Italian Dolomites: Alta Via 2

Backabush is going 'hut-to-hut' trekking in the Italian Dolomites!

The Alta Via 2 is one of the classic Alpine hut-to-hut treks amidst Italy's finest wild landscapes. Spectacular scenery and the cosy ambience of the fabulous huts makes this one of the best hutting experiences in Europe. The Dolomites with their cloud-piercing rock pinnacles are quite unlike other parts of the Alps and are much loved by adventurous mountain enthusiasts. A multi-day trek amongst these magnificent mountains is an adventure not to be missed!

We will start our trek from the beautiful mountain town of Brixen in the east Italian Alps. After the first night in this lovely town we will spend the next 6 nights (each in a different mountain refuge) high amongst the towering peaks and high alpine meadows of this region. Our linear 'north to south' trek links these awesomely situated huts and offers the chance to view wildlife and enjoy the wildflowers in full bloom.

Although blessed with some of the best huts in the Alps the route is not without some challenges. There are many steep climbs and some challenging terrain will necessitate scrambling with the help of steel cables where simple via ferrata kit https://www.decathlon.co.uk/via-ferrata-vitalink-lanyard-id_8544069.html should be used for safety. These are wild and rugged mountains where we will enjoy several days well above the pretty villages in the valleys below.

Our high mountain adventure will involve 6 days of alpine trekking amidst magnificent mountain scenery as we cross terrain in excess of 2500m. Although this trek might not be as famous as the Tour du Mont Blanc it is every bit as inspiring and rewarding. It is an undoubted classic and a great introduction to Alpine hut-to-hut trekking for mountain lovers who enjoy a bit of a challenge and have a head for heights.

Heading into the mountains from Brixen we will soon find ourselves immersed in the isolation of the wild landscapes. Here amongst the soaring summits we will enjoy a series of stays in comfortable mountain refuges. Sleeping at these spectacularly positioned huts is a wonderful experience. Hearty and delicious meals are served to hungry trekkers at communal tables while the civilized pleasures of a cold beer or a glass of local wine are also available.

We intend to take a small group of adventurous hikers into this wild region in the far north of Italy. Each stage of our trek will have its challenges but there are no glacier crossings requiring ropes. There will however be some scrambling sections and a degree of exposure. For this reason it is unsuitable for anyone who suffers from vertigo.

Our intended route is:

Saturday 16 July: Meet at our hostel in Brixen. There are regular flights to Munich, Innsbruck, Verona and Venice. Inexpensive public transport can then be taken to Brixen.

Sunday 17 July: We hike straight out of town into the mountains and trek to Rifugio Citta de Bressanone (breakfast included).

Monday 18 July: Trek from Rifugio Citta de Bressanone to Rifugio Genova (dinner & breakfast included).

Tuesday 19 July: Trek from Rifugio Genova to Rifugio Puez (dinner & breakfast included).

Wednesday 20 July: Trek from Rifugio Puez to Rifugio Pisciadu (dinner & breakfast included).

Thursday 21 July: Trek from Rifugio Pisciadu to Rifugio Fedaia Marmolada (dinner & breakfast included).

Friday 22 July: Trek from Rifugio Fedaia Marmolada to Passo San
Pellegrino (dinner & breakfast included).

Saturday 23 July: At Passo San Pellegrino we will have reached the highway. It will be economical for us to charter a minibus taxi to Brixen. We can share the cost of this.

This itinerary involves trekking in a high mountain environment along strenuous routes. There will be steep ascents and descents involved, on sometimes rough or unclear paths. For this reason the trip is best suited to fit and well equipped hikers with some mountain hiking experience.