Vie ferrate in Bella Italia - Day II

I nearly overslept and had just 10 min for breakfast that was better than dinner. We drove in direction of Lago di Ledro and parked the cars in Biacesa (418 m). 

From there we followed the road uphill to the fork of "Sentèr dei Bech". This trail went through the wood and along the southern slopes of La Rocca. 

View from trail

On the way up to the chapel San Giovanni (858 m) we climbed the first via ferrata "Sentiero delle Laste"  (easy). The ferrata was still in the forest and interrupted several times by normal hiking passages. 

San Giovanni

From the chapel we took the "Sentiero Foletti" (difficulty A/B) that crossed the rock wall and rounded the la Rocca a bit more. The end was very easy. 

 Then we went on "sentiero Foletti" (difficulty A/B) and headed up to the top of La Rocca (1090 m).

After a break on the top for pictures, relaxing and food, we got our lamps out and headed down the last via ferrata for today - "Sentiero dei Camminamenti" (difficulty A/B). This one led through caves in the mountains that were used during the world wars. 

 In one cave, we had to climb down a long ladder. Beware of the dead ends.

Back at the chapel, we used the normal trail down back to the car. In Arco, we ordered big ice-cream cups to reward ourselves. In the hotel after another round in the pool, we learned about knots, ropes and mountain weather.

Vie ferrate in Bella Italia - Day I

Early Friday morning, I met some other mountain enthusiasts in Munich and we left in direction of Lake Garda. We wanted to take part in a via ferrata course of the German Alpine Association. 

We were six participants and one guide and after an equipment check we drove to Arco. We parked the car at a camping site in Prabi and took the trail uphill to start the via ferrata "Sentiero attrezzato del Collodri" where our guide explained us how to use the equipment. 

start of the via ferrata

Then we climbed for 45 min (difficulty A/B) to the top and had a great view on Arco and Lake Garda. 

the final rope

The cross of Collodri is at 340 m. From there we went to some exercise rocks where we tried climbing some meters without protection - up was easier than down. 

Collodri (340 m)

Going down we used an easy trail to Arco where we enjoyed ice-cream and checked the outdoor stores for sales and offers.

Arco

We drove back to Pietramurata to check into Hotel Daino. I got a room just for myself (45€ per night incl. half-board). After the feedback I read on different sites I asked for a room to the back. I swam several rounds in the hotel pool before the three course dinner. It could have been much better. Later, we sat outside and spoke another hour about the theory.

Castello di Arco

Mount Schönberg (1621 m)

I was a bit unlucky with my vacation planning. First, Condor cancelled my flight to Sharm-el-Sheikh so I could not attend the AIESEC Alumni conference there. Then, my DAV tour to Germany's highest mountain Zugspitze was called off due to bad weather.

So I made a fast decision to make a day tour with DAV to Mount Schönberg. I met another hiker in Munich and we drove to the meeting point between Kreuth and Lenggries. We were 11 mostly women and followed our tour guide through the forest along a creek.

After half an hour we reached an Alm (alpine pasture) with cows and a hut. We walked down the forest road to a little chapel and then left the road.

We headed uphill on a very steep trail for another half an hour till we hit the forest road again.

Then we made a change of plans and took a longer way around the mountain before heading to the top.

Not only we made it there, but also some para gliders preparing for take off and some cows according to their droppings all over the place. We ate lunch while enjoying the view of the surrounding valleys.

We left the top as clouds were building up. We took the forest road downhill and crossed the Alm again. On the last part of the trail, we nearly got lost and missed the trail to our parking.

Mount Pendling (1563 m)

After working the last months more or less without break, it's now time again for some tours and trips. The last five months will hold more tours and trips: 6 countries and 55 days away. Starting with a day trip to the Kufstein area in Austria and climbing Mount Pendling.

It was an easy tour starting from the parking area in Schneeberg. First, we walked on the forest road but soon were heading deep in the wood on a lonely trail without any signs.

After half an hour, we came to a crossing with a signpost and continued our way uphill and through the wood.  From then, more and more people were on the trail and on the forest road we could see mountain bikers.

After crossing the forest road we made it fast to the cross on the first top where we had a small rest. A bit further is the second cross with a fantastic view on the valley.

Around the next corner, there was the Kufsteiner House (Pendlinghütte) where we took our lunch and enjoyed the beautiful weather.

Downhill we followed the forest road for a while but when that got boring we took a trail and landed on another view point with a bank. After one and a half hours we were back in the valley - just in time to eat an ice-cream before the rain started.