Alpine Exploratory Alta Via 1

Holiday Notes 2018

Dolomites Alta Via 1 (Self-Guided)

Please email us at [email protected] to ask about this trip. You’ll find all the latest information at www.alpineexploratory.com/holidays/dolomites-alta-via-1.html.

Our approach and tracks which allow striding out, there is one steep descent which can be bypassed by Your route an enjoyable variant. Rifugio Our trip gives a complete journey on foot from Lago di Braies near Dobbiaco, to La Stanga Stage 4: Rifugio Lagazuoi to Cortina near Belluno. The local bus is taken from (13.5km with 1,00m descent) Dobbiaco to Lago di Braies and from La Today there is the option to explore the Stanga to Belluno. On the trek itself, no Galleria Lagazuoi, a restored First World War transport is taken except for (optionally) the tunnel. The main walk takes you to Rifugio bus into Cortina for your rest day. The AV1 is Dibona under the shadow of immense cliffs of a well-defined route that offers many variants, the Tofana de Rozes. The last 6km can be as described in your routecards. Where the skipped by bus into Cortina. Hotel in Cortina

route splits, generally our normal route below Wooden barns near Rifugio Fodara Vedla takes the easier option. Rest day: Rest day in Cortina Cortina is a bustling resort that has a good Routecards and maps claim to be the skiing and mountaineering About these Holiday Notes centre of the Dolomites. Shops and local Each day's route is explained in detail on your routecards, to bring you to your night's walks abound, as do good restaurants. Hotel These Holiday Notes help you decide whether in Cortina this holiday is right for you. Before your trip we accommodation. We give you the real maps for you to follow, not printouts or photocopies. send you final detailed information. Stage 5: Cortina to Rifugio Nuvolau

Getting there and back (18km with 675m ascent) Details Your holiday starts in Dobbiaco and ends in Return to the hillsides above Cortina, with an Belluno. Travel to Dobbiaco and from Belluno optional bus to miss the first 6km. Walk near Start Dobbiaco for Lago di Braies is not included in the holiday price - we leave the splendid Cinque Torri, five towers, and Finish La Stanga for Belluno it to you to make the arrangements that suit onto the bold ridge that holds the Nuvolau hut. Region Dolomites you best. Venice (and possibly Innsbruck for Rifugio Country Italy Dobbiaco) are the most convenient airports Length 10 walking days and 1 rest day with several transfer options available. Full Stage 6: Rifugio Nuvolau to Rif Citta’ di Total distance 120km information on flight and transfer options will Fiume Typical day 12km with 650m ascent be sent to you on booking. (15km with 490m ascent) Highest altitude 2,752m Descend a steep and rocky path, which can be bypassed, to reach Passo Giau and the Grade Red3 Itinerary hills beyond. Wide open walking over

Introduction meadows is a theme for the afternoon, Arrival day: Arrival in Dobbiaco interspersed with short climbs. At the end of Evening arrival in Dobbiaco. There is masses The Alta Via Uno is one of several North-to- the day the realm of Cortina has been well left of scope for eating out. Hotel in Dobbiaco behind, and the Zoldo area looms large. South trekking routes in the Italian Dolomites, that famous region of the Alps characterised Monte Pelmo is unmistakeable today with its Stage 1: Lago di Braies to Rif Sennes two summits. Rifugio by bold, glowing limestone formations. The (9km with 925m ascent) AV1 is a trek, without via ferrata, in 10 stages The mountains start immediately above Lago Stage 7: Rif Cita di Fiume to Rifugio from Dobbiaco to Belluno. di Braies, a famed lake hemmed in by Vazzoler hillsides. The local bus takes you there from (18km with 750m ascent) Life on the AV1 quickly falls into a relaxing Dobbiaco, or the walk across fields and pattern. The huts are welcoming and the food Passo Staulanza or Passo Palafavera are through woods is a pleasant alternative. Take crossed today, being two road passes giving excellent. The terrain mixes easy stretches to the hills and climb towards Croda de over which you can stride out among high alternative routes. A long traverse around the Becco, an optional 2,810m peak that can be back of spectacular Monte Civetta brings us to peaks, with tighter paths on steep rocky walked on the way to your hut. Rifugio ground. The route can be walked without Rif Vazoller in its wooded setting. Rifugio great difficulty, being made up of standard Stage 2: Rif Sennes to Rifugio Fanes Alpine paths and with variants avoiding the Stage 8: Rifugio Vazzoler to Passo Duran (9.5km with 530m ascent) (10km with 580m ascent) harder sections. Cross-country is the theme for the next two Today calls for striding out; the distance stages as you cross large areas of upland passes quickly on generally good terrain, with Our routecards follow the main Alta Via Uno meadow and rock. Today’s stage is divided route; we also describe all of the common short sections of more slow-going and steep into two at Rif Pederu, which must be walking. Several combes are crossed on the variants, so that on most days you have some descended to and then ascended from. choices of path. The one route that we miss is Civetta massif, which the AV1 is still skirting in Rifugio these stages. Reach the quiet road at Passo the difficult via ferrata on the Schiara, the mountain at the end of the trek above Belluno. Duran. Auberge Stage 3: Rifugio Fanes to Rifugio Lagazuoi We take the variant to La Stanga, for the local (11.5km with 1,215m ascent) bus to Belluno, thus keeping the whole trek to Stage 9: Passo Duran to Rifugio Fontana Today’s goal is the well-positioned refuge on (15.5km with 995m ascent) normal mountain paths and tracks instead of the former front line between Italian and any via ferrata. Enter an area of bold mountains today, at Austrian forces in WW1. Mostly on good paths times with a more remote feel than the hills

