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The Trip

The Dolomites are famous for their white color, vertical vistas, green valleys, and climbing routes. They form the southern half of the Alps. During our 12 days together, we’ll be hiking with day packs through the dramatic beauty of these grand mountains and lush alpine meadows, with their abundance of wildflowers and clean air.

The Dolomites are famous for their contrasts: the geologic composition of the mountains includes both dolomitic and volcanic formations, and the cultural heritage of the area includes Italian and Tyrolean influences due to a boundary relocation at the end of World War I. In fact, each village or town has an Italian, German, and Austrian name. There are also pockets in this area where the local language is Ladin, from an ancient culture underlying the whole region. Our hikes will take us through the three principle valleys of the Dolomites: the Val Gardena, heavily Austrian in influence; the Val Badia, a Ladin-influenced area; and Val d'Ampezzo, the most traditionally Italian of the three.

Our evenings will be spent in charming family-owned inns in small hillside towns and a refugio (a traditional climber's lodge with dorms and restaurants) perched on top of mountain cliffs, where we'll enjoy the tasty regional cuisine, including fresh mountain cheese, speck (the mountain version of prosciutto), and fine local beers and wines. Carrying only our day packs (vans will transport our luggage), we’ll be free to hike and enjoy the scenery and villages of this captivating and historical area. Our experiences here will be made extra special by the welcoming and friendly nature of the people of this remote and unspoiled region of Italy.

Generally our daily hikes will range between 5-9 miles each day. While ski lifts will be used to allow us access to trailheads at higher elevations, all hikes will involve climbing or descending several hundred feet -- some hikes will involve a couple of thousand feet. Generally the trails are in good shape, but there are some rough sections of scree or stone. Early in the trip we’ll have warm-up hikes and be visiting two world-class museums, the Messner Mountain Museum and the Otzi Archeological Museum. Participants are welcome to join the leaders prior to the start of the outing to scout new routes and do longer warm-up hikes near Bolzano.

You must be able to comfortably walk an average of two miles per hour over a variety of terrain, including steep inclines and downward slopes, with some rocky, uneven trails and scree slopes. On some days we will have a choice of shorter, flatter hikes or longer routes, taking us to higher elevations with more gain and loss. The route will be determined by weather conditions and the group's interests and abilities. If the weather turns bad during a hike and thunder and lighting conditions threaten, you need to have the ability to move much faster to get the group out of the danger zone.

Itinerary

Day 1: The group will gather at our hotel in Bolzano at 5:00 p.m. After introductions, a trip summary, and a nice dinner, you are free to walk around this charming town before turning in for the night. You are welcome to arrive a day or two before and join the leaders on warm-up and scouting hikes. We recommend getting the jet lag issue resolved before starting our scheduled hikes.

Day 2: After an early breakfast, we’ll visit the Otzi Archeological Museum and "The Iceman." Otzi (our 5,000+ year-old ancestor) was discovered on a mountain pass in 1991 in a nearly perfectly preserved condition. Archeologists and forensic scientists have learned a lot about primitive man by studying him, his tools and clothes, and vegetable matter he was carrying. We will then take a ski lift up to Oberbozen, a small town in the mountains above Bozen/Bolzano. We take a local train to Klobenstein, where we begin a gentle hike to an overview of the "Earth Pyramids." Lunch is at an apiary museum, and more hiking is possible before our dinner in Oberbozen and ride back down to our hotel in Bolzano.

Day 3: After an hour-long bus ride deeper into the Dolomites, we take a ski lift up to Col. Raiser and hike down to the village of Selva, where our bags will be waiting for us at our charming hotel.

Day 4: This will be a full day of hiking in the Val Gardena area. We’ll take the 8+ km loop hike around and through the amazing Sassolungo, a more than 9,000-foot peak, using two ski lifts to reduce the amount of climbing and descending. We'll be back to our hotel in time to tour the town's shops and enjoy the fine restaurant at our hotel.

Day 5: After a short hike to a nearby town, we'll take a ski lift to Col Raiser high on the ridge north of our hotel. We'll hike down into a valley and up a steep pass (1,500' gain over 1.5 km) to Mont De Stevia and enjoy a fine lunch at a local refugio, then return to our hotel via a loop trail (big descent!) for a total of about 6.5 km.

