Marino Bianchi Via Ferrata

The two via ferratas VF Ivano Dibona and VF Marino Bianchi both start from the top of the cable car at Forcella Staunies. VF Marino Bianchi can be followed to the peak Cima di Mezzo.

We arrived at the start of this Via Ferrata from the Capanna Rio Gere (1698 m) just before Passo Tre Croci (1860 m) and took a chair lift to Rifugio Som Forca (2215 m) before getting onto the rickety Cabin Cars to Forcella Staunies and Rifugio Lorenzi (2932 m). Update on the cable cars that I wrote about 2 years ago from Alavigne.net

“as of summer 2016, the upper cablecar approach to this ferrata has been shut down due to its old age. not sure if it will reopen The route is quite high in altitude (above 3000m / 10,000 feet), and traverses a wild, rugged ridge to one of the summits of the Cristallo group. With the shutting down of the upper cablecar approach, this is likely to be much quieter now. However, you must hike up steep scree from the top of the lower Rio Gere chairlift.”

A news article about the closing of the Staunies Cable Cars

The majority of the route unfolds above 3000m and can hold snow for much of the season so it should not be underestimated. Monte Cristallo is also notorious for holding cloud, particularly in the afternoon. For this reason it is worth making an early start. The ferrata is not particularly steep, at least not at first. It winds its way over and around and in between all sorts of cool towers along the ridgecrest. Basically, the route stays along the ridge crest all the way to the summit of the Middle Cristallo which is 3154 m high.