Photo Index

Photos Of This Trip

We flew from East Mids to Venice Marco Polo airport in Venice. After an eventful days travelling, which involved very slow hire cars and bendy roads we were all finally sitting down in our hotel about 10.30pm Hotel Comoscio in the tiny village of Rocco Pietore.

A week of walking, Via Feratta and general sightseeing lay ahead of us.

Day 1

Viel de Pan - 4 miles

Passo Pordoi> Sass Bece > Rifugio Viel de Pan > Arabba height gain 150m Descent approx 800m

With beautiful weather we made for Passo Pordoi 2230m for the Viel Del Pan walk. Viel de Pan is an old trade route which runs along the elongated spine of the Padiri Chian. The walk was straightforward with fantastic views of the Marmolada Glacier - The Queen of the Dolomites. After a lengthy descent on the knees we made it to the local bar at Arabba in time for a beer.

Most evening meals were taken at our hotel, and we were given the chance to sample some of the local dishes, one that we will not forget - Spaghetti infused with garlic and chocolate !!!

Day2

Tre Cime di Lavaredo Circuit - Sesto group of mountains

Rifugio Auronzo > Rifugio Lavaredo > Rifugio Locatelli > Forcella Coldi Mezzo

Grade 1-2 6 miles

After a 2 hour car ride around some of the sharpest hair pin bends in the world, and sore gear boxes for the hire cars we finally arrived at our starting point.

The Tre Cime is the most photographed scene in the dolomites. Unfortunately we did not book good weather, but the clouds added an air of MYSTERY to the dolomite giants.

We stopped for lunch at Rifugio Locatelli. After lunch a small group continued up a small peak Sasso di Sesto 2593m, while the others continued on the circular walk at the foot of Tre Cime back to the cars. The mist had really taken hold by the time we were ready to drive down the mountain.

Day 3

We split up into several groups -

4 of the guys went on the World War 1 tunnel walk at Lagazuoi Piccolo

Grade 3 Approx 1000m in descent

Rifugio Lagazuoi > Passo Falzarego

Kevyn said " The walking was a fascinating walk through history, through dark cramped tunnels, with windows which provided impressive views of the 1st World war battle fields. En route we saw reconstructed depots, cramped sleeping quarters and eery side tunnels".

Other members of the group decide on a sightseeing day in Alleghe, which involed lunch by the lake and pedalo trips.

Day 4 and 5 Marmolada

Day 4

Forcello Di Marmolada

For many of us the highlight of the trip was Via Ferrata and the ascent of Marmolada. We met our guides Delio and Mariano at the cable way / yoghurt pot cable car Fiacconi at 7.30am.

After ascending in the Yoghurt pots we left our overnight and kit bags at the refuge. (Mountain Hut ) We were kitted out with Harness, helmets and crampons for a 300m ascent on the iron cable ways known as Via Feratta. Moving as roped groups we finally ascended to Sorcela de la marmolada 2896m. although we have some very experienced mountain trekkers/ alpine climbers with in the group, for many of us this was our first experience of Via Feratta.

Once we were back in the mountain hut in the evening everyone expressed how much they had enjoyed the day, although there were a few scary moments ! it all seemed to pale into insignificance once a beer was in the hand !!!

Day 5

Marmolada Ascent 3343m

Up early - we had to be ready to go by 7.30am as the sun appeared casting interesting shadows on the landscape. Once we were all roped up we moved slowly across the glacier della marmolada. Our guides from www.alpinguide.com took every caution as the underlying snow bridges could break at any time - A fantastic experience!

Eventually we reached the bottom of the Via Feratta section. On an airy edge we had to take off our crampons, place our helmets on our heads and clip into the iron cable way. We had a steep ascent of about 80-100m , pulling ourselves up on the available rocks. Once at the top of this climb, we once again had to put our crampons on for the final snow ridge ascent to the top of Marmolada 3343m.

After pictures and congratulations all-round we made our descent the Feratta section was slightly harder work going down as you could not move unless the guy above you moved…fine if you have long legs !!!

We moved in time with each other, finally reaching the glacier basin for the descent back to the mountain hut, with time for a team picture!

Day 6

A general sightseeing day for everyone, some people made it to Austria and back in time for tea !

Day 7

Home time

Some left for the airport early to take in Venice before catching the plane home, others took a leisurely ride to the airport

Report by Vicki Burkitt-Steel