Alta Via 1,3 and 4 in the Italian Dolomites August 24 – September 9, 2018 Leader: Denise Snow

Dear Fellow CMC Member: Thank you for your interest in the Adventure Travel outing Alta Via 1,3 and 4 in the Italian Dolomites. Please read the following trip description and itinerary carefully before you consider applying for this trip. I have also included a suggested pack list and additional information for your consideration. To apply for a place on the outing, please complete the Trip Application, with the Personal Risk Statement and the Payment and Cancelation Policy. The group will have a maximum of 10 participants and a minimum of 8. All nights will be spent at Italian Alpine Club (CAI) huts, private mountain refuges or small hotels, mainly in remote locations, and all with hot showers. All accommodations will be a shared double room (in all hotels and otherwise where available) or dormitory. Once you apply, you will be notified if you are accepted for the outing. Once accepted, submit a $500 deposit to the CMC to reserve a place (see cancellation policy in the application). Please do not send money before it is requested. Final payment is due by May 28, 2018.

The current in-country estimated trip costs are $2853 for members. The price includes:

• All lodging for 15 nights • All breakfasts • All dinners except the three nights in Venice • Airport transfers to/from Venice • All transfers en route • Luggage transfer on the trek (all but 1 night which is unavailable) • Three roundtrip bus tickets and three roundtrip vaporetto tickets in Venice

Airfare to Venice is not included. Also, expect to spend a few hundred dollars for trip insurance, dinner for three nights in Venice, all lunches and snacks, bar tabs, souvenirs, and any museum entrance fees in Venice. Non-members will be required to pay an administrative fee equal to 3% of the trip costs. Consider becoming a member to avoid this fee. Pre-requisites for the trip are very good physical conditioning, the ability to hike 62 miles in 10 days with 17, 000 feet of vertical gain and an ongoing, regular, conditioning program. A CMC-Denver Group hiker rating is not needed for this trip but some mountaineering experience and a head for a little bit of exposure is desired. We will carry day packs (a suggested list of items is provided) which include all clothing typically needed for changing alpine weather conditions. One night will be spent in CAI huts where no luggage transfer is possible. For these 2 days of hiking you will need to also carry a change of clothes, a sleep sack for hygienic purposes at the huts, personal toiletries, water and lunch. The huts provide bedding and meals. Because we will be hiking at alpine levels, the weather can be most unpredictable, necessitating well thought out element and clothing choices.

Before applying, you may want to check with your “significant other,” employer, etc. to make sure you have the available time to do a 15-day trip overseas. There is no guarantee of someone being on the wait list to take your place if you have to cancel. You will need a valid passport, but no visa is required to enter Italy. Attendance of the pre-trip planning meeting is mandatory, as there will be much to discuss. The meeting will be conducted via teleconference, with presentation slides provided via YouTube, and you will receive ample notice of the date and time. Topics will include suggested equipment, packing, training, cultural notes, and security precautions Please let me know what questions you may have—I am at your disposal!

Sincerely,

Denise Snow [email protected] 719-687-9576

ALTA VIA 1, 3 and 4 IN THE ITALIAN DOLOMITES, AUGUST 24 – SEPTEMBER 9 2018, TRIP DESCRIPTION

The Dolomites are located in the northeast corner of Italy, close to the Austrian border. From the American point of view, the Dolomites are perhaps Europe's most underappreciated mountain range. Despite their proximity to tourist-thronged Venice, not many Americans visit. Too bad. These ramparts of white and pink limestone thrusting up to 10,000 feet from rolling green meadows are more dramatic and esthetic (albeit smaller) than the familiar movie-logo snow-capped peaks of the Alps just to the north. Three-thousand-foot walls attract hard-core rock climbers, while energetic hikers tread a vast network of superb foot trails serviced by a system of rifugios—overnight huts that are really more like small basic hotels, with food, wine, heat, electric lights, bunks, many with hot showers and sometimes even private rooms. The rifugios allow a hiker carrying only a modest pack to stay out on the trail for days or even weeks at a time—an outdoor luxury virtually impossible on this side of the Atlantic. Much of this region was formerly part of the Austro- Hungarian Empire and following World War I was awarded to Italy. Subsequently, all of the names of the region, including the mountains, were translated into Italian. Yet today many of the region’s people still hold on tightly to their Tyrolean roots and speak German as well as Italian. Therefore, another thing that makes the Dolomites so special includes enjoying the wonderful Tyrolean/Italian blend of culture, architecture and cuisine.

