Hiking the Dolomites in Northern Italy

#Hiking_Dolomites_Italy

The Dolomites are one of the most accessible international destinations (fly into Venice or Milan) for these outdoor hiking adventures that fits all fitness & skill levels
 Once landed then travel north by bus or vehicle rental to the towns with the most tourist infrastructure to base yourself; for example that would be Bolzano, Trento or Merano

From your base you can do daytrips or multiple nights staying at rifugios (mountain huts) with most of the trails that are well developed, to some that needs a little experience & up to what i am doing known as Via Ferrata Lipella which needs expertise
Finally your best months to mountain walk here are from June to September with the longer days & warmer weather as the hiking season is short due to the long winters

 

Making my way along the Austrian Border (300 km /185 miles drive) to first visit my friends in Alta Badia in Northern Italy before heading to my next adventure taking on the Lipella Ferrata
This climb will take me through some historical landmarks, steep/difficult terrain, altitude up to 3200 meters (10,500 feet) & around 13 kms (8 miles)......i am excited 😀  

A reminder (as i drive past) of the World War which Italy suffered a great loss of life & damages
It started in 1915 when Italy declared war on Austria & Hungary which it soon became a stalemate struggle for all the countries involved 
 It was basically a trench warfare as troops from both sides had to deal with freezing temperatures, high altitudes & the instability of the mountains itself

The history of the Via Ferrata ( meaning iron treks....protected paths with iron cables, steps or ladders) began during the first World War & today there are around 600 trails within the Dolomites
All these routes have different grades & lengths (Google; Dolomites Via Ferrata to choose what is best for your comfort & skill level so you have the most enjoyable experience)
 that are constantly maintained by the Italian Alpine Club for safety, so we all can enjoy them

Originally these routes (that were made of iron) were created for the soldiers who carried heavy supplies during all times of the year.
After the war, some of the steel & wooden equipment was replaced with safer modern versions
That being said you need to be confident in your footing, be adventurous, have stamina & do not suffer from vertigo for the more challenging routes which is what i chose because of my experience

With over 1000 Mountain Huts (Rifugios) in the Dolomites you need to do some research but lucky for you i have taken some of those questions out of the equation;

A) They do not open until late June  because of all the snow (during the winter season) as they are at 2500 meters (8000 feet) so the danger of avalanches is a serious risk
B) Reservations are done by email only during the off season, once open you will need to call directly to reach anyone but be patient
 Please remember where these huts are located so cell coverage can be spotty
 C) A deposit of around 20 Euros will be subtracted once you arrive, also you will be sending that payment via E-Transfer so MAKE SURE you include your name & booking dates so you indeed get the credit plus reservation when you arrive
D) The cost per night is depending on your preference, so for example private huts are 70-80 Euros,
 just a bunkbed (4 to 10 people per room) would be 30 Euros PP which most times includes breakfast
 E) Bring your own sleeping bag liner plus pillow cover as linens are not washed daily
 F) Bringing your own food is frowned upon as these huts make their positive income from the meal service, but if you insist you will have to bring your own cooking equipment, utensils & eat away from the hut as your taking away a table space from other restaurant paying customers
G) Water is a precious resource as its collected in huge storage tanks from melting snow or rainwater, so please do not waste water with running the taps, flushing the toilets too many times & because of such, a five minute shower will cost you around 5 Euros 

Always Safety First;

 A)  Always wear a climbing helmet as your not the only one scaling here as the group above you could dislodge some loose rocks onto you
B) A new climbing harness & not secondhand, as the expire date with regular use is around 36 months so there is really no way to check that.....if buying used
 C) Lanyard with four main components; strong loop to attach to your harness, energy absorption system & two carabiners
D) Climbing Gloves as your in constant contact with steel cable with that wear plus it could have some loose wire sticking out for a nasty gash
 E) Stay Hydrated as you climb higher you exhale & sweat twice as much
F) Cell Coverage is good, if you have an emergency call 112 which is the Pan-European Emergency Number where the operator will redirect your call to the proper authorities or call 118 which is the direct number for Medical Emergency & Ambulance in Italy

The Lagazuoi Tunnel was built during World War One by the Italians with the idea of blowing up the Falzarego Pass 
 Why you ask; during those times it was an important passage way for supplies of the Allied Troops of Austria & Hungary

 It is now one of most extensive in the Dolomites (thanks to the European Union grant) plus is the most well preserved & safest to hike (1km/ 0.6 miles)
Bonus, it is also where you can see the trenches, machine gun posts, barracks etc  from the past & its setup like an open air museum

What to wear you ask;

 A) I would recommend covering up your legs with hiking pants to prevent nicks & cuts from the rocks B) Wind & Rainproof Jacket plus maybe a down vest (in your backpack) for the higher altitudes
 C) UV Sunglasses plus lotion on any exposed body parts 
D) Hiking Boots that has a good grip & most importantly are comfortable

As i leave the Dolomites here are some facts;

 A) The nickname is the Pale Mountains due to its composition of dolomitic limestone
 B) It is an UNESCO World Heritage Site  because of its natural beauty
C) Home to the Ladin people since 5 BC (during Roman occupation of this area) the locals adopted the rough Latin language spoken by the soldiers & magistrates into their own plus
  other traditions that have been kept alive through the educational system, culture & cuisine 
 D) Evidence proves that the Dolomites were once underwater with the discovery of fossils, corals & through the various formations
 E) Powdered dolomite from the mountains (when grounded up) has be proven to be an effective medicine to deliver both calcium & magnesium to help strengthen human bones