Start: Piè Tofana via chair lift, Cortina d’Ampezzo
End: Same as start
Difficulty: B/C on Schall Rating
Time: 2 hours
When to go: Open year round. Best time is June to Sep
Official website: Dolomiti
Nearest Major Airport: Venice (There are other smaller airports in the region)
Cortina d’Ampezzo is a mountain destination in the Italian Alps known of its stunning landscape. It is world famous for skiing and also hosted winter Olympics and other winter sport events. It is nestled among beautiful Dolomite mountains.
Highlights
From Ra Bujela Via Ferrata you get great views of Cortina valley on a clear day. You get to climb with views of Mt Tofana, 3rd highest mountains in Dolomites at 3,241 meter (10,633 ft). It has couple of exhilarating suspension bridges. It’s right next to Ra Pegna ferrata so that you can do two via ferratas in a day if time and weather permit. Ra Pegna ferrata is an easy route, easier than Ra Bujela. Unlike most via ferratas in the area, this one is open year round making it very accessible and unique experience in winter.
Overall is a nice way to enjoy mountains and the beauty of Alps.
Difficulty
It’s a moderate via ferrata that every one can do. It gets easier as you keep going, the moderate part is over in the first 20-30 mins. This via ferrata is for good for beginners and can be practice before attempting the many other difficult via ferrata in the area.
Equipment
You need the standard via ferrata gear i.e. harness, via ferrata set and helmet. You can rent the equipment at the Inter Sport in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Getting there
It is very accessible to Cortina, either you can hike or drive to the Piè Tofana chair lift. Hiking will add 1-2hrs more to the adventure. Upon disembarking from the ski lift, descend a short distance, then ascend the ski slope while keeping to the left of the Rifugio Pomedes lift. Proceed for an additional 250 meters until reaching the signs marking the start of the ferrata.
This is among the few via ferratas that are open thought out the year. In winter you can climb it with the help of a guide (very essential to have a guide since you cannot find the trail in the snow). Also in winter, the gulley next to Ra Bujela is a ski route so make sure you don’t get in the way of flying skiers while heading or returning from the trail head. You can find guides for all adventures here, we used them to do this via ferrata in winter. We didn’t get many views due to the weather but being on cables was still a lot of fun. Via ferrata is snow is one of a kind experience.
Nearby Activities
- VF Brigata Tridentina
- VF Col Rodella
- VF Piz da Lech
- VF Della Trincee
- VF Giuseppe di Olivieri – Gianni Aglio
- Open-air museum (under the Cinque Torri)
- Tre Cime di Lavaredo
Click here to read about other via ferratas.