Читать книгу Shorter Walks in the Dolomites. 50 varied day walks in the mountains онлайн

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Walk

Alongside Rifugio Pratopiazza (1991m), a clear, well-trodden path marked for Picco di Vallandro (n.40) forks E past a chapel at the start of the long but extremely rewarding 800m ascent. Ignore the 2090m fork R for the time being, and plod on N up the vast sloping incline. The perfect path gradient and effect of its zigzags means you hardly notice the climb, and can enjoy the ever-improving views to Croda Rossa SW and Cristallo S. Flowers and marmots add to the distractions. You finally reach a dizzy crest at the 2700m mark. Even if you decide to make this the destination of your walk instead of carrying on to the peak, it’s still well worth coming. The concluding stretch is a short but exposed neck with a fixed chain, which terminates at the summit and cross of Picco di Vallandro (2839m, 2hr 30min). This is a stunning spot that takes in views including the Austrian Alps, Val Pusteria and the Sesto Dolomites.

Return the same way downhill to the 2090m fork (1hr) and head L to coast SE across flowered slopes above summer farms with lovely views over the Pratopiazza basin. Half an hour further along, turn L onto an old military road (n.34) with a rough white stone surface. Amid dwarf mountain pines, this winds easily up SE and narrows to a path. After a ridge, there’s a brief drop towards ruined WW1 barracks at Sella di Monte Specie (2200m). The final leg to the top – recognisable due E with its cross – cuts obliquely up a regular slope. It is not until the very last moment that the rounded top of Monte Specie (2307m, 1hr 15min) reveals its breathtaking magic: directly across the valley E you can see the wild Rondoi-Baranci group then the Tre Cime, which look like slender and sharp knife-blades from here – a view enhanced by evening shadows. Slightly further afield are the Cadini SE, and the Marmarole beyond them, as well as the Cristallo due S and the Tofane SW.