The Dolomites are justifiably popular. Here lies the beauty of the long distance, high-level trails, the Alte Vie or "high routes". Six established hiking trails traverse the Dolomites from top to bottom, from north to south, maintaining medium-high altitude with stunning vistas. In August 2016, I lead a CMC trekking trip on the Alta Via 1. This trip is a special compilation of the Alta Via 1, 3 and 4.

The trip will mainly consist of a ten-day trek, on a connecting network of the Alta Via 1, 3 and 4, from mountain rifugio/hotel to mountain rifugio/hotel, for 62 miles with 17,000 feet of vertical gain (VG). Much of the hiking is above tree line with wonderful panoramic views and well marked trails. The rifugios/hotels are situated in remote and highly scenic places along the trails where you can buy drinks, meals or a night's lodging. There are an extraordinary variety of walks and hikes through every imaginable type of terrain, mountain formation and setting. There are gradual ascents through meadows and woods, which end at picturesque small lakes.

The Pelmo

Some trails pass through World War I ruins, some pass through the heart of a WWI battle zone where cut-away galleries can be seen. There are some strenuous, but magnificent mountain treks over rugged tundra between towering mountain walls where the change in elevation is a gain of 3000 feet and a loss of 3000 feet. There are many 360-degree views to be found. Some of the trails can be a little airy and in some places, there may be some stairs in place or cables to hold on to if the conditions are icy. However, none of the trails require any climbing or special equipment. All overnight stays on the trek will be in scenically placed rifugios, either privately run or Italian Alpine Club (CAI) huts, or small mountain hotels. All of the rifugios offer hot showers, some of them with restricted times operated with tokens. The easier access establishments, and all hotels, will offer private rooms with single or double occupancy. The listed price assumes double occupancy but there will be opportunities for single occupancy for an extra surcharge.

Casunziei (beet filled ravioli) Kaiserschmarren

All the rifugios will provide breakfast and dinner. The variety of foods offered will depend on the accessibility of the rifugio. Most Italian breakfasts are simple, mainly coffee, tea, breads and jams. Dinners will always be substantial and packed lunches are available at every rifugio for purchase. Our luggage will be transferred every night except for one night where we will stay in a remote CAI rifugio.

Before the start of the trek we will have one afternoon to rest and/or visit Venice. We will also have a day to do a local hike to the famous Tre Cime di Lavaredo. After the trek, we will stay another two nights in Venice with one full day to explore this beautiful canalled city.

Venice

Tre Cime di Lavaredo

ALTA VIA 1, 3 and 4 IN THE ITALIAN DOLOMITES, AUGUST 24 – SEPTEMBER 9 2018, TRIP DESCRIPTION

Note: All times given are estimated hiking times and do not include breaks. VG means vertical gain.

Friday, August 24 - Fly to Venice

Sat, August 25 - Arrive in Venice. The company Funactive will shuttle us to the Hotel Titian Inn. Spend the afternoon resting or visiting Venice.

Sun, August 26 – Shuttle to Niederdorf and the Hotel Rose.

Mon, August 27 – Hike around the famous Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Enjoy the spectacular views along with a beer/wine and lunch at a rifugio.

Tue, August 28 - Funactive shuttle transfer from Niederdorf to the Sporthotel near Bad Altprags. Connect from path 15 to 16 and then to 33 (Alta Via 3). Hike to Rifugio Pratopiazza. Luggage transfer to the rifugio. Hiking time 6 to 6 ½ hrs. (VG 3772 feet), ~ 8 ½ miles.

Wed, August 29- Hike from Rifugio Pratopiazza to Hotel Croda Rossa in Carbonin (Alta Via 3). Luggage transfer to the hotel. Either take path 34 with one exposed but well protected spot or path 37. Hiking time 2 to 3 ½ hrs. (VG 820 feet), ~ 3 to 4 ½ miles.

Rifugio Prato Piazza Hotel Croda Rosa in winter

Thurs, August 30 - Hike from Hotel Croda Rossa to Rifugio Bosi, on Monte Piana, on path 6a (Tourist path and part of the Alta Via 3). Luggage transfer to the rifugio. Include a visit to the WWI open air war museum on Monte Piana. Hiking time 3 hrs. (VG 2929 feet), ~ 4 miles.

