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Trent Wing Air Cadets Climb the Dolomites

After a year of planning and UK based training, the team assembled at Manchester Airport to fly out to Venice Marco Polo
Airport.

After the team landed they collected the hire vehicles and took a 2 hour drive to Marmolada Campsite where they were based for the next week.

The team were amazed with the vastness but rugged beauty of the region, with views from the campsite overseeing the Marmolada Glacier and surrounding peaks that would be the route for the expedition phase. They spent the first day acclimatizing, allowing time to pack and shop for the expedition, as well as adapting to the change of altitude (1600m) before pushing to nearly 2500m on the expedition.

The motivation for this expedition was to link a number of significant sites from the World War 1 conflict between Austria and Italy into a 4 day hike. The cadets used this as a qualifying expedition for their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

The start point was beside the Forte de Fitra Sas Museum beginning the walk around Lago Valporola and under the towering cliffs of Ete Pale de Gerua to reach the Bivuoac at the col beneath Pico Setsas. With well-marked paths, the team were presented with challenges involving scrambles and walking across rockfall. From there the team followed the Seleghe ridge line before forking left to avoid going onto the col to the east of Col di Lana. The summit was marked by memorials, a church and a rifiguio along with the most amazing views. Before descending, there was a steep winding path into the forest to reach the finish point of Livinallongo and proved to be a significant challenge.

On day 2 the team took a steady climb, first through the forest and then through an open alpine meadow of Val de Davedin to reach the pass at El Jof (2200m). This took the team past the remains of numerous outposts to track the movements of the Austrian troops, along
with the views across to the Marmolada Glacier containing the infamous Ice Fortress. The teams took a scenic descent to the main road before climbing to reach the handrail of the southern edge of the picturesque Lago Fedaia.

As the week drew to an end, day 4 was an early start, but much a less demanding route through the gorges of the Pettorina River to meet the Sottoguna River and follow to Alleghe, a relief after 3 hard days of mountain walking.

Saturday morning saw the team go to the view point on top of Monte Rosse (3250m) and were lucky enough to get views through broken clouds of the surrounding peaks before heading to the museum.

The team were able to explore the museum, walk onto the rock outcrops that had the quarters, ammo stores, view posts and artillery positions. The museum told the Cadets that many died from exposure to the conditions rather than enemy fire, but the site was considered a strategic stronghold to be held at any cost.

Listening to the guide’s suggestion, the team got up at 6am to visit via feratta by heading up to Passo Fortzala to meet at 0730. Following kit issue and briefing the team walked 30 minutes to the start point of the Feratta Alpina, one of the original via feratta routes put in but Italian Army Mountain Tropps to flank the Austrian forces, where several Italian lives were lost putting these routes in by hand in freezing conditions. The start of the climbing route was marked by the ruins of a World War 1 field hospital, with lots of information boards which was then later translated to say ‘they are looking to rebuild bits for the “history of the conflict to beknown”.’

The via feratta itself was classed as a moderate climb and took between 3-4 hours, for which the guide’s had the teams tied by rope for extra security. The route was fun, “squeaky” in places, some great but safe exposure and amazing views throughout. The route back was a knee jarring descent down a zig-zagging path.

The trip was possible due the generosity of sponsors from a number of funders: the Ulysses Trust, RAF Charitable Trust, HQ Trent Wing, Air Cadet Charity, The Masons and East Midlands RFCA. Without the support the Cadets wouldn’t have had the experience of a lifetime and are now fully motivated to complete their Gold DofE Award as soon as possible.

Warrant Officer Lockwood 331 (Chesterfield) Squadron said: “I’ve been doing DofE a long time but to give the cadets an opportunity like this is amazing and I hope they use it to get an opportunity to talk to whoever is their principle guest at their Gold Award Presentation when they get there.”