Day 6: Today we'll hike a short distance from our hotel to a ski lift that will move us up 2,000' to a pass and a trailhead just below the cliffs of the Gran Cier. From there we'll enjoy a 7-km hike with spectacular views of local mountains, valleys, and villages to get to Corvara in the Val Badia region. A higher, longer route is a possible option. We’ll be staying at a very comfortable hotel with a wonderful and unique spa. Some of us will be ready for a good soak or a massage by then.

Day 7: Following a pleasant, leisurely walk in the Val Badia along a river, we’ll take a ski lift up to a refugio for lunch, and a walk back down to Corvara along a ridge above the river. The late afternoon will be open for relaxing at the spa or shopping. The other option of doing a high route to Piz Boe instead depends on weather and how much energy everyone has.

Day 8: We'll take a lift straight from our hotel and hike across a long, broad plateau (our longest day at about 10 miles). Afterward, we'll take a cable car ride to our refugio at Lagazuoi, which is perched high on a craggy mountain and offers unparalleled views of the whole Dolomite region.

Day 9: This morning we'll wake up in the crisp mountain air at 9,000 feet and enjoy a great sunrise over the Dolomites. After breakfast we can either do a loop hike from our refugio through nearby valleys and passes, or visit the ruins of several World War I sites nearby (tunnels with military gun emplacements). There is a huge sun deck at the refugio with amazing views of the Dolomites in every direction for your afternoon enjoyment.

Day 10: Leaving our mountain refugio, we will hike past WWI fortifications and aromatic pine forests, keeping an eye out for the elusive chamois. We’ll stop for lunch at another isolated refugio before hiking to our hotel in Cortina. This is a long day, but the hiking is generally easy. In the afternoon, you will be free to wander around this famous village (host to the 1956 Winter Olympics), shop, or relax at our hotel located on the outskirts of town.

Day 11: This side trip is to the famous hiking area called Tre Cime, The Three Chimneys. We'll hike around these extraordinary rock spires, have lunch at another refugio that features homemade pasta, then catch the bus back to Cortina in time for some shopping, visiting museums, or people-watching.

Day 12: After breakfast this morning, we will check out of our hotel, perhaps saving time for an optional early-morning walk before we say our goodbyes. Everyone should plan on making their own travel and hotel arrangements for their next destination from Cortina. Buses are available to other local sites of interest, or to transfer to trains to take you to cities with airports. We can assist you with these arrangements the day before.

Getting There

Our adventure will begin on August 31 with introductions at our hotel in Bolzano at 5 p.m. If you wish to arrive early to see more of this wonderful little city, you can make arrangements for an extra night or two and join the leaders for an informal warm-up and scouting hike. The best way to access Bolzano is by train from any nearby major city, including Venice, Milan, and Munich. In general it’s better to take a Euro train rather than an Italian train as strikes are frequent. You can easily make this arrangement on the internet 90 days before the trip.

On the last day, our outing will end after breakfast at our hotel in Cortina. You will want to make your own bus reservations from there to your next destination. We'll be happy to assist you in the process of securing tickets the day before our outing ends and getting you to the bus station on the day our outing ends.

Accommodations and Food

Accommodations will be double-occupancy in hotels, but will be dormitory-style in the refugio. Every effort will be made to match single participants with compatible roommates. Typically a double room features two twin beds in a room. Each bed is made up individually. For those who wish a single, accommodation arrangements can be made in advance with the hotels and the extra charge will be the responsibility of the participant.

In each hotel, we will be accommodated in rooms with en suite bathrooms. Each hotel has been selected for its location, good food, and historic interest. Our hotel in Corvara is a larger, more traditional hotel, but with the feel of a village inn. This hotel features one of the most complete and interesting spas you will find anywhere, in which all guests are free to relax. In Cortina, we will stay away from the noisy city center, but within walking distance of this very cosmopolitan city.

At Refugio Lagazuoi, we will stay in either quad rooms or in the dormitories, both with bathrooms down the hall. The dormitories are co-ed and you should expect coming and going during the night. Ear plugs are a good idea if you are a light sleeper.

All meals are included in the trip cost. Our lunches, in most instances, will be taken at refugios or we will picnic along the route of our hikes, where we will sample the varied and wonderful foods of the region. This area is known for some of Italy’s best wines; and don’t forget the (in)famous digestive...grappa. Vegetarians can easily be accommodated at all hotels.

