(Simon writes:) After my September trip, I went back to the Dolomites for the first half of October. This extended time allowed me to walk some remaining sections of our new routes, and to get to know better the villages, hotels and travel routes. In contrast to early October 2010, this year's early Autumn in the Dolomites was warm and sunny with little snow on the ground. Lucy Stewart joined me part-way in, on this trip that covered a good deal of this corner of Italy.


In the Northern reaches of the Alta Via 1, the long-distance trek that we offer for 2012, here are three approaches to storage.


The grey bulk is the Croda del Becco, the first side peak reachable from the AV1, and here seen from the South.

 
Summer was a while ago, with winter yet to come, hence all is quiet at the chair lift above Passo Palafavera. In summer this lift can help walkers on the AV1.


From Cortina I rode the bus and train to Venice, for urban exploration. Here is a courtyard glimpsed through a gate. The city has much to see in every direction.


Back up North, and this time a Northern gateway to the Dolomites, Innsbruck. This small Austrian city in the midst of mountains has a cool and crisp charm in great contrast to Venice. There would be pleasure in crossing the Italian Alps from Innsbruck to Venice, the AV1 forming the trekking section.


Innsbruck's colourful houses sit below its mountains. Fresh snow fell on the Brenner pass on the way in and out of Innsbruck.


Back in Italy at Dobbiaco, one of the many pretty towns in Val Pusteria. German language dominates in this Northern part of Italy, that once was part of Austria. More snow fell this morning, but it was light, and soon disappeared.


Above Cortina, woods were illuminated by a dappled light.


Back in the mountains, a walk to Rifugio Cita di Fiume was warm in the afternoon sun. We then ventured to Cortina, Corvara and Ortisei across the many passes that divide the separate valleys.


A final stop in Treviso was a contrast again, with hustle and bustle in the typical Italian way, mixed with an almost-Venetian network of alleys and buildings.

Please join us on our 2012 program in the Dolomites, which will run from 1 July to 20 September 2012. We offer guided and self-guided treks in this beautiful area of the Alps.

Dolomites Alta Via 1 (Self-Guided)
Dolomites Explorer (Guided)