Via Ferrata of Rouas

Introduction:

La Ferrata del Rouas is a recent ferrata in the upper Val di Susa on the border with France. It is an athletic via ferrata with a difficult and demanding variant. In the simple itinerary it is suitable for beginners with equipment in excellent condition.

Starting location:

The starting point of the itinerary is the hamlet of Melezet in the municipality of Bardonecchia in the province of Turin. You reach and cross the town of Melezet, continue along the SP216 for 300 meters where you will notice a parabola of a repeater and a little further you park and you see the poster of the ferrata. Directions for Google Maps available here.

Approach:

From the parking lot follow a very short path that leads us in just over 5 minutes to the start of the via ferrata. For a map of the itinerary you can consult this link.

Via Ferrata:

The Ferrata consists of 3 sections that are not necessarily linked:

• Sector A coincides in the first section with a section that is also common with sector B. The first section goes up a couple of sloping walls and rocky crags where the cambras abound. The first slab ends and you turn left on a traverse that goes around an impressive rocky ledge, reaching a crossroads where you proceed vertically along the B route (Balma del Camoscio) or end the horizontal stretch to the left. Leaving aside the deviation for sector B (read below), three vertical walls with changes in steps never too difficult, however, in increasing exposure, are ascended. Attention in a stretch not to have a very bulky backpack, in which case a return to which to attach the backpack during the short stretch may be useful. You then reach the shoulder where the descent path from the B stretch is inserted from the right and the escape route goes down to the left. Continuing, you will face a long oblique traverse with some uphill tracts, thus reaching the cave (Tract C). Ignoring the deviation for the cave, continue along the traverse to the suspension bridge from where the descent begins, never difficult until the end of the ferrata (2h from the start ignoring the 2 deviations - 2h 5 'total).
• Sector B from the crossroads goes up vertically a first stretch and then a long stretch across it with holds for the hands and feet. Go up another challenging vertical section and finally face the overhanging section (key passage). An overhanging wall of about 6 meters perfectly bracketed, which however tends to push very hard, thus throwing it out, putting a strain on the arms (a quick draw is useful). Continue along a lightly descending traverse where you need to pay attention to your feet. We continue facing a back and a couple of small cliffs and then finish on an easy ridge and reach the forest above Rouas where the section also ends (1h 15 'from the junction - 1h 45' from the start). From here follow the path that leads us to a meeting point with route A in which to continue the ferrata or descend to the valley (30 'from the start - 2h 15' total).
• Sector C is a short section where you go up a short wall facing a cave with a small suspended section and where you must descend towards the continuation of Route A (10 'from the deviation).

Descent:

At the end of section A you descend along the obvious path until you reach a road that you will follow to the left towards the car park (15 'from the end of the via ferrata - 2h 20' total if you have not traveled the sections B and C - 4h total if you have traveled the sections A, B and C).

Notes:

The Ferrata del Rouas is a French ferrata. It is not a real peak, it is athletic (at least in its section B), very well aided. The itinerary is in itself amusing and suitable even for beginners (except the section B). The equipment is in excellent condition and recently built.

Opportunities:

The Ferrata del Rouas is located in the Susa Valley, an area rich in aided itineraries. In particular we point out the Claviere via ferratas (Ferrata Rocca Clarì, the Ferrata del Bunker and the Ferrata of the Batteria Bassa), the Ferrata Gorge of the Dora, the Ferrata dell'Orrido of Chianocco and the Ferrata of the Orrido of Foresto and the Via Ferrata Ruceia.