4.9 nodi km/h SW
There are over a hundred sports' climbing areas within the Courmeayeur and Aosta Valley offering climbs at all grades with lengths from 10m to over 350m.
The local climbing guide book offers detailed information of the different rock climbing: 'Mani Nude 2' by Massimo Bal and Patrick Raspo (available from some of the local bookshops).
The village of Montestrutto in the Aosta Valley has about 40 routes with climbing in various grades. Some well known areas such as Champoluc. Arnard and rock climbing gyms: Villair, Leverogne, Singlin, Ozein, Paretone, Lillaz.
Via ferrata, "Iron Roads", is a cross between hiking and climbing. Via Ferrata routes are built into rock faces with cables and ladders and other equipment designed to facilitate people's progression along the route and to optimize their security. Developed by the Italian Army in the Dolomites during WW1 to access "inaccessible" peaks and equip safe passage for the troups carrying heavy equipment , Via Ferrata is now a new activity in its own right for people keen to try something a little more challenging than alpine hiking. ** Although no real climbing ability is needed, a via ferrata does demand a steady head for heights.