Fri, August 31 - Funactive shuttle transfer from Rifugio Bosi to Misurina. Hike to Rifugio Col de Varda , first around beautiful Lake Misurina and then on path 120 (Alta Via 4). Luggage transfer to the rifugio. Hiking time 2 hrs. (VG 1033 feet), ~ 2 ½ miles.

Sat, September 1 - Hike from Rifugio Col de Varda to the Hotel Cristallo on paths 120 and 1120 (Alta Via 4). Luggage transfer to the hotel. Hiking time 2 ½ to 3 hrs., ~ 4 miles.

Hotel Cristallo Hotel Cristallo Restaurant

The Tourist path to Monte Piana Path 215 from Rifugio Vandelli

Sun, September 2 - Hike from Hotel Cristallo to Rifugio Vandelli on path 217 (Alta Via 4). No luggage transfer. Hiking time 3 hrs. (VG 1758 feet), ~ 4 miles.

Rifugio Vandelli Lake Sorapis

Mon, September 3 - Hike from Rifugio Vandelli to Rifugio Faloria on path 215 (Alta Via 3/4) to Passo Tre Croci and then on 209 and 212 to Rifugio Falloria. Luggage transfer to the rifugio. Hiking time 4 hrs. (VG 1300 feet), ~ 8 miles.

Tue, September 4 - Hike from Rifugio Faloria to Rifugio Croda de Lago on path 214 and then 220 to Zuel (Alta Via 3). Then hike from Zuel on path 432 to the rifugio. Luggage transfer to the rifugio. Hiking time 5 hrs. (VG 3057 feet), ~9 ½ miles.

Wed, September 5 - Hike from Rifugio Croda de Lago to Rifugio Staulanza on path 434 to 436 then 458 and 467 to Rifugio Citta di Fiume. Take path 472 to Rifugio Staulanza (Alta Via 1). Luggage transfer to the rifugio. Hiking time 3 ½ hrs. (VG 825 feet), ~ 7 ½ miles.

Rifugio Col de Varda Rifugio Passo Staulanza

Thurs, September 6 – Hike from Rifugio Staulanza to Forno di Zolda and overnight in the Hotel Garni Posta. Continue on path 472 (Alta Via 1) to 499 and then 492 into Forno di Zolda. Luggage transfer to the hotel. Hiking time 4 to 4 ½ hrs. (VG 1505 feet), ~ 10 miles.

Fri, September 7 - Funactive shuttle to Venice. We will overnight in the Hotel Titian Inn nearby to the Venice airport. From here we can catch a bus at the nearby bus stop for a trip into the old part of Venice for dinner and a little sightseeing.

Sat, September 8 - Spend a day sightseeing in Venice. Possibilities include walking the back alleys of Venice to St. Mark's Square, with its huge trapezoid 596 feet long by 266 feet wide, and then taking a vaporetto (water taxi) back down the Grand Canal. From St. Mark's Square, you can visit the magnificent St. Marks Basilica, built between 1043 and 1071, a harmonious blend of Byzantine, Gothic, Renaissance, and Islamic styles. We can also visit the Doges Palace, decorated mainly by Venetian marble craftsmen in the most elaborate of the medieval styles, the Flamboyant Gothic. Other options are to take a water taxi over to the island of Murano and view some glass factories where skilled glass blowers have been blowing glass since 1289. For those that want to skip the tourist attractions, it is easy to walk away from St. Mark's Square down small alleys to visit lazy tree lined quaint neighborhoods and squares where the real Venetians live. Be sure to try some of the fresh local seafood. We found the grilled seafood platters particularly scrumptious at this time of year!

St. Mark's Basilica The Grand Canal

Sun, September 9 - Fly home

Suggested reading for the Alta Via 1, 3 and 4: Trekking in the Dolomites, Alta Via Routes 1 and 2, AV3-6 in Outline - A Cicerone Guide. Gillian Price. Cicerone Press. Third edition 2011. Alta Via, High Level Walks in the Dolomites. Martin Collins. Cicerone Press. 1990.

