Arco

Arco breathes outdoor. Walking through the town, you’ll see climbers and mountainbikers everywhere. We have been here once in 2007 and this year we came back for a week. We’ve been climbing in: Corno di Bo, Nago, Massone and Val Lomasone. The last massif is not directly near Arco, but it is worthwhile to travel there because it’s nice and quiet climbing and not so polished as the other easy routes in Arco.
Besides climbing we’ve been doing two via ferratas.

Climbing in Nago, Gardameer.

Via Ferrate Che Guevara

We park our car in Pietramurata and walk through the industrial area to the start of via ferrata Che Guevara. Just before the route starts, we’re passed by an Italian guy in swimming trunks and a tiny backpack with space for a can of soda at most.

Valle dei Laghi seen from via ferrata Che Guevara.

Valle del Sarca seen from via ferrata Che Guevara.

It’s a beautiful route, good weather and the views over Valle dei Laghi and Valle del Sarca are breathtaking. The route varies with ladders, scrambling and ledges up until top Monte Casale. We sweat out at Rifugio Don Zio and return to the valley via GR426. A part of GR426, Sentiero dei Rampin, has been turned into a via ferrata as well now. A lot of rocks are descending with us, we were glad to wear helmets. Unfortunately one of our unsecured nectarines didn’t make it back.

Cima Capi

The second via ferrata we did was a tour to Cima Capi. We left from Biacesa and went to chapel S. Giovanni via GR470 and GR471.

Via ferrata to Cima Capi.

Then we went to Biv. Arcioni, GR460 (Sent. A Foletti), GR405 to Cima Capi. Over Sent. F Susatti and GR470 we went back to Biacesa. A tour that doesn’t take very long and varies a lot. The secured parts are not difficult and change into footpaths. There is also a lot to be seen of World War One: Trenches, tunnels, corridors and caves that you can walk in and through. Don’t forget to take a torch with you if you’re going to do this route!

Via Ferrata M. Foletti.

Many thanks to the fast service of Mammut. They quickly exchanged our six year old via ferrata sets for new ones because of a recall!
When roaming through Arco don’t forget to taste the home-made ice at Gelateria Mio in the centre next to the bridge of the Sarca! (Gelato Mio, Via Segantini Giovanni 2, 38062 Arco)

Colodri, Arco.

Photos

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Bibliography

Tabacco Carta Topografica per escursionisti, 1:25 000
055 Valle del Sarca
Arco – Riva del Garda

Climbing and bouldering

Last week we were bouldering in Fontainebleau. We went through some circuits in the areas Restant du Rocher, l’Éléphant and Dame Jouanne.

Charissa dyno-ing.

The l’Éléphant area was mainly visited by English climbers the day we were there. In the afternoon it suddenly started to rain. Lots of big drops, that caused us to stop climbing. We used the rest of the day with a walk, south of Nemours.

A walk south of Nemours.

After three days of bouldering, we moved to Mailly le Chateau in Bourgogne (Burgundy). We climbed for another three days in that area.

Climbing spot “Saussois” in Bourgogne.

This year, Bourgogne is largely visited by mosquitoes. We’ve never been annoyed by that many mosquitoes while climbing. One night we even took shelter in our car to be free of mosquitoes. In Bourgogne the weather was precarious. Luckily the rock dries really fast after another shower.

At the campsite we amused ourselves by slacklining.

This holiday was our first proof-of-the-pudding of our mini-camper. It looked great, but will it actually work? It did! Everything functioned as expected, we’re very happy with it.

Our mini-camper at the campsite.

Photos

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