Via Ferrata Ciardelli

Introduction:

The Ferrata Ciardelli on the Bourcet is a very athletic via ferrata with strong exposure. It is composed of vertical sections, a suspension bridge, traverses and finally an impressive and very demanding and exciting rampart. We recommend a good physical condition before climbing it.

Starting location:

The starting point of the itinerary is in the hamlet of Roreto in the municipality of Roure in the province of Turin. Past Roreto along the SP23 you are on the right side of the Chisone stream and you reach a detour to the left along the Bourcet valley where there are the villages of Clea, Chateiran and Boucet. Pass the bridge over the stream and shortly after there is a clearing on the right for parking. Directions for Google Maps available here.

Approach:

Follow the well-marked approach path that passes near the cliffs of the area and soon leads to the start of the via ferrata (20 'from the parking lot).

Via Ferrata:

We start by climbing a vertical wall with few brackets just where necessary and in any case well spaced between them. The first wall immediately gives a taste of the via ferrata and the athletic commitment that will be require during the trip. Having reached the top of this vertical section, a horizontal traverse is approached to the right that brings us near the Tibetan bridge (25 m) on 3 very exposed strings and quite swinging. At the end of the pose, go up a short but not trivial vertical wall that leads us into a singular rocky ravine. The first section of the Ciardelli via ferrata ends here.

Cross a small wood and then reach a ledge and find ourselves facing the last impressive wall. This vertical slab of about 150 meters is the most difficult and demanding part of the via ferrata. The wall is started using the brackets present and the exciting stretch begins to rise in an increasing feeling of stress for the arms and the back. The technical difficulties are not high in this stretch, but the progression requires strength of arms and absolutely lack of vertigo given the perceived exposure step after step. At the end of the rampart you reach the top and the ferrata ends (2h from the start - 2h 20' total).

Descent:

For the descent there are two options: follow the blue or red signs (to the left). The blue descent path is very slippery and in some places collapsed, therefore maximum attention. The comfortable dirty road bringing us back to the valley bottom (45' from the end of the ferrata - about 3h total).

Notes:

The Ferrata Ciardelli is an athletic via ferrata that should not be underestimated. The support equipment is not as abundant as in other Piedmontese via ferratas and in any case quite far apart, which could put people of short stature in difficulty. In the traverse and in the last bastionate, pay attention to falling debris from above (see some bent brackets). Finally, the bridge is not optimally structured with the cable for the external lanyard which, in the event of a fall, would put us in difficulty to return to the bridge.

Opportunities:

In the first vicinity of the Ferrata Ciardelli there is the recent Via Ferrata Pra Catinat (20 'of car). Going back up the valley you can reach the ferrata of Claviere: la Ferrata Rocca Clarì, the Via Ferrata of the Bunker and the della Batteria Bassa.