Suggested Maps for the Alta Via 1: Dolomiti di Braies: Number 031, 1:25,000. Tabacco. Cortina d'Ampezzo: Number 03, 1:25,000. Tabacco. Dolomiti di Zoldo: Number 025, 1:25,000. Tabacco.

ALTA VIA 1, 3 and 4 IN THE ITALIAN DOLOMITES, AUGUST 24 – SEPTEMBER 9 2018, TRIP DESCRIPTION, PACK LIST

The following is a list of recommended items to carry in your luggage and/or pack (including the 2 nights in the CAI rifugios):

1) Pack cover 2) Rain jacket/pants 3) Warm gloves 4) Warm hat 5) Several warm layers 6) Gore-Tex over mitts to keep hands dry/water resistant gloves 7) Headlamp 8) Change of hiking pants and shirt (quick dry material preferred) 9) Change of undergarments (quick dry material preferred) 10)Change of socks (quick dry material preferred) 11) Sleepwear (personal preference) 12)Sleep sac (required for hygiene purposes at the CAI huts/refuges) 13)Personal toiletries (including ear plugs, soap, detergent for washing clothes, a few clothespins, etc.) 14)Lightweight shoes to wear inside/outside of hotels/huts/refuges (ask leader for recommendations) 15) Sunscreen, personal first aid requirements (Mole skin, pain relievers, etc.) 16) 2 liter capacity for water (water bottles that hold bottled water are a cheap and lightweight choice) 17) Travel towel and washcloth for huts/refuges

ALTA VIA 1, 3 and 4 IN THE ITALIAN DOLOMITES, AUGUST 24 – SEPTEMBER 9 2018, TRIP DESCRIPTION, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Currency The unit of currency in Italy is the euro (€), with 5-, 10-, 20-, 50-, 100-, 200- and 500- euro denominations. The eight denominations of coins vary in size, color and thickness according to their values, which are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and 1 euro and 2 euros. Credit & Debit Cards Should you use a credit card or a debit card when traveling? Both have benefits. A credit card allows you to delay payment and gives you certain rights as a consumer. A debit card, also known as a check card, deducts funds directly from your checking account and helps you stay within your budget. Otherwise, the two types of plastic are virtually the same. Both will get you cash advances at ATMs worldwide if your card is properly programmed with your personal identification number (PIN). (For use in Italy, your PIN must be four digits long.) Both offer excellent, wholesale exchange rates, and both protect you against unauthorized use if the card is lost or stolen. Check your bank's policies concerning foreign transaction fees and interest and fees charged for cash advances For the trek, you will need money for the purchase of alcohol, packed lunches, any extra snacks, shower tokens or souvenirs. I will give you more detailed information on specifics prior to the trip.

Exchanging Money For the most favorable rates, change money through banks. Although fees charged for ATM transactions may be higher abroad than at home, Cirrus and Plus exchange rates are excellent, because they are based on wholesale rates offered only by major banks. You won't do as well at exchange booths in airports or rail and bus stations, in hotels, in restaurants, or in stores, although you may find their hours more convenient. I recommend we get a little money at a Venice airport ATM and then hit a bank ATM first thing Monday.

Electrical Devices To use your U.S.-purchased electric-powered equipment, bring a converter and adapter. The electrical current in Italy is 220 volts, 50 cycles alternating current (AC); wall outlets take continental-type plugs, with two round prongs. Therefore, you need an adapter plug to adjust your appliance to the European socket.

If your appliances are dual-voltage, you'll need only an adapter. Otherwise, you will need a converter as well. Don't use 110-volt outlets, marked "for shavers only," for high-wattage appliances such as blow- dryers. Most laptops, tablets, cell phones etc. operate equally well on 110 and 220 volts and so require only an adapter.

Country Codes The country code for Italy is 39. The telephone number for the Rifugio Fanes, for example, is: 0474/501097, where 0474 is the area code. When calling from abroad, the initial 0 from the local area code should be left out. For example, a call from Denver to the Rifugio Fanes would be dialed as 011 + 39 + 474 + 501097.

Travel Documents When traveling internationally make at least two photocopies of your passport (one for someone at home and another for you, carried separately from your passport). Also, take a photo of your passport so that you have an extra copy on your camera. When staying in a hotel, it is best to leave your passport in a safe in your room while you are out for the day. If you lose your passport, promptly call the nearest embassy or consulate and the local police.