Diedro Armani, Torre d'Ambiez: A Dolomite Classic in Val d'Ambiez

A hot day down in the valley, the kind that leaves you no choice, and the decision makes itself: head up into the Brenta. The goal, the Diedro Armani in Val d'Ambiez, one of those classics that pays back every step of the approach.

We set off from the "Ristoro Dolomiti di Brenta" parking lot, working our way up towards Rifugio Cacciatore and then on to the Silvio Agostini. The valley is meant to be taken slowly, savoured for what it is.

At the Agostini you stop for a moment, almost without meaning to. All around it's a run of spires, towers and walls in the heart of the Adamello Brenta Nature Park, with Cima d'Ambiez dominating the head of the valley. A quick coffee, packs lightened, and off towards the base of the route.

The line is easy to read straight away, a long dihedral cutting the full height of the Torre d'Ambiez. Superb rock, pitches each finer than the last. The final two, where the dihedral becomes more pronounced, are worth the climb on their own: quality stone and a line begging to be repeated.

A few photos, a short pause at the top to take in the silence, then back down on the rappels. A route we'd happily do again tomorrow, and a valley that, it has to be said, gives you no shortage of reasons to come back.