Alpine Logistics

There are numerous options for rock-climbing in Val Ferret. Our objective was Parete dei Titani: a 400m-high face which sits majestically above the glacial moraine that leads to Rifugio Dalmazzi and an array of other splendid climbs in the Triolet basin.

Julia and I had both climbed the face before and the only route we hadn’t done was that furthest to the left. The first pitch was slightly overhung, physical and a nice contrast to the following several hundred metres of fantastic granite slabs.

Five pitches up the wall a ledge marks the half way point. Here we ate our jam sandwiches and left behind the small rucksack we had taken with us, which we’d pick up on our descent. The final four pitches offered rewarding and varied climbing up corners, cracks and juggy overhangs.

After a few well-equipped abseil descents we were back in the horizontal world and glad to be sheltered from the icy wind which, despite the beautiful sunny day, had persisted throughout the climb.

The descent back to the valley floor was relaxing. This time of year is spring at higher elevations and the mountains are covered in flowers and long, bright green grass. We ended the day in a good Pizzeria at La Palud before heading back home.