Only ever skied there though, around the Sella Ronda. Forni di Sopra is also a busy skiing area in the winter. Via Ferrata is a popular method of climbing in that area, something I have yet to try.
Climbing without rope (soloing or free climbing) is technically easier than climbing with roped protection, but psychologically far more demanding.
I remember my Mother saying to me once, "it's no wonder you love the outdoors so much, because when you were a baby we used to keep you outside and only brought you in when it went dark or rained heavily, and even then you would kick up a fuss."
The next days walk up the valley to the foot of the Barum glacier proved to be long and quite arduous but we were soon to be rewarded with breathtaking views of Tirich Mir in all it's magnificent splendour. This was my first view of an Himalayan giant at close quarters. I took out my binoculars and followed what could possibly be a line of ascent, it looked impossible. For the first time I could really understand why Himalayan climbing is by far the most dangerous sport in the world and why this huge mountain, only around three thousand foot lower than Everest has had so few successful summit attempts. It was clear to see, man had no right being up there. We were now approaching the foot of the glacier and base camp was in sight about four miles away on the other side of the crumbling unstable moraine that was the Barum glacier. Crossing the glacier proved more difficult than I had imagined. The whole thing was completely unstable, even huge boulders rocked unsteadily as we clambered over them and we could here the constant creaking and groaning of the moving ice below our feet, it really was tough going. Eventually we crossed the glacier and headed up a steep slope up to a small grassy plateau at about 12500ft that was Tirich Mir base camp. To my astonishment the area was habited by a large herd of cows, this was in fact their Summer pasture and I tried to imagine these large cumbersome beasts crossing the unstable terrain we had just struggled over. Unfortunately the only suitable spot for the tents seemed to be their preferred grazing area and it proved quite an effort to persuade them to vacate it, not to mention the job of clearing away the mounds of droppings before we could pitch up. The place depressed me, it was such an anticlimax after the hard slog that day. The air was full of dust and flies, Tirich Mir was now obstructed by smaller peaks and the upper Barum glacier above which we were supposed to climb the next day looked incredibly steep and crevassed, I was certainly at a low ebb at that point. After pitching up and enjoying a huge meal of rice, peas and chappati around 6.30, we headed to our tents for an early night in preparation for our climb up to camp one the next day. Climbing into my sleeping bag I felt nervous and apprehensive about the prospect of venturing up that inhospitable looking route the next day, but eventually drifted off into a deep and well needed sleep.
bodleing Forum Posts (13,810)
...Outdoor lover.
jail...
RE: For Bodleing and the Hound