was on the ground. It was a challenging scramble down to the path, before we wandered along the path back to the van. Unbelievably there was a guy with a Welsh Grand Slam t-shirt on. Thankfully he wasn’t Welsh and I didn’t have to listen to the ‘banter’. The guy was Italian and spoke little English.
It was sunnier and warmer now than this morning.
Highs – successful climb, 1st alpine abseil
Lows – uncertain weather, last day here
Note – next visit to Dolomites we’ll bring double ropes
Boo to bye, bye Dolomites. Where to next????? Hugs!
ReplyDeletewe are now in Germany. No real plan, just where we fancy!
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