VIA FERRATA Catinaccio d’Antermoia - West-face

Difficulty: A-B (medium-easy) - Height difference 404 m

Time ascent 1.30 h descent 1.45 h

This is a popular and very panoramic via ferrata that ascends Catinaccio d’Antermoia (Kesselkogel, 3004 m), the highest peak in the Catinaccio group.

The cabling is somewhat intermittent with many sections of easy but exposed scrumbling. The route can be done in either direction but generally west to east seems the preferred approach and is described here.

The via ferrata is well signed from the Passo Principe Hut with a series of large red arrows directing you towards the rock face. Follow this, passing a memorial  plaque on your right, until you reach an exposed ledge system which brings you to the start of the wire.

Follow the cable along the ledge for 5m to descend a ladder.

Continue up a rising ledge and climb a wide chimeney/small gully on good rock. The via ferrata then alternates between unprotected scrambling and easy climbing on good wire until the summit ridge is reached. 

The last 150m to reach the summit cross consists on an easy - grade I - but exposed ridge without a wire protection. In 1.30 hours from the bottom, you can admire spectacular views of the main dolomitic groups, the iced peaks of central and eastern Alps and the Antermoia lake below.

It is possible to hike down following either backwards the same route, or the via ferrata on the other side (east face).

The make it in circle, descend down the ridge to the east on a well-marked route with sporadic cabling and occasional ladders until you rejoin path no. 584 at the head of the Antermoia Valley.

Here there are two possible options: you can descend to Antermoia hut (1 hour from the summit) or close the ring, walking upwards slightly on the right to Antermoia pass and then down to Passo Principe hut (1.45 hour from the summit).