Day
1 - Saturday 5th September 2009
Transfer from Venice airport to Corvara. Welcome reception in the bar. D
Day
2 - Sunday 6th September 2009
Meet with your tour Alpine Guide at hotel in Corvara in Alta Badia and trip orientation. BD
Day 3 -Monday 7th September 2009 - Sett Sass Mountain range
30 minute transfer to the Passo Valparola. From here we hike around the
Monte Sett Sass to Pralongia in the Alta Badia (3.5hrs). The trail is
very well marked and you can see the Marmolada, Lagazuoi, Col Gallina
and Tofane groups. There is the option of hiking up to the top of the
Sett Sass (2571m) from where the views are spectacular (extra 1.5hrs).
From Pralongia walk to the Rifugio Biock where we will enjoy a fantastic
lunch surrounded by the Santa Croce, Conturines and Lavarella massifs.
After lunch hike downhill to our hotel. BD
Day
4 - Tuesday 8th September 2009 - Passo Cir, Forcella Ciampai
& Rifugio Puez
After a short transfer to Passo Gardena (2119m), we follow a rocky trail
for 1½ hours through the sheer pinnacles of Pizzes da Cir towering
above us. Hike up to the Passo Cir (2468m) and follow a wider trail on
undulating terrain that leads to the Forcella Ciampai Pass (2365m) and
up to the Rifugio Puez where we stop for lunch. We descend to the Forcella
Ciampai Pass and continue to the Rifugio Puez (2475m) where we meet the
rest of the group for lunch. A final three-hour hike downhill on an easy
and panoramic trail brings us to the town of Colfosco and then to Corvara.
Chamois - mountain goats - are occasionally seen along the way. BD
Day
5 Wednesday 9th September 2009 - Sella Group
Corvara - Passo Pordoi - Rifugio Franz Kostner - Corvara. Within the enormous
fortress-shaped Sella massif is an excellent network of paths. Its sheer
flanks are reserved for mountaineers and 'via ferrata' experts. The mountain
group boasts a 3057m pyramidal peak, Piz Boè, which can be seen
from any of the four passes that bound the Sella massif. Today's hike
will be a traverse along the south face of this incredible massif. Transfer
30 minutes to the Passo Pordoi (2238m) from where we start hiking up on
a zigzag trail toward the Forcella Pordoi. Along the way we will be able
to appreciate some incredible views of the Sassolungo, Marmolada, Civetta,
Pelmo, Antelao and Col di Lana mountains. After a 35 minute uphill we
head right and start our traverse that goes gently up and then downhill
along the Sella's south face. The trail is on a typical Dolomitic stone
desert trail; it is rocky and sometimes exposed. We may see the occasional
hardy wildflower such as the tiny white alpine mouse-ear and yellow poppies.
Continue to the Rifugio Franz Kostner (2500m) where we will stop for lunch.
After lunch we'll hike downhill along Lago Boè and through the
woods to Corvara (1560m). Those who don't feel like doing some downhill
can take two lifts down to Corvara or hike down one part and take the
second lift to town. BD
Day
6 - Thursday 10th September 2009 - Santa Croce Mountain Range
Today we'll walk to the Santa Croce Sanctuary at the base of the Sasso
della Croce (Sass dla Crusc for the Ladin-speaking population). It's a
five-minute transfer to the town of upper La Villa (1600m) from where
we start the hike. We first walk uphill on a wide trail, passing through
a number of closely knit hamlets formed by clusters of ancient shingle-roofed
timber farmhouses and barns known as viles. After a 45-minute walk we
get on a gravel trail that directs us to the Santa Croce Sanctuary. We
walk gradually uphill through the pine forest with great views of the
Santa Croce, Conturines, and Sella mountain groups as well as the towns
of La Villa, San Cassiano, Corvara, Pedraces, and San Leonardo - all part
of the Val Badia. Along the way there are a couple of steep ascents. It
takes about two hours to get to the church and sanctuary of Ospizio S.
Croce (2045m). The sober white church was consecrated in 1484 and holds
an image of Christ bearing the cross, hence the name of the mountain -
Sasso della Croce, 'stone of the cross.' The earlier chapel on the site
was built in the 11th century when a wealthy count of the Val Pusteria
withdrew to meditate and repent for his harsh treatment of his subjects.
He then donated all his earthly possessions to the nearby abbey, the Badia,
which gave its name to Val Badia. The 'pilgrim's' hospice (ospizio) building
from 1718 was originally the sacristan's lodgings. We continue for another
45 minutes to our lunch spot at the 'Ranch Andre', a typical Ladino shepherd's
house that has been converted into a small rifugio for lunch. The place
is very inviting and the food delicious. We'll be able to taste the turtres
(Ladino vegetable pastries), grilled vegetables and homemade cakes. Across
the valley is the spread out Puez-Odle group and the Sass de Putia. After
lunch we descend on a different trail to the town of San Leonardo and
have a 10-minute transfer back to Corvara. BD
Day
7 Friday 11th September 2009 - Fanes-Sennes-Braies Natural Park
Corvara - San Cassiano- Forcella Medesc - Rif. Fanes - Val di Fanes - Capana Alpina - Corvara (7-8 hrs). Short transfer to San Cassiano - 1536m from where we start hiking uphill towards the Forcella Medesc. The trail keeps on going gradually uphill through the woods and then goes through a clearing to a valley. Here you hike on a gravel and narrow trail that climbs up to the Forcella at 2584m (1.45hrs). Another 2 hours on a very well marked trail on an uneven plateau will take us to the Rifugio Fanes where we'll stop for lunch. After lunch we return to Corvara along the Val di Fanes and Col Locia to the Capanna Alpina. From here transfer back to the hotel. BD
Day
8 Saturday 12th September 2009
Check out after breakfast. B
B
= Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner |
