Via Ferrata Albino Michielli Strobel - Punta Fiames

Getting there
From Cortina take the SS 51 towards Dobbiaco for about 4km to Fiames. Park the car at Hotel Fiames. Access
The signposted path starts opposite Hotel Fiames and leads through the wood to a disused railway track. Walk right for a few meters to the path that leads past pine trees to a scree-filled gully. Follow this and exit left (take care not to miss the path at this point) to make the tiring ascent to the foot of the gully at the base of the west face. A metal plate at the extreme left-hand side of the obvious wide ledge marks the start of the ferrata (1 hour from the car). Itinerary

The ferrata traverses the west face rightwards along the wide ledge. This first section presents no particular difficulties and leads to the base of an oblique ramp with a chimney and cracks, where the first metal cable has been installed.  Follow this, paying particular attention to the smooth sections which have become polished due to the numerous ascents. Climb the chimney crack and continue leftwards past exposed sections to reach a second ledge system that leads rightwards via isolated pine trees to an exposed arête. The view from here onto the South Face is impressive, and usually one can make out climbers on the Normal route or on the Spigolo Jori.

Various equipped bulging steps lead to the base of a steep black wall, which is ascended by means of a ladder and steps (exposed). A metal cable then leads through the final bulging sections to the end of the rocky section, from where the path leads easily to the summit of Punta Fiames (2-3 hours form the base of the via ferrata).

Descent
Descend NE along the path past easy rocky scrambles to traverse rightwards (east) to the wide Forcella del Pomagagnon gully (2178m). This southeast facing gully is steep at first but the scree enables a quick descent. Pass the first signpost at the base of the gully (at approx. the height of the first pine tress) and continue to the second signpost. To return to Fiames follow the path no. 208 rightwards at half-height to then descend quickly into the woods and onto the disused railway track that leads back to Fiames. Gear
Normal via ferrata kit Maps/Bibliography
Via Ferratas of the Italian Dolomites: Vol 1 by John Smith and Graham Fletcher. Cicerone Press 2002 Difficulty
Medium difficulty, ascent predominantly on wide ledges, some sections exposed but well-protected and safe.