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Week
3: Colfosco For
our third, and last, week of our Italian adventure we travelled to the
Dolomites. This was the first time that Julie had been to this part of the
Alps, and it was to be quite an experience. We took the train from Lucca to Florence,
and then the intercity train from Florence to Venice. From Venice railway
station we took the bus to Marco Polo airport where we hired a car and drove
to Colfosco. It was a long and tiring day, and we
were very glad to finally reach our accommodation Garni
Delta.
Garni Delta: a family
run B&B. Alfreider and his family speak
excellent English, and the accommodation was a very good 3-star. Julie and I
greatly enjoyed our stay! Day
15, 27 June: We saved the best until first! We
decided that we would have a gentle day: a stroll around Colfosco
and a gentle walk following one of the indicated trails from Colfosco center. The walk turned into a real classic: to
be recommended for sheer spectacle and great mountain walking!
The walk started a little cloudy. This is track number 4
directly from the village center.
The track continues up to the pass Forcide
Ciampei Somafurcia, in
the center of this image.
From the pass track 2 is joined by track 4.
Tracks 2 and 4 (and now joined by track 15) take you directly to
the mountain refuge Utia Puez.
You get great views down to Val Gardena
And, of course, how civilised is this: miles away from anywhere,
and you can get a beer.
Partially retracing your steps along tracks 2, 4 and 15 to where
track 15 takes you to new ground.
A little further and track 15 splits, and we take track 5.
Track 5 brings you to Val de Juel, a
stupendous, shear, mountain environment!
Track 5 takes you over steep ground to the pass Forc di Sassongher.
At the pass the ground becomes even more amazing!
The path takes you past enormous walls of limestone. Can you
spot Julie? It was an incredible first day in the Dolomites. What did the
rest of the week have in store? Day
16, 28 June: A day of big mountain views, flowers and lakes.
We took the cable car up onto a plateau within the Sella group
of mountains
Navigation was not going to be difficult: the route was well
marked, and was to be a very gentle day!
As with everywhere in the Dolomites, we were walking in
spectacular scenery
The trails were well marked and easy to follow
Wild flowers were everywhere!
Spectacular and beautiful
Julie and, in the background, the Marmolada
Lech de Boa
Julie under starter's orders
Gorgeous views in every direction: here looking down to Corvara Day 17, 29 June: The Big Race
When
we arrived at Colfosco we were told of the big
cycle race, The Sella Ronda, with 10000 competitors doing 100 miles over six
mountain-passes!
By
the time the riders were passing through Colfosco
they were well spread out!
As
the roads were closed for the race we set off on route 651 directly from the
hotel
The
route takes you into Val de Mesdi, and more
spectacular scenery!
Higher
and higher via route 676.
And
on to the Pisciadu waterfall via route 29b
And
on towards route 666a
Looking
towards Sas Ciampac
Beautiful
flowers everywhere
Through
fields filled with colour on our way back to the hotel Day 18, 30 June: 1km inside a
mountain! This was a most memorable
walk. During World War 1 Italy was at war with Austria in the Dolomites. Part
of the campaign was to remove Austrian forces from the summit of Lagazuoi Piccolo, where a stalemate had lasted for many
months. Italian forces dug through the mountain to lay a landmine consisting
of 36 tonnes of dynamite directly beneath the Austrian stronghold. The
resulting explosion removed the top of the mountain but not before the
Austrians, having seen and heard the excavation, retreated from the summit!
Some
of the lower levels of rubble brought down by the explosion.
Ascending
to the Martini Ledge.
Through
the first, short, section of the tunnel.
The
other side of the tunnel is the Martini Ledge
It
is difficult to imagine how the Italians survived the ledge!
The
start of the tunnel proper: 1100m through rock sometimes inclined at 45 plus
degrees!
At
times the going is quite tricky
Eventually
you emerge from the tunnel network back into sunshine
The
Austrian trenches near the old summit
The
trenches were abandoned well in advance of the landmine detonation
The
section of the mountain that was removed by the explosion of 36 tonnes of
dynamite: where Julie is standing was once inside the mountain! Day 19, 1 July: The Settsass Circuit Our
first, and only, drenching of the entire holiday was during the latter part
of this walk.
We
started the walk with a great view of marmot cubs
Our
summit for the day: Settsass
On
route for the top: the weather is still great, but dark clouds are forming
We
didn't stay long on the top: dark clouds and thunder were heading our way
We
did stay long enough, however, to sign the visitors
book!
We
made our way off the summit, and this is the last photo taken before the
heavens opened! Day 20, 2 July: Last day of our
holiday For
our last day we decided to walk in the Sas Ciampac group of mountains. A view of these mountains can
be seen in a photo from day 17, above.
A very attractive group of hills that had the advantage of a cable car from
our village to the start of the climb!
Looking
towards the Sella Group from the cable car.
The
pass of Gardena
The
complete Sella Group from the Sas Ciampac ridge.
As
with every day we had spent in the Dolomites, the views were just breathtaking! Unfortunately,
for our last day, we had more afternoon rain. Just after this photo was taken
the first of many thunderclaps were heard. Luckily we were able to shelter
whenever the rains passed through, and all in all we had a grand last day of
a great holiday in the Dolomites! |
