I also got this satisfaction: I did the Piz Trovat via ferrata, in Engadine, Switzerland, which lets you climb in front of the magnificent peaks of the Bernina group, and its imposing glaciers. 

Via Ferrata Piz Trovat (3146 m), Engadin, Switzerland

I had some doubts about doing this via ferrata. I was wondering, in fact, if the arrival at the mountain station of the Diavolezza cable car, with the incredible view that can already be enjoyed from the terrace of the Berghaus, would have not canceled out a good part of the wonder and beauty that can be appreciated from the via ferrata. And I will tell you right away that this is not the case, because the via ferrata also gives you further emotions, and other fantastic points of view on these incredible mountains.

To do this beautiful climb, which I have studied for a long time, I took advantage of a weekend, in which I escaped from the heat of Monza and went camping in Maloja, also enjoying a nice windsurfing session in Silvaplana, on Friday afternoon. The Engadine is a fantastic place, because, in addition to the beauty of the valley and its mountains, it offers the possibility of doing so many outdoor activities.

Sunday morning, July 28, 2024, therefore having noted the good weather conditions, and the favorable forecast, I headed by car to the valley station of the Diavolezza cableway, just before the Bernina Pass. The return ticket was 44 CHF. The cableway takes you to the 2978 m of the Diavolezza. From here, you can easily reach on foot the 3065 meters of the Sass Queder, equipped for a high-altitude barbecue!

The Piz Trovat, on the other hand, appears to you as a dark tooth shaped mountain, which appears evident to the South East. In front of you, the Bernina, Piz Palù, and the Cambrena peaks stand out, from which soft, creamy, and dazzling glacial blankets descend, which then break into lively seracs, and finally into extensive glacial tongues that insinuate themselves into the valleys below (Pers and Morteratsch glaciers).

To reach the start of the two via ferratas (I, the easiest, and II, the most challenging), instead, take the trail that starts to the left of the panoramic terrace, indicated by the signs. And don't do as I did, who, in my eagerness to start climbing, initially went down the covered conveyor belt (part of the ski lifts), and then went back down on the right path. The trail takes you down among rocks and boulders, and then climbs back up, with difficulty, in about 30 minutes, to the start of the via ferrata, clearly indicated by a sign with instructions.

Once you have worn via ferrata equipment, you then start climbing, at an altitude of 2846 meters. The equipped route is the same for a good initial part of the two via ferratas. We reached the top of Piz Trovat, following Piz Trovat I. The track is entirely equipped, and there are practically no sections where you walk. It is therefore impossible to get lost. Let's say right away that the track is well equipped, with many brackets, and metal ladders. If you want, you can almost avoid putting your hands on the rock. Technically, it is not too demanding, but consider that there are many vertical passages, and also several points where you have to climb obliquely with the help of brackets, and therefore good physical shape, a bit of strength, and also a bit of cunning in the movements of the hands and feet are required. In short, the via ferrata is fun. But what matters most is that you climb, suspended from a vertical wall, with a view of the glacial tongues that are ever lower below you, and the looming presence of the white and luminous glacial blankets that descend from the peaks, alongside and above you, on the other side of the valley. In short, the environment is very suggestive and exciting. The crossroads between the two via ferratas is located after the flat stretch of the Cambrena just before the suspension bridge. You are more than halfway up on Piz Trovat I via ferrata, if you continue on this one. There are no particular indications (and they would be appropriate). However, the I continues horizontally to the left; the via ferrata II begins to the right downhill with some brackets. Bear in mind that, in addition to having several overhanging passages, and therefore requiring more physical strength, the Piz Trovat II has a 35-meter Tyrolean rope, which requires, to be overpassed safely, the appropriate device (pulley).

This time, I got satisfied with the abundant emotions that Piz Trovat I gave me (and I'll see if one day I'll also do the II). And, in fact, after the flat stretch, you arrive at the Tibetan bridge, which crosses a deep gorge. Hook the carabiners to the highest metal cable, and hold on with your hands to the two lower side ones. You are safe, but the oscillations and creaks of the bridge will give you some pleasant thrills. In any case, the bridge is only about ten meters long .....

With a final vertical equipped stretch, in about ten minutes, finally, you reach the squat summit of Piz Trovat, a beautiful scree, with a wooden bench.... and several stones small pyramids (in Switzerland it is not customary to put crosses on the summits). The via ferrata requires 1.5 - 2 hours, in addition to the approach (Komoot does not manage via ferratas well, and recorded only 33 minutes in total in motion for me ....).

In addition to the satisfaction of the ascent, and the right amount of tiredness (but, at least for me, nothing excessive), you will be captivated by the surrounding scenery, which, for the most part, is always the one described previously, but from an even more suspended in the void and aerial point of view. Gorgeous.... Towards the West, you can also see the Bernina Pass clearly, with White Lake, the Rhaetian railway line and the road that reaches it. To the North East, the mountains of Austria up to the Grossglockner; to the North, Piz Languard, which I climbed last year, and to the North West the Alps of Valais (Eiger, Jungfrau.....). But undoubtedly it is Cambrena, Palu and Bernina peaks that dominate the scene.

I was relatively worried about the descent, because on the Diavolezza cable car website, it is described with these words: "The descent follows the north-eastern ridge, crossing a rugged and gravelly area. The passages, which are in part very steep, require a sure step".

I can immediately reassure everyone. The descent is steep, but it is absolutely not exposed. I have crossed, in the Dolomites, unequipped sections on via ferratas that were much worse. On Sunday, I began the descent by crossing a snowfield of about 50 meters. The snow was soft enough to allow the boots to sink in and get an adequate grip along the track, and its slope was not very steep. Some guys who were going down before me started playing with snowballs, confirming the tranquility of the track in this point. After the snowfield, the path has a steep slope (40-50%), with several rocky steps. It is a bit tiring, but absolutely not dangerous. For me, trekking poles were essential, to protect my knees. However, in 30 minutes you reach the saddle under the NE side of Piz Trovat at about 3000 meters, and then with a simple traverse towards WNW, in another half an hour you return to the Berghaus. If you want, the descent path can also be taken to reach the top of Piz Trovat, without doing the via ferratas. But you have to be like an ibex.....

I then descended to the valley, again with the cableway, having to return home. It was really hard this time too to leave the green and cool of the Engadine, with its wide and relaxing views.

Once again, this Swiss valley gave me enchanting days.

Have a good climb. Fabio Muriano

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Video coming asap