Italy - The Dolomites
In 2019 we planned a trip to visit the Dolomites for September 2020, then Covid rearranged our plans, and we kept moving the trip forward until we finally set off in September 2022
On Saturday 24th September, 10 Devizes Photography Club members arrived in Marco Polo Airport in Venice to collect car hire and begin the 152 mile drive to Alpe di Suisi, which is the largest high altitude alpine meadow in Europe. Mostly the roads and driving conditions were good but the last 3 miles were a very steep climb via several hairpin bends to arrive at the Hotel BellaVista at Compatsch on the Alpe du Suisse plateau. Once checked in, we explored the local area on foot. Vehicles are only allowed on Alpe di Suisi to access hotel accommodation, all travel around the plateau must be on foot or bike.
Image by Sue Wadman
On Sunday, some of us had an early start for sunrise on the Scilliar Massif, although it was possible to get some breathtaking views of the mountains and into the valley below from the hotel balcony.
After breakfast we walked to the local chairlift and made the short ascent to the alpine meadow spending the rest of the day photographing the area before walking back to the hotel for dinner.
On Monday, a small group of us walked up to the meadow to catch the sunrise and were treated to cloud inversion in the valley below. The colour on the mountains at sunrise was spectacular and worth the early start.
After joining the rest of the group for breakfast, we all set off for Ortisei and the lift to the far end of the Alpe di Suisi, for more spectacular views of Sasso Lungo, Cima di Terrarossa and Sasso Piatto. We made our way back to our hotel via Sant Magdalena to photograph the well known church of the same name.
Tuesday morning, we awoke to heavy rain, we were moving to Cortina de Ampezzo, so after a leisurely breakfast we packed and set off, each car having a slightly different itinerary. Our stops included St Valentine Church nestled against the backdrop of the Scilliar massif and then onto Ortisei, this time to get the cable car to Secede. On the ride up, it began snowing and we walked to the viewing point in heavy snow and high winds, thankfully the weather changed, and we were able to get some clear views of the mountains. We travelled on to Cortina, arriving in time for dinner.
The following morning some of us ventured out for the sunrise and found a view over Cortina, then back to the hotel for breakfast. We drove to Auronzo walked to Tre Cime di Laverado, a fairly difficult hike carrying photography gear, and finished the day at Lake Antorna with its views back up to the Tre Cime peaks.
Image By Sue Wadman
On Thursday most of the group had planned and booked a visit to Rifugio Lagazuoi, at an altitude of 2835mtrs, for an overnight stay, the plan was to photograph sunset and sunrise from the top of the Lagazuoi plateau, however the weather gods never got the memo and we arrived at the top of cable car to the first heavy snow of winter and even the short walk of a few hundred metres from the lift station to the rifugio was difficult . We took shelter in the warmth of the rfiugio, with a few drinks and a delicious three course dinner, waiting for the weather to clear but it didn’t, so we settled for a few games of cards and an early night. The optimistic members of the group set an alarm for 6am in the hope that the storm may have cleared overnight, but after a quick look out of the window, settled back into bed until breakfast time. Later, some of us took a short walk on the plateau in deep snow in the hope of some visibility and spectacular views, but the weather never cleared so we eventually got the lift back down.
Saturday was our last full day, and we visited Passo Giau for sunrise then some of the group made a quick trip back to Mount Lagazuoi for the views that we may have missed in the storm, then onto Cinque Torri for a walk around the area including the WW1 trenches, watching the climbers abseil from the top of the rocks and catch some fabulous light on the peaks in the late afternoon.
We enjoyed a final dinner that evening in a lovely local restaurant to reflect on a fantastic trip, lots of laughter with friends and plan the next adventure.
On Sunday we began the drive back to Venice in beautiful sunny autumn weather for the flight back to UK
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