UKC

I could have done with someone telling me all of this when I started looking into our Via Ferrata trip a few weeks ago – so to save anyone else the endless hours of slogging away at Google, here is the basic info I have uncovered about Via Ferrata-ing, based at a campsite in Cortina D'Ampezzo.

Campsites:
Camping Rochetta and Camping Cortina – across a road from each other, about 2km SSW of centre of Cortina
Camping Dolomiti – a half km further away
Camping Olympia – about 3km NNW of Cortina
Look on http://www.abccampeggi.it/veneto/bl/cortinadampezzo.htm for contact details.

Prices:
Prices in August: 8-9 Euros per person, 4 Euros for a small tent and 3 Euros for a car, a daily total of around 24 Euros (£16.60) for two people. Two people camping for a week (6 nights) comes to just under £100. Cheaper any time but August!

Booking:
The person who answered the telephone at Camping Rochetta spoke very good English, however they don’t take bookings – phone the day before you are due to arrive and they will tell you whether or not they are full. I assume it’s the same deal with the others

Maps:
Tabacco 3 and 7 are the main ones. Also 5 (for Possnecker Path) and 6 (for Eterna Brigata on the Marmolada) are useful. Available online from http://www.mapsworldwide.com/125_000_maps_1125c0.htm, a very helpful company based in Melksham, Wiltshire.

Guidebooks:
Cicerone’s Via Ferratas of the Italian Dolomites: Vol.1 covers the whole area around Cortina and is very well set out. Combined with the Tabacco maps it gives all the info you could ever need.

Hope nobody minds me posting links, I am not promoting these websites, just think this info might well help someone else.

Happy Via Ferrata-ing!

JO

In reply to jo_willett: http://freespace.virgin.net/paul.benham/dolo/dolomites.htm

In reply to AG: Yeah, that page has lots of info but it's not up to date. Doesn't tell you which Tabacco maps you need and where to get them, for a start, or much info about campsites.

Jo

In reply to jo_willett: It is a shame there isn't a Wikopeadia on this site for useful info like this. Alas this will probably get lost with all the other useful info that gets posted up.

Nice one though and good for you for taking the time!!

A quick post-trip update:

Went, had brilliant time, came back! Highly recommended. Cortina was an excellent base, we were able to do VF's on 5 diffeent mountain ranges from there. Guidebook fantastic, very impressed with the Tabacco maps too apart from their durability which was approximately nil, and if I went again I'd buy 2 of each one - they didn't take at all well to being folded up against the creases and stuffed into a rucksack more than once.

People on the routes were mostly good humoured and didn't seem to mind letting us past (we had expected to be relatively slow but in actual fact we were the fastest pair on most of the routes we climbed). Not that we hassled anyone, just plodded on behind them until they stopped for a rest. We were consistently faster than guidebook times - on routes that the guidebook suggested would take 7 hours, we took more like 5 and a half - probably a combination of not religiously clipping the cable if we came across easier scrambly bits, and being quite fast walkers - but whatever it was, it was a confidence boost.

There was ample space at Camping Rocchetta; the only problem we encountered during the whole trip was that Venice airport would not let me take my climbing sack onto the plane as hand luggage as it contained karabiners, and they made me go back and check it in. (Gatwick had been fine with it). The Easyjet check in desk had closed by this time, so I had to go to the "spare" desk. I could have been charged as it took us over our 40kg weight limit, but luckily they didn't seem to spot this.

I'm happy to answer any questions to the best of my knowledge, if anyone is thinking of going but has queries!

Jo

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In reply to jo_willett: Hi, we're heading out there on Friday so that's all really useful, thanks!
(was going to ask about how strict they were about weight/climbing gear in luggage but we're flying with Ryan Air so I guess you won't be able to help!).

In reply to net:
We're off there on Friday too

In reply to Simon Caldwell:

Flew Ryanair from Liverpool in early July.

Pretty hot on excess baggage, I was only a kile over and they still charged me.

Coming back through Treviso though I was seven Kilos over and no problems ???

Only thing I'd say over Rochetta campsite was that the ground was pretty hard for the pegs. The bar in Camping Cortina was okay but preferred the 20 min walk into Cortina proper for the beers.

