Via ferrata Eterna – Brigata Cadore (C/D) Italy

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Dedicated to the Alpine Cadore Brigade, a light Infantry brigade of the Italian Army, via ferrata Eterna is a challenging and lengthy route established in 1990. It ascends the smooth north ridge to Punta Serauta, with a constant up and down leading to the Forcella Serauta cable car station. After a long closure due to rockfall, it reopened in 2012 with a new entry point. Reserved for experienced and fit climbers, the route concludes at the Great War Museum in the sacred historical area of Serauta.

Summary

Grade: C/D – view topo
Vertical: 650m ferrata, 1150m total
Time: 1h approach, 4h30min ferrata, 1h30min descent, 7h total
Access / Parking: 46.4536,11.8886 – Google Maps or any Android maps app
Start via ferrata: 46.4451,11.8895 – Mapy.cz or any Android maps app
Download gpx track

Map and photos

Eterna – Brigata Cadore via ferrata map
map by kompass.de
Passo Fedaia
On the ridge
Climbing in the clouds
Remains of the glacier
Fog, ridge and glacier
At Serauta mountain station

Access

We arrive by car or bus at Passo Fedaia (2057 m), located on the road that connects Canazei in Trento province with Malga Ciapela in Belluno province.

Approach to start

We hike south toward the glacier on a wide path that serves as a ski slope during winter. After a bend, look for a sign on a rock at approximately 46.4508,11.8887. Here, we turn left and follow the uphill red markings toward the base of the rocky ridge where this via ferrata begins.

The route

You can view the route as having three distinct sections. In the first section you will encounter two C/D segments and friction based climbing, this being the most technical part of the entire route. On the second section you go up a wide and long, lower grade slab toward the next ridge. The third section is the main exposed ridge, which the cable follows up and down, ending at Museo Marmolada Grande Guerra and Serauta cable car station.

Descent

There are two descent options:

  1. Cable car down to Malga Ciapela (timetable and prices), from where you can hitchhike or take a bus back to Passo Fedaia. Pay attention to the last cable car descent.
  2. Descend on the glacier, requiring mountaineering experience and proper glacier gear. In 2023 this option was closed after the avalanche on Marmolada. Fog can make orientation more difficult.

Good to know

  • Fatigue can be a challenge on this long climb.
  • You will need stable weather to safely complete the route.
  • You can extend the tour with a cable car ride up to Punta Rocca.

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