Sentiero ferrato Ivano Dibona is a walking route along the Zurlon ridge, the main crest on Cristallo, a mountain group in the Italian Dolomites, northeast of Cortina d'Ampezzo, in the province of Belluno, Veneto, Italy.[1]
The Ivano Dibona is a restored historical route, which was used by Italian troops during World War I.[2][3] The route was explored in the 1960s by Freddy and Ivano Dibona, subsequently made safe for tourists, and reopened in September 1970. It was named after Ivana Dibona, who had perished on Cristallo in 1968.[2] Remains of military contstructions from 1915-1917 are still visible along the route: casemate, barracks and ladders.
The route starts from Forcella Staunies (2,919 m), the top of the cable car at Cristallo's south side, and ends at Rifugio Ospitale in the Val Felizon. It is not a climbing route, but follows the mountain ridge, via ladders, tunnels and bridges. The exposed parts are supplied with steel wires typical for via ferratas, while the parts that originally were difficult are supplied with remedies to make them accessible for walkers. From the start at Forcella Staunies is some upward ladder climbing, a short tunnel, and then the bridge Ponte Cristallo, 27 meters long, and the longest via ferrata suspension bridge in the Dolomites.[1][3] The bridge was shown in the action film Cliffhanger from 1993.
The peak Cristallino d'Ampezzo (3,008 m) can be climbed via a short side route from the main Ivana Dibona.[1][4]
Further the route goes down to Forcella Grande, and passes Forcella Padeon, Forcella Alta, and Forcella Bassa, and along the ridge to the peaks Zurlon (2,363 m), and Col di Stombi (2,168 m), and finally down to Ospitale.[1]