Dolomites - Italy
History
The Dolomites found popularity at the end of the Napoleonic Wars, with an increase in travelers, tour operators, and alpinists flocking to the region. In WWI, the range was home to one of the most treacherous battles of the war. Many reminders of the war can be found on hiking tours. In 2009, the Dolomites were declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, notably featuring “some of the most beautiful mountain landscapes anywhere, with vertical walls, sheer cliffs, and a high density of narrow, deep and long valleys. Source: AlpenWild
Tips
The Seiser-Rosen route is recommended as a good first trek in the Dolomites. Pale di San Martino is also a safe start because it's on the shorter side and has few technical elements. If a trek is too long of a time investment, there are many options for day hikes in this area. On the other hand, if more technical elements are desired, via ferratas can be a fun and challenging addition. A via ferrata is a protected climbing path with iron lines that allow hikers to have a unique and thrilling experience up the walls of the Dolomites. These will require extra gear to climb and a guide is recommended.Source: samash.com
Routes
| Route | Distance | Duration | Difficulty | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seiser Alm - Rosengarten | 38.5 miles | 5 - 7 days | Moderate | Val Gardena | Val di Fassa |
| Pale di San Martino | 22 miles | 4 days | Easy - Moderate | San Martino di Castrozza | San Martino di Castrozza (loop) |
| Alta Badia High Route | 47 miles | 5 - 7 days | Difficult | Corvara | Corvara (loop) |
| Alta Via 1 & 2 | 47 miles | 6 days | Moderate | Cortina d'Ampezzo | Alta Badia |
| Source: Bookatrekking.com | |||||
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Variations
There are many variations to a trek in the Dolomites. As shown in the table above, there are varying levels of difficulty, duration, as well as start and end points. Some trails might be preferable to others due to the hut accomodations that they include. A deciding factor could also be what technical features are present on that route or the physical fitness of the participant.