To get to the Alta Via 1 start at Lago di Braies, between 10 July and 10 September this year (2020) the shuttle bus from Villabassa needs to be prebooked – go to www.prags.bz.
As well as being a Covid 19 precaution, the gorgeous lake has become very popular (probably due to an Italian TV series filmed there Un passo dal cielo) and gets far too busy. The local authorities are closing the road to private traffic and limiting visitor numbers with compulsory booking.
Stage 1: Rifugio Città di Bressanone is more commonly referred to as Rifugio Plose or Plosehütte nowadays.
p104 Rifugio Genova is now owned by the Bolzano Province but Alpine Club discounts are still applied
p123 the midsummer shuttle bus from Malga Ciapela to Agriturismo Gran Piano no longer runs.
At Malga Ciapela opposite the cable-car station by all means short cut across meadows down to join the narrow road - R - through the camping ground.
p126 Stage 7 - Ascent/descent 1000m/400m
p150 Stage 11 route change: From Passo Cereda you need the narrow surfaced road opposite Rifugio Passo Cereda. A batch of signposts (including n.801) point you gently uphill SE at first past a a chapel. About 10min on, follow AV2/801 signs keeping L. Further on the lane becomes a signed path dropping through wood and along meadows to join a lane near barns at Casere (1297m). Turn R and stick with this lane across streams, climbing gently high above the village of Sagron and hamlets. At the fork of Altada Grande (1305m) wellmarked path 801 branches R up into the forest. This finally emerges from tree cover - line 8, p152
p153 Casa Boz is closed
Visitors to the Dolomites in summer 2019 need to be aware of possible problems regarding paths. The best advice is to check locally with Tourist Offices and refuges, be versatile and don't take any risks.
Storm Damage in the Dolomites:
Six months ago, in October 2018, the Italian Dolomites were hit by a devastating hurricane - Tempesta Vaia. Winds up to 200km/hr caused widespread damage to villages, houses and roads, and there were several deaths. Millions and millions of trees were toppled. Forestry workers and sawmills are struggling to deal with the massive amount of timber that needs removing and storing.
Naturally, hundreds of kilometres of paths in the Dolomites have been affected by landslides, rockfalls and fallen trees. Despite the snowy winter season plenty has already been done to improve the situation - the authorities as well as volunteers have been hard at work clearing timber, rerouting, and affixing new signs where possible. (Though priority has obviously been given to essential services for villages). The Italian Alpine Club, CAI, as well as SAT, the Trento branch, are involved.
Things are definitely looking up - and even Rifugio Venezia on the Pelmo will hopefully open for the summer season despite having had its roof torn off, the top floor with beds and mattresses ruined by rain and snow, and its jeep access track blocked by rockfalls and landslips. Another refuge with supply problems is Rifugio Pordenone in the Dolomiti Friulane. Thankfully the building was not damaged but its access road all but washed away. But they plan on 'business as usual' this year too.
The following web site lists all the paths by number in the Belluno province (central-southern Dolomites) with notes about what's open and possible problems. It's updated regularly. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1L4qPpNhGaGyyMUkKfqRaeeNV0K2TN3mboDPM_R_OHic/edit#gid=1788649809 'Non percorribile' means 'not walkable' ie closed.
As regards the Trentino area (south-western Dolomites), see this web site: https://sentieri.sat.tn.it/wp/?p=2444. Moreover as of May 20 an App will be downloadable on www.visittrentino.info with up-to-date path info for the Trentino.
Aug 2018
There's been an increase in cases of TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) across Europe, Italy included. Walkers should be aware that they may pick up ticks while walking through grass and woodland up to approx 1500 metres altitude. Not all ticks carry the disease but better safe than sorry. Simple precautions and plenty of useful information is available on the website: https://ecdc.europa.eu/en/tick-borne-encephalitis. Vaccination is also an option.
June 2018
p25 Tourist Office Belluno : www.adorable.belluno.it
p48 3rd last line should read: Next point your boots S. Path n.7 branches R across the stream.
p79 Rifugio Carestiato sleeps 57, open weekends late May then daily late June to late Sept. Credit cards accepted.
p83 End page Note: many walkers have written to say they did not find these stretches exposed.
p87 Rifugio Pian de Fontana – open early June to late Sept.
p87 Stage 11 walking time should be 4hr 15min
p89 Rifugio Bianchet - Dolomiti Bus timetable + tickets available
p90 walking time to La Pissa should be 2hr
p126 Walking time should be 5hr 35min
p127 There have been route changes after Passo San Pellegrino so the description should now read:
From the main road at Passo San Pellegrino (1919m) opposite the derelict refuge turn across the main car park following path n.658 signposted for Passo Valles. It strikes out SE across marshy terrain chopped up by hoofs of cows and horses belonging to the nearby farm. You quickly enter pretty wood with larch and juniper and a cascading stream is crossed. Passing under the Col Margherita cable-car the climb continues steadily SE. As a ski slope is reached, turn uphill for 200m and look for a small marked path L into the trees. Follow this, then at a track, continue steeply up on the left side of the piste. Bear L to another ski piste and descent slightly to a signpost which points the way through trees and boulders. This climbs pleasantly E then SE to
1hr 10min - Forcella Cargol (2204m). You’re now on the edge of the Altipiano degli Zingari, a gently sloping upland scattered with boulders. The vast outlook takes in the Costabella group as well as the south wall of the Marmolada reflected in Lago di Cavia below. Follow cairns and red/white waymarks mostly SW meandering amidst flowers and rocky terrain to
40min – Forcella di Pradazzo (2220m).
