VF Ivano Dibona

Sentiero ferrato Ivano Dibona is a walking route along the Zurlon ridge, the main crest on Cristallo, a mountain group in the Italian Dolomites, northeast of Cortina d'Ampezzo, in the province of Belluno, Veneto.cite book | last= Smith |first= John |coauthors= Graham Fletcher | title= Via ferratas of the Italian Dolomites: Volume 1 [North, central and east] |publisher= Cicerone | location= UK|language= English |year=2002 | isbn= 1-85284-362-4 | pages=310pp]

History

The Ivano Dibona is a restored historical route, which was used by Italian troops during World War I. [http://www.dolomiti.org/dengl/Cortina/skipass/cristallo/dibona1.html Sentiero Ivano Dibona] (Retrieved on 21 September 2008)] [http://www.summitpost.org/route/235913/sentiero-ferrato-ivano-dibona.html Sentiero ferrato Ivano Dibona] – (Retrieved on 21 September 2008)] The route was explored in the 1960’s by Freddy and Ivano Dibona, subsequently made safe for tourists, and reopened in September 1970. It was named after Ivana Dibona, who had perished on Cristallo in 1968. Remains of military contstructions from 1915-1917 are still visible along the route: casemate, barracks and ladders.

Route details

The route starts from "Forcella Staunies" (2,919 m), the top of the cable car at Cristallo's south side, and ends at "Rifugio Ospitale" in the Val Felizon. It is not a climbing route, but follows the mountain ridge, via ladders, tunnels and bridges. The exposed parts are supplied with steel wires typical for via ferratas, while the parts that originally were difficult are supplied with remedies to make them accessible for walkers. From the start at "Forcella Staunies" is some upward ladder climbing, a short tunnel, and then the bridge "Ponte Cristallo", 27 meters long, and the longest via ferrata suspension bridge in the Dolomites. The bridge was shown in the action film Cliffhanger from 1993.

The peak "Cristallino d'Ampezzo" (3,008 m) can be climbed via a short side route from the main Ivana Dibona.cite book | last= Goedeke |first= Richard |coauthors= Hans Kammerer | title= 3000er der Dolomiten|publisher= Tappeiner Verlag | location= |language= German |year=1993 | isbn= 88-7076-155-3 | pages=240pp]

Further the route goes down to "Forcella Grande", and passes "Forcella Padeon", "Forcella Alta", and "Forcella Bassa", and along the ridge to the peaks "Zurlon" (2,363 m), and "Col di Stombi" (2,168 m), and finally down to "Ospitale".

References

* "Cortina d'Ampezzo e Dolomiti Ampezzane". 1:25,000, Carta Topografica. Casa Editrice Tobacco.