Via Rossi - Tomasi  5.7

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Type:  Trad, 8 pitches, 940 feet, Grade II Consensus:  5.7 [details] FA:  Bruno Rossi and Augustus Tomasi 2 September, 1945 Season:  year round but usually summer/fall Submitted By:  Brian in SLC on Jan 15, 2012 You & This Route  |  Other Opinions (1) Your todo list: Your stars: Your rating: -none- [change] Your ticklist: [add new tick]

Start of the traverse on the seventh pitch of the ...

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Description 

One of the better, more moderate routes on the Piz Ciavazes. Eight pitches.

The route climbs quickly, with straightforward route finding, good rock, and, nice, steep positions.

From the base of the obvious gully, climb up on the left side of the face, while staying to the right of the big corner/gully.

Most pitches are in the 30 to 45m range for length. A pin or more will affirm that one is on route. The more the pins, the more exposed and difficult the climbing.

First pitch is a lower angle scramble staying mostly just slightly left to a large stance with a fixed pin belay (as they all are). Second pitch goes up right, over a little bulge, then up a steeper ramp to a belay stance.

Third pitch continues up the ramp, then, traverses left to a belay at the base of a face. Fourth pitch climbs up the face. Fifth pitch, one of the more difficult on the route, continues up into a corner, which is topped out to the left. Sixth pitch angles up left finishing with a longer easy traverse out left to a stance below a large roof.

Seventh pitch traverses on steep, kind of exact terrain, to the base of a steep chimney. Neat pitch!

Last pitch climbs up on real steep rock, with thankfully large holds. Continue up the chimney, exit out onto the lower angle face and keep an eye peeled for a belay anchor. Easy scramble to the trail from this finish.

Descent:

Most folks don’t continue above the Chamois Terrace. Follow this Gamsband trail to the west towards the Sella Towers. Aim for the gully between the Second Sella Tower and the Piz Ciavazes and zig zag down with mostly easy scrambing and a couple of short down climbs. If it gets too spicy, there’s a couple of spots where glued-in rings are available for short rappels (which may be quicker than trying to figure out where to down climb).

Walk the trail back to the car park.

Location 

This route is located on the left side of the Piz Ciavazes face. Locate a large gully, just right of the obvious Via Italia route.

Left of the Shubert and Big Micheluzzi routes.
On the face to the right of the gully, this is the left-most route. Starting at/near the same place is the Via Delle Guide route (Gross ’63) which climbs up and right of the Via Rossi – Tomasi.

Park as for any of the routes on the face (nearer to Sella Pass on the level with the south face of Piz Ciavezes). Good, easy to follow trails lead to the start of the route in around 15 minutes.

Protection 

A single 50m rope, a small set of nuts and cams, quickdraws and a few shoulder length slings should be plenty. Some fixed gear, enough to help stay on route.

Belays all seem to end in a handy glued in single piton with a ring spray painted red.

Photos of Via Rossi - Tomasi Slideshow

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Location of the Via Rossi Tomasi route.	The Via Rossi Tomasi route approximate location	Fourth pitch of Via Rossi Tomasi
Coming up pitch 5 of Via Rossi - Tomasi	Belay stance at the end of Pitch 7 of Via Rossi - ...	Scramble finish above the steep chimney on pitch 8...