CALGARY HERALD – Climbing Italy's Alps 'via ferrata' by Suzanne Morphet

Climbing Italy's Alps 'via ferrata'    

By Suzanne Morphet
For the Calgary Herald

Our day began with an easy hike on a well-worn trail. Marcello Cominetti, our 50-year-old mountain guide, led the way, setting a slow but steady pace intended to reserve as much of our energy as possible for what lay ahead.

Michelle, an Australian young enough to be my daughter followed, wearing a tank top, short shorts and oversized sunglasses. Marcello had taken one look at her when we met at our hotel that morning and said bluntly, “Tomorrow, wear pants.”