Trip Difficulty

This is a moderate hiking adventure, intended for the serious intermediate hiker who is comfortable walking five to eight hours each day during our outing. Our maximum one-day hiking distance will be 10 miles, with some significant changes in elevation. Our terrain includes pastoral rolling hills, broad meadows, some steep ascents, and rocky paths, where we might encounter patches of snow even in the heart of summer. Valley elevations are 4,000-5,000 feet and hikes will normally take us no higher than 9,000 feet, but the elevation at one overnight refugio is nearly 9,000 feet. Everyone should plan on carrying day packs with water, raingear (top and bottoms), and personal items. We recommend that you prepare for this outing by taking regular day hikes at altitudes similar to the ones we will encounter, with your day pack and two liters of water. We will be hiking at a moderate pace and taking short water breaks, but seldom long rest periods, except at the top of steep passes and while waiting for ski lifts.

It's very important that each participant be in good physical condition for walking every day on trails at elevation in order to enjoy the outing and each other's company. The trails themselves are generally in excellent condition, but there are some sections of rough rock with some exposure.

The weather in the Dolomites can be variable during the summer and as a result we may well experience everything from still, sunny warm days to snow storms and lightning storms. The schedule for any one day will be modified if we encounter stormy or unsafe conditions.

Equipment and Clothing

It's important to have good-quality equipment in good condition, including boots, raingear (tops and bottoms), day packs with rain covers, poly clothing, and waterproof hats, and the willingness to hike with them every day. Remember, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing for the weather. If one person doesn't bring adequate protective clothing, it can significantly impact the whole group and the hiking plan for the day. There is no climbing equipment or climbing experience required for this trip. However, experience with steep scree, snow fields, and exposure can be a plus if the group elects to walk some of the higher routes. An extensive packing list will be furnished to participants. Hiking poles and well-broken-in boots are highly recommended.

References

Maps:

• Tabacco Carta Topographic #s 03,05,07 & 011- 1:250000 Series (available in Bolanzo and Selva). The leader will make a laminated copy of the hike route available to the group each day.

Books:

• Stedman, Henry, Trekking in the Dolomites.
• Price, Gillian, Walking in the Dolomites: A Cicerone Guide.
• Goldsmith, James and Anne, The Dolomites Of Italy, A Travel Guide. (Out of print, but worth the effort if you can find a used copy.)

Websites:

• http://www.sudtirol.com/
• http://www.valgardena.it/
• http://www.altabadia.org/
• http://www.dolomiti.org/

Conservation

This mountainous region has been the center of human activity for thousands of years, since the days when hunters established seasonal hunting camps in the valleys. Beginning in the middle ages, programs were instituted to protect grazing and wood-cutting rights. Today, more and more tourists are attracted to this beautiful area, both in summer and during the skiing season, and the Italian government is working actively to preserve the area as well as to assure responsible tourism. Two systems of land management in the Dolomites ensure that land cannot be subdivided or reassigned to a new owner without permission.

Trip Price

This trip requires a $200 per-person deposit. An additional payment of $300 per person is due six months prior to trip departure. International trip prices are subject to change and are based on double-occupancy or group accommodations as described above. Single rooms may not be available or may cost more than the listed price. If you have any questions regarding double occupancy, please contact the trip leader.

See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

The Sierra Club accurately and fairly budgets and prices our trips. However, unforeseen costs such as devaluation of the dollar compared to other currencies and fuel surcharges assessed by our international providers may necessitate adjustment in trip price. We will make every effort to mitigate and absorb these fees. If a price increase is necessary, however, you will have 14 days after announcement to cancel without penalty.

Staff

Nan Korutz first discovered the Sierra Club 16 years ago when attending a meeting with the River Touring Section of the Sierra Club in Los Angeles, where she discovered a vibrant community of passionate outdoors people. Nan has led trips in New Mexico, Utah, British Columbia, Oregon and Washington, as well as traveled to many other countries. As an avid hiker with an endless number of elk trails just steps from her home in the coastal region of Oregon, Nan finds the Dolomites to be one of the most beautiful hiking areas in the world. When not leading Sierra Club outings, Nan works as a software engineer for financial firms, volunteers on local conservation issues, gardens, and makes pottery. Nan welcomes questions about this trip.

E-mail: nankorutz@gmail.com

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General Notes About Sierra Club Trips

• Carbon Offsets
• Electronic Devices
• Equipment
• How to Apply for a Trip
• Leader Gratuities
• Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
• Medical Issues
• Non-discrimination Statement
• Participant Approval
• Reservation and Cancellation Policy
• Seller of Travel Disclosure
• Travel Insurance
• Trip Feedback