22 Jan Ice – climbing Dolomites

 
The Swiss ice-climber Florian Martinaglia sends us this dispatch from  the Dolomites
 
"The conditions in Sottoguda gorge are excellent. The quick and easy access and on-site equipment make this place one of the most popular with ice climbers in the north-east of Italy.
 
All the classic waterfall are in excellent condition, except the "Cattedrale sinistra" (its thin ice  not suitable to everyone), and "Spada nella roccia", not formed.
 
On Sunday (15-01-2012) Cassiopeo inVal Lasties is relatively formed. At Pordoi pass I climbed "O sole mio", with good ice. 

In the afternoon, we are in in Fontanazzo, – Val di Fassa, to climb Fontanazzo icefall.. Here too, very good condition, except for a very dry ice, which forces me to avoid the beautiful free-standing  of the second pitch and go climbing on iced grass on the left … "

The snow in the Dolomites – by now – is scarce, then you can move at altitude on foot or with snowshoes, because in some areas there are large accumulations of snow.
 
Article Val di Fassa Ice new line and classic route by Tommi Cardelli
 
Val di Fassa dry-tooling – Grotta di Pian
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