03/07/2026
The iconic Cinque Torri in Cortina d'Ampezzo are set to become the stage for an important new initiative dedicated to inclusion. On 3 and 4 July, inCLOUsivity, a new climbing route, will be opened as the first milestone of inCLOUsion, a project conceived and promoted by Art4Life Movement to make mountain experiences more accessible to people with physical, sensory and cognitive disabilities, while preserving the authenticity of alpine climbing.
The initiative is supported by the Italian Paralympic Committee, CAI Cortina, the Scoiattoli Cortina Climbing Club, Cortina 360, the Municipality of Cortina d'Ampezzo (patronage pending), and Ferrino.
The new route will be opened by Andrea Lanfri, the first multiple amputee climber to reach the summit of Mount Everest independently, together with Massimo Coda, an amputee mountaineer known for significant achievements in the Alps and Africa. Technical support will be provided by CAI Cortina, the Scoiattoli Cortina, and the mountain guides of Cortina 360.
Making the mountains more inclusive
The aim of the inCLOUsion project is to create climbing routes and single-pitch climbs that can also be enjoyed by people with disabilities, accompanied by specially trained mountain guides. The goal is to transform the mountains into a place of participation, shared experiences and genuine inclusion.
Andrea Lanfri and Massimo Coda have climbed together for many years, tackling peaks such as Marmolada, Gran Paradiso, Mont Blanc, Monviso, Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, where they established the route "Unagambaindue" ("One Leg in Two"). Both climb using prosthetic limbs: Lanfri lost both legs and seven fingers following severe meningitis, while Coda chose to undergo the amputation of his right leg after a serious mountain accident in order to return to climbing.
A project rooted in Cortina
The origins of the project date back to July 2024, when Cortina d'Ampezzo hosted the first edition of Trek4Mandela International, an initiative by Art4Life Movement that brought sixteen climbers to the summit of Tofana di Rozes in support of Caring4Girls, the Imbumba Foundation programme promoting education and dignity for thousands of African girls.
Among the participants were Massimo Coda, mountain guide Giacomo Schenardi and renowned Italian mountaineer Mario Vielmo, who later carried the Trek4Mandela flag to the summits of Kilimanjaro and Shishapangma.
In 2025, another important milestone was achieved with the opening of the Via Imbumba route on Mont Blanc by Massimo Coda and mountain guide Niccolò Bruni. This experience inspired the vision behind inCLOUsion: transforming the mountains into a place where inclusion becomes a real, shared experience.
Looking ahead
The opening of inCLOUsivity at the Cinque Torri marks only the beginning of a broader project. Further inclusive climbing routes are planned for Cortina d'Ampezzo and Courmayeur, with the aim of creating a replicable model for accessible mountaineering.
Art4Life Movement also plans to submit the project for the UN SDG Action Awards, the United Nations' recognition for initiatives that help accelerate progress towards a more sustainable, equitable and inclusive future.
With this initiative, Cortina d'Ampezzo once again confirms its role not only as a world-class destination for mountaineering and outdoor sports, but also as a place where the mountains become a catalyst for participation, innovation and inclusion.
