[RWD version 1 ] The Apuan Alps is a little known range of mountains in northern Tuscany which lie between the Apennine range and the western coast of Italy. The mountains are mainly composed of limestone and marble reaching up to nearly 2000m in elevation. The famous Carrara marble (white with blue veins) is quarried here and used worldwide for sculptures and building decoration.

There are many signed walks in the Apuan Alps but for our visit we chose to do the Tordini Galligani Via Ferrata near to the village of Ugliancaldo. This moderately difficult Via Ferrata ascends 400m up an arête of rock at 45 to 50 degrees (occasionally 70 degrees) to reach a col near to the summit of Monte Pizzo d'Uccello. The walk starts at the entrance to a quarry 3km west of Ugliancaldo and the first part of the route is a walk through part of the quarry. We were uncertain if the walk and Via Ferrata were open because of on-going active quarrying but we did ask some quarry workers who didn't say it was closed but signs seemed to suggest otherwise.

From the top of the Via Ferrata a knife edge ridge often only a metre or so wide with big drop offs eventually broadens to a grassy slope and a long descent through trees back to the start. The lower part of the descent was in bad condition with poor signage, fallen trees and washed away stream crossings. It seems that the route is not being maintained - maybe because of the disturbance caused by the quarrying.

The weather was a big problem on our ascent which started off fine (but humid) but quickly deteriorated on the climb. Near to the top we were met with heavy rain, thunder, lightning and hail. Being attached to metal wire on a rock face is perhaps not the safest place to be in thunder storm!

As always climbing a Via Ferrata requires proper equipment and the knowledge of how to use it.