Ferrata Ventricini

Introduction:

The Ventricini Path has recently been renovated with new ropes and ladders. The itinerary is certainly interesting and never difficult. Suitable for those who have not yet gained experience in complex via ferratas, it allows to bypass the west face of Corno Piccolo.

Starting location:

To reach the Ferrata Ventricini you must reach Prati di Tivo, a town in the province of Teramo on the slopes of the Gran Sasso. Generally it is reached via the A24 exiting at S. Gabriele - Colledara, then following the signs for the SS of Gran Sasso towards L'Aquila up to the junction for Prati di Tivo.

Directions for Google Maps available here.

Approach:

From Prati di Tivo you take thecablecar which will take us to La Madonnina (attention to opening hours). At the top station take route 103 in the direction of the Franchetti hut. After about 10 minutes we will find a saddle that we will take to the right, while to the left the path continues to the hut. The trail climbs the northern flank of the Corno Piccolo initially on an easy path rich in white and red signs. Continuing along the hillside we will reach a basin and following the signs we will reach the slab that indicates the beginning of the Ferrata Ventricini (45 'from the cablecar).

Via Ferrata:

The initial part of the via ferrata is downhill for a few meters. Descend following the red and white signs until you reach a new aided stretch that goes up vertically with the help of cable and stairs. We then reach the west face of Corno Piccolo where we will continue between ups and downs generally unprotected up to a passage wedged between two boulders. At this point it is impossible to continue with the backpack and it may be useful to carry a backpack or harness to attach the backpack to the harness. After a while the Ferrata Ventricini (1h 20 'from the start -2 h 15' total) is finished.

return:

From the end of the via ferrata we can take some routes:

1. climb the normal route to Corno Piccolo a little to the left with passages I grade up and down (1 hour uphill - 1h 45 'up and down). From here you can retrace the Ferrata Ventricini and then reach the cablecar (5h 30 'total), or
2. ignore the deviation for the normal route and continue until you meet the signs to the left that lead to the start of the Ferrata Danesi (1h the climb). Descent by normal route and return for the Ferrata Ventricini (5h 45 'total), or
3. go up the path to the Sella dei Due Corni from which we have different possibilities: go up to the Corno Orientale or Corno Occidentale to the normal ones, descend to Rifugio Franchetti and from there take the Ferrata Ricci to the Eastern Horn or back to the cablecar (1h 30 'from the end of the Ferrata Ventricini - 4 h 45' total).

Notes:

This ferrata is largely comparable to a difficult aided path and does not present any particular difficulties.

Opportunities:

As described in the report, the Ferrata Ventricini goes very well for ring routes in the Gran Sasso massif. It is in fact possible to use it as a way of approaching the Ferrata Danesi, as well as the normal routes to Corno Piccolo and the Eastern Horn. The climb to the Corno Grande can also take place with the Ferrata Ricci. If you wanted to reach the southern slope of the Corno Grande you can use the Ferrata Brizio and from there reach the Bafile shelter with the homonymous Ferrata. On the south side of the massif the magnificent is also encountered Path of the Centenary and the Ferrata Famigliari.