Ferrata Sentiero Ivano Dibona, Monte Cristallo
Ferrata Sentiero Ivano Dibona, Monte Cristallo
Duration - 6 hours
MODERATE
By car travel east from Cortina up the Tre Croci Pass to the ski lift station at Rio Gere. Park the car, ample parking, and take the chair lift to Son Forcia. Here you will transfer to extraordinary but quaint 2 person-standing pods (either red or yellow) to the top station by Refuge G Lorenz.
The route starts by the back of the lift station where you climb a series of metal stairs, through a couple of small tunnels, to the suspension bridge (used during the
Sylvester Stallone Cliff Hanger film) which marks the start of the Ferrata Sentiero Ivano Dibona. The route initially descends steeply on a ridge principally running west. Along the route, you will see a lot of evidence from the Great War of accommodation and gun positions. After an hour, and another quite steep descent you will reach the unmanned Bivouac hut (Ric Buffa di Perrere). From the hut the route continues, descending and ascending for a further 45 minutes until you reach the descent path, clearly marked.
This descends steeply, with a number of protected sections, initially over rocks, then screen, before flattening out as you reach the woods. The route meets track 203 on which you then turn left and then follow it southeast for about 3 km until you reach an intersection with route 206. Take this and descend, under the chair lift system which you took up until you reach the car park. Be aware that route 206 divides after 500 meters with you needing to take the left fork (but if you keep the chair lift above you should not go too wrong as there are a variety of paths available).
I do not recommend this as a Via Ferrata route as, being brutally honest, I found it touristy and unchallenging with the only interest being in the first 15 minutes. The descent became a bit of a plod although, to be fair, with the cloud being low I had no views which, had the clouds been high, I would have seen the mountains to the northeast including the impressive towers of Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
Would you like a guided tour?
Please get in touch if you would like to arrange a private guided via ferrata tour of the Dolomites.