Ben Ankers - Dolomites, Italy
Ben Ankers, manager of our Fort William store returns from a week in the Dolomites and shares his experience along with some great shots including the pitch on the Basso; summit of Basso and 2 Brenta views.
'Just back from a recent trip to the Brenta Dolomites where I had some unfinished business. I was there last year - same place, same time - with the intention of climbing the Campanile Basso. This finger of rock stands at just under 3000 metres and is to the Brenta what the Matterhorn is to Zermatt. From some angles it looks totally implausible but, fortunately, there is a reasonably easy way to the top.
The Basso is the focal point of a magnificent area of Dolomite walls and towers which attracts discerning climbers and those who seek their thrills on Via Ferrata.
I say discerning because the Brenta is just a bit more difficult to access than some of the more well-known Dolomite valleys to the north and east.
If the Basso draws in the alpinists then the equally famous 'Della Bocchette Alta' is the magnet for via Ferrata aficionados. Weaving an unlikely way through the pinnacles and walls the 'Bocchette' joins a series of boccas (cols) by way of exposed ledges and steel ladders. Protected most of the way by wire cables this is an exciting yet reasonably safe trip for those with a head for heights.
Last September I was one pitch away from the lofty summit of the Basso when we had to bail out. The long abseil descent should have been enough to deter me from a return but as the saying goes 'one cannot speak about Dolomite climbing until one has rung the bell on the Basso summit'.
So, there we were, clipping the pegs on the final exposed wall of the summit tower and then we were there - ringing the bell. And we had the whole climb to ourselves; one of the advantages of visiting the Dolomites at this time of year.
