In reply to tcb:
A guy at the Colfosco campsite near Corvara, where we were, climbed some route on the S face and came down over the glacier in late July when we were there and didn't say anything untoward about it. I think he had crampons, ice axes, or at least poles, etc. He certainly had big boots, since these were a big show off-y affair between him and his mate in the tent next door before they set off.
If you do the VF (Eterna Brigata?) let us know what state it is in. The guide book we had (the Austrian one) said it was 'closed' because the gear was in a bad state. I'd like to do it next year and come down over the glacier. The view of it from the Trincee, which we did, was superb.
Post edited at 20:13