Via Ferrata DeLuca - Innerkofler

The climbing starts where the Gallerie del Paterno tunnel ends. The walk in follows an ordinary mountain path, then ducks into a steep, low-ceilinged wartime gallery, and the wire begins at the far side of it. From there it is 600 metres to the top of Monte Paterno at 2744 m — steep, in places exposed, technically easy at grade B/C. The summit looks straight across at Tre Cime di Lavaredo, and the panorama is there for most of the ascent rather than only at the end. War remains line the way up: tunnels, cut positions, the mountain worked over as a fortification.

• Queues: the beginner-friendly grade makes this a busy ferrata, and in season waiting on the wire is part of the day.
• No water: there is no drinking water source near the route, so carry what you need for the whole climb.
• Toilets: the nearest ones are free and sit about 650 m from the route.
• Descent: the way down runs south, towards Tre Cime.
• Combining routes: the ferrata Delle Scallette, which leads to Torre di Toblin, can be linked with this one.

Cars go as far as the Rifugio Auronzo car parks, some 2.5 km from the climb, and the same spot is the nearest bus stop. Everything after that is on foot: the walk in goes to Rifugio Tre Cime, where the path to the ferrata heads south towards Monte Paterno and then enters the Gallerie del Paterno tunnel. The wire itself begins at the far end of the tunnel, so the harness stays in the pack for the whole approach.

Better: early morning. In July the queue for the Rifugio Auronzo car park forms before 07:00, and starting with it puts you on the wire before the traffic builds behind you.

Avoid: high season if you want to move at your own pace — the easy grade is exactly what fills the route with first-timers.

The views towards Tre Cime di Lavaredo run the whole length of the climb rather than waiting for the summit, so clear air is worth more here than any particular hour of the day.