Alto Via 2 - Dolomites Italy

Once more unto the breach my friends! Actually the Dolomites in northern Italy, and specifically the Alta Via 2 (AV2). This is one of the great European mountain trails. Taking anywhere between 10 and 16 days to complete, the trial is the longest alta via of them all, measuring +/- 180km from start to finish - assuming no wrong turns along the way!

Within these 180km we will passby (over) no less than 8 of the major Dolimite mountain groups, including such well known Massifs as the glacier-covered Marmolada and the San Martino, with 30 mountain passes to look forward to (NOT). The route also passes through three Italian provinces, Bolzano, Trento and Belluno, and three distinct linguistic regions too: the German speaking Tyrol, the Ladin language of the central Dolomites and the Italian tongue dominant in the southern Alps. Once we leave the starting point for the hike in the city of Bressanone for the lofty Alpe di Plose, the trial never drops below 1300m until the final descent into Feltre.

The trial is officially nicknamed the High Route of the Legends, since it passes through a number of mountain ranges that have become famous as the venue of innumerable lengends and myths. From the Olde Massif, scene of many a Ladin story, to the Vette Feltrine, supposed haunt of witches, ghosts and demons, the entire route is rich in folklore and fairy tales.

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And so watch this space to monitor our daily progress and share our drudgary. Likewise feel free to post comments - but keep them clean (Neil)!