Alta Via 2 - Trekking in the Dolomites

Includes 1:25,000 map booklet. With Alta Vie 3-6 in outline

By Gillian Price

ISBN

9781786310972

Availability

Published

1 Jun 2022

Edition

Fifth

Pages

144

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x .90cm

Weight

230g

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Guidebook to the Alta Via 2 through the Italian Dolomites. Suitable for experienced hikers with a head for heights, the challenging but hugely rewarding hut-to-hut trail covers 160km in 13 days and involves steep and technical terrain and exposed sections. The more demanding AV3-6 routes are described in outline. Includes 1:25K map booklet for AV2.

Seasons

Alpine summer (mid-June to late September) is the time to go as that's when the rifugi huts are open - essential for overnight accommodation and meals. Moreover that's when the snow will have melted off the high-level paths and the colourful alpine wildflowers will be at their brilliant best.

Centres

Bressanone, Passo Gardena, Passo Pordoi, Malga Ciapela, Passo San Pellegrino, San Martino di Castrozza, Fiera di Primiero, Feltre

Difficulty

A challenging 13-stage trek that entails a number of aided and exposed sections (though these do not rate as full-blooded vie ferrate; several can be detoured). A head for heights is essential, and a short rope and karabiner clips are helpful though not compulsory. Alte Vie 3-6 are more demanding, with remote terrain and prolonged and more technical aided sections.

Must See

The Plose, Puez-Odle, Sella, Pale di San Martino and Alpi Feltrine groups, each distinctive and exciting; key mountain passes such as Passo Gardena and Passo Pordoi; optional detours to peaks such as Sass de Putia and Rosetta as well as the glaciated Marmolada with its high-altitude World War 1 fortifications and poignant museum

ISBN

9781786310972

Availability

Published

1 Jun 2022

Edition

Fifth

Pages

144

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x .90cm

Weight

230g

Overview

Guidebook describing Alta Via 2, a challenging hut-to-hut trek through the Italian Dolomites. Stretching 174km from Bressanone (Brixen) to Feltre, the route involves some aided and exposed sections (although several can be bypassed) calling for a sure foot and a good head for heights. It can be walked in under a fortnight - although it is also possible to walk shorter chunks should you only have limited time, and the guide highlights potential exit routes and transport options. Also included are summaries of Alte Vie 3-6, which are more demanding and include remote terrain and stretches of via ferrata for which climbing experience is essential. On Alte Vie 3-6 some nights will be spent in unmanned bivouac huts, meaning trekkers must carry their own kit, although it is possible to walk shorter hut-to-hut sections. The easiest of the Alta Via routes, Alta Via 1, is covered in a separate Cicerone guide.

An overview diagram is provided for each trek, showing times between huts. Alta Via 2 is presented in 13 stages, each with clear route description illustrated with 1:75,000 mapping. There are overview statistics for each stage and contact details and notes about mountain huts encountered en route. The guide also includes a wealth of information about the region's geology, plants and wildlife to enhance your appreciation of the landscapes traversed. Useful contacts and an Italian-English glossary can be found in the appendices. A handy pocket-sized map booklet showing the full route of Alta Via 2 on 1:25,000 Kompass maps is included with the guide.

Alta Via 2 visits the Plose massif, the jagged Puez-Odle, fortress-like Sella, the majestic Marmolada, spectacular Pale di San Martino and the rugged Alpi Feltrine group as it journeys from the baroque town of Bressanone to Renaissance-style Feltre. On all of the Alta Via routes you can expect breathtaking mountain vistas and a truly memorable trekking experience.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Legend for route overview maps

Map key

Overview map – Alte Vie 1–6

Overview map – Alta Via 2

Route summary table – Alta Via 2

Preface to this edition

Introduction

The Dolomites

Alta Via 2

Alte Vie 3–6

Geology

Languages and place names

Plants and flowers

Wildlife

How to get there

When to go

Shorter itineraries

Accommodation

Food and drink

What to take

Maps and waymarking

Dos and don’ts

Emergencies

Using this guide

Alta Via 2

Stage 1 Bressanone to Rifugio Plose

Stage 2 Rifugio Plose to Rifugio Genova

Stage 3 Rifugio Genova to Rifugio Puez

Stage 4 Rifugio Puez to Rifugio Pisciadù

Stage 5 Rifugio Pisciadù to Rifugio Castiglioni

Stage 6 Rifugio Castiglioni to Passo San Pellegrino

Stage 7 Passo San Pellegrino to Rifugio Mulaz

Stage 8 Rifugio Mulaz to Rifugio Rosetta

Stage 9 Rifugio Rosetta to Rifugio Treviso

Stage 10 Rifugio Treviso to Passo Cereda

Stage 11 Passo Cereda to Rifugio Boz

Stage 12 Rifugio Boz to Rifugio Dal Piaz

Stage 13 Rifugio Dal Piaz to Feltre

Alte Vie 3–6

Alta Via 3

Alta Via 4

Alta Via 5

Alta Via 6

Appendix A Useful contacts

Appendix B Italian–English glossary

Maps

Maps and waymarking

The maps in this book, at a scale of 1:75,000, show the route location and give information about important landmarks and geographical features. The map booklet (1:25,000) that accompanies this guide gives more detail.

As an alternative to the Kompass maps in the included map booklet, the Tabacco 1:25,000 carta topografica per escursionisti are also excellent. They can be consulted and ordered at www.tabaccoeditrice.it as well as bookshops in Italy and overseas. Tabacco’s app for digital maps is downloadable at https://tabaccomapp.it.

With slight overlaps, the following sheets are needed for AV2:

030 Bressanone/Brixen Val di Funes/Villnöss for Stages 1–3 07 Alta Badia-Arabba-Marmolada for Stages 3–5 015 Marmolada-Pelmo-Civetta-Moiazza for Stages 6–7 022 Pale di San Martino for Stages 8–12 023 Alpi Feltrine-Le Vette-Cimònega for Stages 12–13.

For Alte Vie 3–6, the relevant Kompass 1:35,000 and Tabacco 1:25,000 sheet maps are listed in the individual information boxes at the beginning of each trek.

The glossary in Appendix B includes terminology found on maps.

Waymarking for the AV2 is ‘2’ in a red triangle, but where this is faded or missing, you need to follow the local path numbers given in the route description and on maps. All paths have an identifying number and the official CAI waymarking – red/white bars painted on prominent landmarks such as outcrops or trees, as well as signposts.

Waymarking for Alta Via 2

Updates

August 2022

Stage 12

Path maintenance work including cutting tall grass and brambles has been carried out by CAI Feltre (the local branch of the alpine club) on the stretch between Rifugio Boz and Monte Zoccare Alto, making it more straightforward for walkers to proceed.

June 2022

Alta Via 2, Stage 3

Rifugio Puez has changed management and phone number. The new number is 0474 646427.

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Gillian Price

Gillian Price has trekked throughout Asia and the Himalayas, but now lives in Venice. Gillian has steadily explored the mountain ranges of Italy, and Corsica, and brought them to life for visitors in a series of outstanding guides for Cicerone. She is an active member of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI) and Mountain Wilderness.

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