Dolomites Alta Via 1 (Self-Guided)

before... however, the walking is similar as variant paths the paths are particularly steep weather that might be experienced in a typical you cross the Cime di Zita, and there is a and loose, for example on the final summer in the UK: from heavy rain storms refuge half-way for lunch. A long and approaches to cols and in loose descents. with a chill in the air, to hot sunshine. interesting descent brings you to a grassy However, the AV1 has no via ferrata or shelf hidden from civilisation. Rifugio climbing sections and is a trek throughout. Equipment

Stage 10: Rifugio Fontana to La Stanga Your own routes You will need the usual equipment for (12km with 250m ascent) While your routecards make up the walking mountain walking in the Alps. Especially The trek is completed with a modest half- for the trip, you are of course free to walk important are good walking boots, good day’s stage to the road. To avoid the AV1’s wherever you choose, taking side trips or waterproof jacket and waterproof trousers, via ferrata finish over the imposing Schiara going by a different route of your own choice. and sun protection. For the huts you will need massif, we take the straightforward path and Please note that if you follow your own route a sheet liner. No via ferrata equipment is track past Rif Bianchet, to reach the bus to you will have left the holiday for the duration. needed. We will send you an equipment list Belluno. Belluno comes as a contrast to the on booking. Please also see the Equipment calm of the trek, being a small yet lively town Food page of our website for more information. very much in an Italian style. Hotel in Belluno

Meals included are all breakfasts plus 8 Local expenses Departure day: Departure from Belluno evening meals (at all of the refuges and Departure from Belluno after breakfast. auberges). For lunches there is lots of Local expenses include food and drink other opportunity to stock up on ingredients along than those meals that are included, plus any Our normal schedule of accommodation might the route. You will often find huts and cafés not be available, especially for busier times or local transport, attractions and extras. during the walking, useful for lunch stops. at shorter notice. We book accommodation as Your routecards give information about food Guided days close as possible to this itinerary and give you shops and refreshment stops along the route. a schedule to check before we proceed. For eating out on the nights when dinner is not included, there are good options in the Hire one of Alpine Exploratory’s leaders to join village or town. you on this self-guided holiday, for one or more days. A leader helps plan and carry out each day’s walking and adds interest to your Insurance holiday by pointing out local features. Please contact us for prices and more information. Clients must have insurance to cover themselves for helicopter search & rescue, Groups medical expenses and repatriation. We recommend, but it is not compulsory, that you also have cover for personal liability, Walk by yourself or in your own group, or see cancellation and your baggage and money. if we can match you up with other like-minded You might find that your annual multi-trip walkers on the same holiday. Any group will travel insurance covers these items already. be a maximum of 8 people. We will send you details of suitable insurance policies on booking. Hazards

Passports and visas Health Italy does not require tourists to take any Passport holders of the US, Canada, vaccinations. However, it is recommended to Australia, New Zealand and Singapore do not keep tetanus vaccines up to date. need a visa to enter Italy. Safety This is adventure travel! This holiday takes Accommodation Weather you to some wild and remote areas, in particular some areas of upland mountains Our standard schedule of accommodation The weather in these parts of the Italian Alps where navigation can be difficult in poor consists of 1 night in a 4-star hotel, 1 night in from July to mid-September is generally highly weather. The weather can also be a hazard in a 3-star hotel, 2 nights in 2-star hotels, 1 night suitable for Alpine walking. While snowfall is itself. During any walking, whether following a in an auberge, and 7 nights in mountain huts. possible on higher ground all year round, it is routecard or making your own route, you are unlikely in this the summer season. responsible for your own actions and safety The huts are comfortable and welcoming. Hut and you should join the trip with suitable skills, accommodation is in dormitories, either on During cold spells in summer, rain can fall as experience and equipment. Alpine-style communal sleeping platforms or snow on the Alta Via 1’s higher passes. in bunk beds. We can sometimes book private Additionally, patches of snow left over from Further information rooms at some of the huts. In the hotels we Winter and Spring might linger into July, but book ensuite rooms. In the auberge we book should not pose problems. July and August non-ensuite but still private rooms. Your info are commonly the hottest months but with Please email us with any questions at pack contains full details of your greater amounts of rain and greater risk of [email protected]. accommodation including contact details and afternoon thunder storms; the first half of directions. September can be stable, with the chance of Disclaimer some beautifully clear days. The walking This information is given in good faith and is Thunderstorms are a particular danger in believed to be correct at the time of issue. Terrain summer, occurring most often in the Alpine Exploratory cannot be liable for any The AV1’s terrain comprises wide tracks afternoons. loss or injury incurred. through forests, the odd country lane, zig- zagging hillside paths and steep, rocky This all means that it is sensible to come mountain paths. In some places on optional equipped and expecting all the types of