Summary

The Dolomite Mountain region in northern Italy offers some of the most spectacular hiking in the world.  Join a small group of hikers and enjoy breathtaking alpine vistas, historic WW1 relics, and excellent northern Italian cuisine.  We will begin with shorter hikes to allow acclimation to the altitude. On the final day hikers will have a choice of two spectacular routes to suit their level of fitness:  The Marino Bianchi route is 3-4 hours and reaches 3154 meters (10350 feet); the Ivano Dibona route is a 7-hour ridge traverse that reaches a peak of 3008 meters (9860 feet).

These challenging routes require a high degree of physical fitness, and hikers should have prior alpine experience to ensure they can function at high altitude!

Accomodations during the trip will be in high-altitude mountain hostels that are conveniently situated near the trail heads.  They provide room and half-board (breakfast and dinner) with typically 2-4 people per room.  The exchange rate is very favorable for 2015, so the nightly rate has dropped significantly to about $85 per night.

All hikes are in the region surrounding Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy.  This stunning village is a popular resort area for winter skiing and summer hiking, and was the site of the 1956 Winter Olympics.  Airfare from LAX to Venice in September is about $800 roundtrip (cheaper from the east coast).  From Venice there is bus service to Cortina D'Ampezzo (2 hours)

From the village of Cortina a short bus ride takes us to the ski lifts that ascend to the mountain hostels and trailheads.  On the final day we will take a second lift that ascends to over 9000 feet to mountain hostel G. Lorenzi, the starting point for two of the most spectacular routes in the Dolomites: the Marino Bianchi and the Ivano Dibona.

Portions of the Dolomite hiking routes require Via Ferrata equipment which consists of a helmet, safety harness, and tether.  A Via Ferratta is a protected climbing route that includes a steel cable running along the trail.  Climbers tether their safety harness to the cable to eliminate the possibility of falling off the trail.  This allows hikers with no technical climbing experience to access dramatic ridges and peaks at high altitude.  Via Ferrata routes can include ladders and short climbs of a few meters, so hikers should be very fit, and conditioned for working out their legs as well as upper body and arms.  Rental of the via ferratta gear is about $50/week.

Sunday 6 September

Arrive in Cortina D'Ampezzo by bus from Venice.  Pick up Via Ferrata gear in town, then proceed to the mountain hostel via bus and ski lift.  Accommodations will be at Rifugio Averau, one of the newest and nicest hostels in the Dolomites that features excellent Italian/Austrian cuisine.  

Monday 7 September

On Monday we will do a short introductory hike that includes safety training with the Via Ferrata gear and about 10 meters of  climbing.   In the afternoon we can explore the beautiful Cinque Torre area around our hostel, including the World War 1 historical sites.  

Tuesday 8 September

On Tuesday we hike the Ra Gusela route which offers some of the most dramatic scenery in the Dolomites.   This hike is  3 -4 hours and includes an ascent of about 1000 feet, with a short section of Via Ferrata (125 meters).

Wednesday 9 September

This is a travel day that takes us to new accommodations at hostel Son Forca on the east side of Cortina D'Ampezzo, and allows rest time before the challenging hikes on Thursday.

Thursday 10 September

Thursday offers a choice of two spectacular routes that hikers can choose according to their level of ability.  The shorter Marino Bianchi route takes 3-4 hours and includes two hundred meters of Via Ferrata.  The route ends at the top of Cima di Mezzo at 10350 feet.  

 
The longer Ivano Dibona hike is one of the most popular routes in the Dolomites, and starts with the 27-meter long suspension bridge featured in the 1993 feature film "Cliffhanger."  From Cristallino peak (3008 meters) the trail continues across the Zurlon ridge and descends gradually over the course of about 8 miles.  Numerous historical relics from WW1 are visible along the way. The Via Ferrata portion of the route totals about 500 meters.

Hikers that prefer an easier option on our final day can do the short route to Cristallino peak (3008 meters) which includes the suspension bridge crossing (one hour or less).

(see the web page at http://www.Dolomites-hiking.org for more photos)

The trip will be the total of the airfare, ground transportation, accommodations, food, and gear rental.   I can't provide a total because the airfare will vary greatly with the ticket type and departure airport.

I am not charging any fee for organizing the trip.  I will collect the first night's accommodation cost from each participant  (via PayPal or mail) so that the hostel rooms can be guaranteed.  With the exception of the first night accommodation fees, participants will pay all their own expenses directly to the service provider (airline, hotels, hostels, restaurants, ski lift fees, etc.).  The hostel rooms are around $85/night, and include breakfast and dinner.

I will post a more detailed cost breakdown on the web site in the next few weeks.

I need to receive the first night accommodation fees by 1 August so I can confirm the rooms at both hostels. I am reserving the rooms in advance to ensure availability.  Note that these are day hikes; we will not be backpacking between hostels, and no camping equipment is needed.

I spent 5 days in the Dolomites last summer so I am very familiar with the hikes, the accommodations, and the local transportation.  Unfortunately the weather not not very good, which I why I want to go back and do more hiking.

Directions To Trailhead Parking Lot

I will meet you at the train station in Mestre (Venice) on Sunday morning, 6 September.  The bus to Cortina D'Ampezzo leaves at 10:40 am.

If you'd like to discuss more trip details you can email me.