Ferrata Sass de Stria, an easy ferrata. Read the description!

A relatively easy via ferrata with great historical interest

Ferrata Fusetti on Sass de Stria was set up in the summer of 2018 by two Alpini teams looking for the remains of second lieutenant Mario Fusetti, a recipient of the Gold Medal for Bravery.

The ferrata is located on the south-west face of Sasso di Stria (2477 metres), a modest peak as compared with the great Dolomite mountains, but one with equally marvellous panoramas.

There are two possible access routes to the ferrata, one longer than the other. Here I will describe the shorter access route, which begins at Forte Tre Sassi. A downhill footpath takes us to Edelweiss Stellung, crossing open terrain and remnants of World War I military positions.
From here, circuiting the mountain in an anti-clockwise direction, we soon reach the Sasso di Stria ferrata.

Description of Ferrata Fusetti on Sass de Stria

GENERAL ACCESS
From Cortina d’Ampezzo or Val Cordevole, get to Passo Falzarego, then to Forte Tre Sassi, also called Intra i Sassi, on Passo Valparola, between Passo Falzarego and Val Badia.
Those coming from the Badia Valley will have to continue through San Cassiano and Armentarola to Rifugio Valparola. A further 500 metres takes you to the fort. Between Sasso di Stria and Piccolo Lagazuoi, the fort is now a Great War – World War One – museum.

ITINERARY
Readers are encouraged not to park in front of the museum but to use the large open area to the east of the fort where the footpath begins. Currently, the Ferrata Fusetti access route to Sasso di Stria is not well marked, but it is, in any case, relatively easy to identify.

To reach the start of the Sass de Stria Via Ferrata, take the descending trail that starts immediately behind the fort/museum, on its eastern side (facing Passo Falzarego), next to the barrier that closes the paved road to traffic.

The route is clearly marked by signposts, making it easy to find the correct direction.

The path is initially steep, then descends into a valley and climbs more gradually to Edelweiss Stellung, the Edelweiss position.

This is a former army village made up of various huts, six of which have been beautifully rebuilt in recent times by volunteers.

Once you reach the first of the buildings, keep it on your right and continue descending along the trail, which soon becomes steeper. Alternatively, you may wish to spend some time exploring the restored huts of the Edelweiss Stellung, which are well worth a visit.

The route circuits the base of Sasso di Stria in an anti-clockwise direction to a narrow ledge. A steel cable gives greater protection to the most exposed section.
Now the path begins to climb and quickly leads to the start of the ferrata, which is well marked with a red-painted sign on a stone. This is the start of the Sass di Stria ferrata.

It is not an especially challenging Ferrata and is around 240 metres long. It is a recent construction and there are thus many unstable rocks along it. Be especially careful not to dislodge them—there may be walkers below.

Above, alongside the metal cord, many caves carved out during the war mark the end of the Ferrata. From here, along trenches and nooks and crannies, a well-signed footpath gets you to the peak of Sasso di Stria, where the views are outstanding.

For the descent, return along the uphill footpath and continue through the trenches along the Sass di Stria ridge to the fort.

As an alternative on the descent, it is possible to follow a scenic variant that leads to the Goiginger Tunnel, built by the Austro-Hungarian army during the First World War. The tunnel is about 500 metres long and requires the use of a headlamp. After exiting on the opposite side, the route reaches the “Selletta”, from where the path leads back to the parking area in approximately 40 minutes.

This route is included in my selection of the 8 via ferratas I recommend for beginners in the Dolomites .