An easy ferrata: Ra Pegna
Ra Pegna is the name of a rocky tower that, together with Ra Bujela, rises to the side of the Schuss, the steep gully where athletes competing in the World Ski Cup downhill race whiz along in winter.
An easy via ferrata was installed in June by Cortina’s Alpine guides, which is ideal for those starting on via ferrata for the first time and getting accustomed to ropes, carabiners, and vertical terrain.
The Ra Pegna ferrata completes the range of the area’s summer mountain activities and offers a short and easy ferrata to the large numbers of hikers who flock to the area, giving beginners in particular a place to get familiar with equipped routes without too many difficulties and fears.
It is a straightforward ferrata created ad hoc for users taking on this type of route for the first time, a sort of gym and suitable for children, too, as long as they are accompanied by experts and roped on.
The term Ra Pegna is the Ladin translation of “zangola,” a cylindrical or conical wooden recipient used to churn cream and transform it into butter. Now supplanted by industrially made butter, the zangola was commonplace in the farms and rural buildings of northern Italy until the mid-20th century.
The cream was poured into the cylinder, which was sealed with a disk and plunger, and then churned up with the plunger. Butter making required several hours of continuous churning.
The “Ra Pegna” and “Ra Bujela” (needle, once again in Ladin) rock towers rise at the foot of Punta Anna and the Pomedes tower in the Tofana massif.
It is mainly dolomite, for the most part, and dates back to the Triassic. As far as the environmental sustainability of the equipped routes of Ra Pegna and Ra Bujela are concerned, they have an ultra-low environmental impact, requiring minimal earth movements and no tree cutting, and can easily be removed, allowing the place to be returned to its natural state.
Description of Ra Pegna
The Ra Pegna via ferrata, like that of Ra Bujela, is a valid alternative to the longer or more challenging routes on mixed weather days when the area’s other ferratas are not safe (see ferrata Olivieri alla Punta Anna, ferrata alla Tofana di Mezzo, sentiero Olivieri).
Those who wish to link the Ra Bujela via ferrata with the sentiero Olivieri should take the chairlift, complete the two ferratas, and then descend to Col Drusciè by cable car. From here, return on foot to Piè Tofana in 15 minutes.
This route is included in my selection of the 8 via ferratas I recommend for beginners in the Dolomites .
GENERAL ACCESS
If you plan to do the via ferrata de Ra Pegna, the fastest way to reach the start is to use the chairlift Piè Tofana – Duca d’Aosta.
After getting off the ski lift, walk downhill for a few metres and then climb up the ski slope, staying to the left of the Rifugio Pomedes lift.
Continue for a further 250 metres to the signs indicating the beginning of the ferrata.
When this is closed, Rifugio Duca d’Aosta can be reached by car.
ITINERARY
This via ferrata climbs along the rock face’s weak points and gets you to the peak ridge in a short time. From the ridge, after a short downhill section on a straightforward 4 metre approx. rung ladder you reach the footpath which takes you back to the valley or to Rifugio Pomedes which is just above you.
TIME
From Rifugio Duca d’Aosta reach the start of the ferrata in less than 10 minutes.
FACE
Ascent East
Descent West
DIFFICULTY
Easy
ASCENT HEIGHT DIFFERENCE
Circa 100 metres
Starting altitude: 2,145 m (7,041 ft)
Maximum altitude: 2,241 m (7,352 ft)
LENGTH
150 m on the wall + 50 m on the ridge..
NOTES
Rifugio Duca d’Aosta – Tel. 0436 2780
Rifugio Pomedes – Tel. 0436 862061
MAPS
Tabacco Maps − scale 1:25,000 n° 03 − Cortina d’Ampezzo e Dolomiti Ampezzane
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