Treks in the Dolomites - Italy, Europe - Alta Via 1 and 2

• Description
• Contents
• Introduction
• Sample Route
• Maps
• Updates

Tabacco (1:25,000) Blue Covers

AV1: 31, 3, 25, 24

AV2: 30, 05, 07, 15, 22, 23

This book contains route guides for Alte Vie nos. 1 and 2. They are broken up into stages, each of which is accompanied by a sketch map showing important features.

Walkers in this high, rugged mountain country will, however, also need to carry maps for four good reasons. First, as a vital navigational aid should the path be missed or if visibility becomes poor. Second, to allow a sensible escape route to be chosen in emergencies such as sickness or injury. Third, to help in planning lower-level alternative itineraries to avoid high, exposed stretches in bad weather. Fourth, to add pleasure to the journey by enabling the identification of features in the mountain environment – such as peaks, glaciers, cols and settlements.

There are three principal map series covering Alte Vie nos. 1 and 2.

Tabacco offers the best, an excellent 1:25,000 series with blue covers, ‘Carta topografica per escursionisti’. Finely drawn in a clear style with contour lines every 25m and frequently updated, they contain a wealth of detail and show the Alte Vie with triangles – blue for AV1, red/orange for AV2 – and corresponding number. Sheets pertaining to AV1 are 031 (Dolomiti di Braies), 03 (Cortina d’Ampezzo), 025 (Dolomiti di Zoldo) and 024 (Prealpi e Dolomiti Bellunesi) (note: walkers who skip the via ferrata on the Schiara can do without this last map). Sheets needed for AV2 are 030 (Bressanone), 05 (Val Gardena) or 07 (Alta Badia), 015 (Marmolada), 022 (Pale di San Martino) and 023 (Alpi Feltrine).

One negative note: a recent trend to acknowledge local cultures, Ladin and otherwise, has seen the untoward introduction of dialect names on these maps, confusing at times to say the least and often at odds with local usage. For instance, instead of Rifugio, maps covering the Val Badia use Ütia, the Ladin name, as well as varied spellings for mountains. The Italian versions, more widely accepted and used, have been adhered to in this guide for simplicity.

Secondly, Tabacco also has an older 1:50,000 series, which means fewer sheets are needed. Though the relief is drawn rather crudely, footpaths are overprinted clearly in red, and the Alte Vie are identified. Contours are at 50m intervals. See sheets 1 and 4 for AV1; and 9, 2 and 4 for AV2.

Thirdly, Kompass produce a green- and blue-covered 1:50,000 ’Wanderkarte’ showing numbered footpaths and useful features such as refuges in red, as is common practice. Whilst just adequate, they leave a lot to be desired. Alte Vie routings are not up to date, and contours are at 100m intervals, making gradients harder to read. However, they do cover the entire area and could be used for planning in conjunction with this guide. Sheets required are nos. 57, 55 and 77 (AV1); 56, 59 and 76 (AV2).

Various hatchings and broken lines are employed to denote a footpath’s difficulty: a continuous line usually indicates a broad, easy track or mountain road; a broken line a normal mountain path over mixed terrain; a dotted line a particularly steep or rough section; and a line of crosses a rock route or via ferrata. However there are discrepancies. Whilst a dotted line may not always prove tricky on the ground, some broken-line stretches can come as a nasty surprise.

Most of the maps mentioned can be ordered at outdoor equipment suppliers or bookshops, and can be purchased in the major cities of north Italy in addition to the Dolomite regions.