2007 SEP 9 -16 HOLIDAY REPORT –
BY : Gerry
Kenny John Patterson Sean Levins Stephen McKenna
REPORT: By Gerry Kenny
RATING
10 out of
10
STANDARD :
Wee Binnian B+ and above if HUT to HUT .
Would
suite C to B standard if not doing HUT to HUT
You can
add diversions to elevate to raise to CHALLENGE eg divert to some 2800M peaks or take the Via Ferata routes to the same destination Refuge.
LOCATION
NOTRTHERN DOLIMITI (EAST)
GETTING THERE :
Fly direct
Walk out
of airport , hop on one of the busses going from
Leave bags
for upto 5 hrs in Train Station left baggage – cost
circa Euro 4 .
See
In evening
hop on train .
4 ½ hour
train trip via
Stay at
Fantastic new Hostel Bolzano beside the Train station..
Cost circa Euro 25/ person…
http://bolzano.ostello.bz/cs.asp?st=1&sp=en
Few beers
at the beerfest
1 Hour
local bus trip next morning to Ortisei to get the
large ski left to 2300M start of our trip.
http://www.ortisei.com/english/index.html
Public
transport is extremely low cost in
Walk HUT
to HUT to our final Refuge ( detail below)
Return via
local busses to Cortina .
See EXIT
detail below .
From Cortina
D’Ampezzo you can bus to the train station ( circa 1
hour) and then take the train south to Treviso or as we did take a Bus directly
to Treviso ( < 2 ½ hrs) . Lovely journey.
There are
many places to stay in
We got a
room for 4 sharing in a 2 star hotel beside the Hospital ( walkable 2 KM from centre or town bus euro 1 ) (
just in case) for Euro 25each inc breakfast .
Weekends ( sat ) can be busy.
DAILY DURATION:
4 to 8
Hours Walk .
Lots of
time to stop , take pictures etc . Longer days when
you take diversions to climb peaks or get a bit off course etc .
I suggest keep the map in hand and check regularly.
TRIP SUMMARY TIPS AND REFUGE HUT LINKS :
Refuges are
run by the SIAC (Italian alpine club)
Some of
the Refuges may be private but are basically the same as the SIAC one’s ie
anyone can stay and prices are similar.
This is a
High Altitude ( avg 2300M,
Max 2600M , Min 1200M ) Walk. Peaks you
can divert to are Max ( 2800M) .
You can
also divert to wire assisted routes with very interesting BIG vertical drops ( no need for helmet or via ferata
kit) .
By local
SAD bus ( depart 7:15am) 1 hour Bolzano to Ortisei (1250M)
in Val Gardena … short breakfast and
bought some fruit , lightweight snacks , then we took the magnificent double leg
gondola ( Euro 20) to SECEDA 2453M mountain top . We then started to walk to Refuge
Puez ( overnight) . Our route continued .. Puez via the
EXIT … Bus
from ref Auronzo ( only 1 bus @ circa 9:30am , more
frequent earlier in season pre 9 SEP) car park to Misurina
town and onto the Dobiacco / Cortina road
intersection , exit the bus , from across the road you can catch a SAD bus ( circa hourly) from
the bus-stop and travel onto Cortina D’Ampzzo .
Each day
there are intermediate refuges where you can get excellent food and rest for an
hour. Alternatively we dropped to 2 valley floors which also had shops/food .
Therefore
no need to carry food other than perhaps 1 or 2 choc bars and some nuts.
Refuge Costs . Cost / night
inc dinner and breakfast = circa Euro 38 (dinner , beers/wine + Bed and
breakfast) for Alpine Club members and circa 48/night for non members.
Daytime
meal and drink circa Euro 15 or less if just a Goulash Soup .
The Cakes / Apfel strudel and coffee are hard to
resist.
Join the
Austrian Alpine Club to avail of this discount and get alpine mountain
insurance included , all for STG£43 . www.aac.co.uk
Just bring
a sleeping bag liner. Dorm style mixed sex accomadation.
Sometimes if you have 4 or more you can get a room for 4 or 6. Strictly , lights off and everyone quiet and to bed by 10PM.
Breakfast at 7am . Out in the Sun at 8:15 to 9am.
http://www.rifugi-bivacchi.com/rifugio.cfm?id=1592
http://www.tierseralpl.com/eng/index.html
Ring the
Refuge ahead between 11 and 2 PM to book a place for your party. They prefer this . Worst case they will let you stay even if not able to
contact them.
This is
USEFULL LINKS:
http://www.dolomitesworld.com/dolomites/alpe-di-siusi-altipiano-dello-sciliar/
TRAINS
LOCAL
BUSSES
http://www.sii.bz.it/en/benvenuti.php
LONELY
PLANNET WALKING IN ITALY GUIDEBOOK which contains the route we took
http://www.stanfords.co.uk/stock/walking-in-italy-111899/
TEMPERATURE / WEATHER
SEP 0C at night 25C Sunny days
.
We had
snow one night
WHAT TO BRING
Pack very/ulta light. You don’t need much. You will regret bringing a
heavy rucksack.
Bring just
1 mini first aid ( a few plasters and antiseptic , def
not one each). Same for suncream , toothpaste , creams .. keep it
light and share SPF’s .
Foil
survival bag … I would not recommend the orange bivvys.
Light silk
gloves.
As
few clothes as possible. Layer system. I walking pants with detachable legs / 1 x shorts / lightweight
warm down jacket or fleece for mornings/ evenings/ windy valleys.
White silk
liner bag for the mountain huts . Slike
is ultra lightweight.
Sunglasses
Peak Cap
Mountain Rescue
( Helipcopter) insurance
We joined
MCI www.mci.ie and Austrian Alpine Club like
last time www.aac.co.uk . With AAC you get get
½ price huts and mountain insurance included
Maps – We
used TOBACCO … you can buy from Stanfords http://www.stanfords.co.uk/index.htm
Study
carefully and bring Alpine guide book photocopies to discard as you complete
each objective.
Only try
the high mountains in perfect weather conditions … clear skies and no high
altitude wind. Travel in group(s) of 2 , preferably 3
or more with at least 2 experienced members.
Have the
local emergency numbers at hand, in your mobile .
GPS/ Compass
as these are remote areas and few people. We did not need
Camera
Small
bottle sun protection .. it
was very sunny.
Waterproof
Pants and summer lightweight gore coat ( can wear of
cold in morning) .
Optional …
Harness + Via Ferata kit and helmet and Via Ferata guide book photocopies.
GUIDEBOOKS : Lonely Plannet HIKING IN
Gerry Kenny
mobile for more info tel +353 868370626