The mountain rescuers in the Dolomites are shocked: on a route where good equipment is strongly recommended, they meet parents who traveled there with their children – completely unsecured. A small child even had to be carried. A video of this daring action is now making headlines in Italy.
The routes around the Cima Uomo summit (3010 meters high) are actually considered unsuitable for inexperienced mountaineers. On the Ferrata Bepi Zac, a route of medium difficulty in category C/D, mountaineers met a family and immediately documented the incident on a video, which the shocked Italian mountain rescuers “Noi Soccorritori” (“We Saviors”) published on Facebook.
Strolled along the abyss
Although full via ferrata gear is recommended for the route – consisting of a helmet, climbing harness, carabiners, possibly a headlamp and even a safety rope for climbing to the summit – the footage shows a woman helping a boy in sneakers down the rock face.
The child simply shuffles down the steep slope with the help of a steel cable attached there. Shortly afterwards, a man apparently carrying a small child in his arms can be seen passing through the same passage, also completely unsecured and apparently without proper hiking boots or other suitable equipment.
Mountain rescuer: “You can’t justify that”
There has been outrage on social media about the negligent action. Maurizio Dellantonio, president of the Italian mountain rescue service, told the online portal “il Dolomiti” that the incident was “bordering on criminal”. Some sections of the Ferrata Bepi Zac are considered complex and demanding – it is certainly not a banal via ferrata.
While it is right and important to seek professional help in time if you feel unsafe or in danger on the mountain, “but you must have common sense,” he continued. “The fact that the parents took such a risk cannot be justified,” Christian Ferrari of the Alpine Club “Società Alpinisti Tridentini” added to the portal.
“Do not be afraid or ashamed to return.”
According to “il Dolomiti”, the dangerous journey miraculously had a happy ending for the family: they probably came down the mountain without incident. Nevertheless, Walter Cainelli, president of the Trentino Mountain Rescue Service, warns: “Unfortunately, there is an increasing attitude that underestimates the risk.”
For such climbing routes, proper preparation and equipment are crucial. And if you struggle along the way, Cainelli advises, “You can’t be afraid or ashamed to give up and turn back.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