Also the VF gear is cheaper in the shops over there than here.

In reply to Allan McDonald: Cheers for that. We're flying from Stanstead (for some reason), so I wonder if they'll be more or less grumpy there? (note to self: go buy some scales!).

In reply to Simon Caldwell: Cool! Where are you staying? I think we'll be up at Covara.

In reply to net:
We're starting off in the Pala area, south of Marmalada, then playing it by ear. May head for Brenta then finish at Corvara (we're out for 2 weeks).

In reply to net:

Ryan air are quite strict. flew back from alicante last December after getting rained off in echo valley. as a result of wet ropes and gear it took me 2kg over the 15kg limit, as a result i had to pay 14 euros (7 per kilo) extra.
If you fly easy jet the personal limit is 20kg and they also allow 10kg sporting equipment.

In reply to Paul F:

not any more they don't

In reply to Paul F: Cheers, I've only flown with easyjet recently and have got away with several times my own body weight in gear before I'm predicting Ryan Air won't be happy when 10 of us turn up with overweight bags (even though some people are buying sports allowance or something)!

In reply to Simon Caldwell:

They did when i flew from E. Midlands to Venice in July although it seems to be an ever changing policy

In reply to ANDY HUDSON:
I think the policy's changed, but they forgot to tell most of their check-in staff!

In reply to ANDY HUDSON:

Oh good. I'm flying East Midlands to Venice in September and on my booking form it still says i can take 10kg sporting items.

In reply to Paul F: No mention of this mystery 10kg sporing equipment allowance on Easyjet's website so we didn't bank on being allowed it, and didn't need it in the end anyway. It seems to be the luck of the draw - some check in people get worried when they see a karabiner, others let all kinds of climbing stuff pass through.

Jo

In reply to jo_willett: ... or even sporTing equipment

In reply to net:

When we flew to Venice, Ryanair were happy to allow us to repack to best advantage - our checked luggage was a few kilograms over, so they weighed our carry-on as well and let us shift stuff between bags. Also note that you can only share allowance (i.e. 30kg between two people) if you're on the same booking.

In reply to jo_willett:
10kgs has definitely disappeared from easyjet T&Cs. However, if my trip bristol to glasgow and on to skye last week is anything to go by the staff at bristol don't know either. Off to Cortina with easyjet next weekend so lets hope they are no more informed.

In reply to jo_willett:

Lat yr and the yr before i stayed in Camping Dolomiti.

Free - freezers, put yer stuff in a bag. Free - washing machines you just need powder. A wee cafe in the reception which is great for brekkie. And a wee essentials shop there as well. And the view is amazing. The lady and owner speak good english.

Nick

In reply to jo_willett:
Agreed. We got back last week and could have done with that info., too!

We stayed at Laggo di Dobbiaccio (sp?) and ended up having to haul up over Passo Falzarego most days. We thought that staying somewhere to the west of Cortina would be an idea next time - possibly Arraba or the like?

Had a fantastic time, though - photos will be on here soon!

In reply to jo_willett:

Wow - only just starting climbing and the like but this looks to be great fun. Was thinking that a 'chalet' type holiday was the only way foward, but have tent - may well travel!

Thats all great info to have.

In reply to net: i called ryanair direct about the total weight of baggage allowed,they said 20kg hold baggage only i asked the question about sports gear they said i would have to pay extra,however there is a way round the problem by takeing a 20/30 liter bag and filling it withall you clothing ,and wear your boots, they are not bothered to much about cabin weight,if you are over weight it costa £4.00 per kg . good luck

In reply to jo_willett: to update on this topic with regards to what you can/can't take on RyanAir/Treviso airport - the security woman at Treviso wouldn't let me take my rope in my handluggage on the way back (I'd packed better on the way there with all my climbing gear in my hold luggage).

Fortunately, I was allowed to check it in as hold luggage for free (being on the verge of tears having had a rather stressful day by that point probably helped with that )

They also didn't appear particularly fussed about weight, but that was probably because we'd elected to fly at a quiet (ie, cheap) time of 10:40 on a Saturday night! But then they weren't too bothered on our way out either!