Dolomites - Part 1

[darren]

OK, as some of you have noticed, I'm back. Ugh. Carmel and I went to Italy for 16 days to find out just how awesome the Dolomites are. Well, let me tell you, they are AWESOME! Just incredible mountains with an incredible network of trails and affordable huts (refugios) that put our local huts / hotels to shame.

We did the full gamut of hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing on the famous via ferrata routes. The refugios made multiday trips very easy. No need to carry sleeping bags or a tent or food (other than snacks), so I was able to haul some extra photo gear. I have tons of pictures and I just started working on putting together some galleries. I will put together a full trip report, but here are a few teaser images...

Here are some scenery shots:

http://www.vftt.org/gallery/Italy05/preview/IMG_7134-800.jpg

http://www.vftt.org/gallery/Italy05/preview/IMG_7140-800.jpg

http://www.vftt.org/gallery/Italy05/preview/IMG_7292-800.jpg

http://www.vftt.org/gallery/Italy05/preview/IMG_7317-800.jpg

http://www.vftt.org/gallery/Italy05/preview/IMG_7406-800.jpg


Carmel on a cliff on one of our hikes. I call this one the "Bondcliff can kiss my butt shot" :

http://www.vftt.org/gallery/Italy05/preview/IMG_7336-800.jpg


Some shots of Carmel and I climbing on the Via Ferrata routes:

http://www.vftt.org/gallery/Italy05/preview/IMG_7448-800.jpg

http://www.vftt.org/gallery/Italy05/preview/IMG_7467-600.jpg

http://www.vftt.org/gallery/Italy05/preview/IMG_7523-800.jpg


Sweet, sweet mountain biking:

http://www.vftt.org/gallery/Italy05/preview/IMG_7165-800.jpg

It was an awesome trip. I would go back to the Dolomites in a heartbeat. Put them on your short list!

More pictures and stories to come. As soon as I catch up around here...

- darren

 

[poison ivy]

All I can say is: Wow! What amazing shots. I can't wait to see more pictures and read about your trip!

-Ivy

 

[sli74]

Great Darren !!! Glad you guys are back even if you aren't glad to be back. Can't wait to see all the pictures.

sli74

 

[alpinista]

Breathtaking shots, Darren! One of the best night's sleep I ever had was in Merano, a tiny town in the Dolomites. The scenery is absolutely amazing, and you captured it perfectly.

 

[sapblatt]

Great stuff

Wow - Incredible images as per usual.
No I will never be able to make up my mind...

Iceland or the Dolomites...?

 

[alpinista]

Mike -- do what I've done: go to both places! They're both amazing spots in this world.

 

[giggy]

kick arse trip

 

[Tom Rankin]

Wow, and I thought Alaska had some mountains!

 

[MrAmeche]

Great pics, Darren! Now I'm debating over the Dolomites or Glacier NP. Decisions, decisions...

Can't wait for the trip report!

 

[Halite]

Fantastic pics! You really captured the drama of those great mountains. After just doing Bondcliff for the first time over the July 4th weekend, I was able to get your "Bondcliff can kiss my ass" reference

It's one of the parts of the world I would return to over and over again. Besides great hiking, there's always great food and wine just around the next corner or at the end of a long day.

 

[MattC]

Amazing stuff. Makes me want to trace my Italian ancestry, if I ever have the time or money, although I don't suppose those mountains are anywhere near Sicily! Keep those pics coming-the "teasers" helped brighten a rather headache-inducing day at work.

Matt

 

[Artex]

Man, those pics made me drool. That area is simply stunning! Glad you had a great time.

 

[^MtnMike^]

WOW! A scrambler's paradise!!!
I'll definitely be keeping this at the top of my list of destinations. Great pics!

^MtnMike^

 

[darren]

Besides great hiking, there's always great food and wine just around the next corner or at the end of a long day.

Yes, of course we did enjoy some "culture" while we were there.

Thanks for all the positive feedback so far. I am working on more photos right now. I am both excited and bummed out while I look at them. So psyched to have been there, so bummed out that the trip is over. Oh well, there is plenty of great hiking, biking, kayaking, and microbreweries right here in New England.

- darren

 

[bubba]

The first shot blew me away -- excellent stuff.

Hey - you're now ON for a slide show at our Vermont Gathering 8.0, so be thinking obout it as you organize your photos!! I just volunteered you.

 

[yam]

excellent photos! thanks so much for sharing what you have so far!

 

[Puma concolor]

Awesome Darren. Great photos ... looks like it was an unreal trip. You didn't happen to run into Messner over there, did you?

 

[darren]

You didn't happen to run into Messner over there, did you?

I ran into him on the trail and tried to talk to him, but he couldn't keep up with me. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

No such luck. I hear he is a bit of a recluse these days.

- darren

 

[Doc McPeak]

Yes, of course we did enjoy some "culture" while we were there.
- darren

All the pics are fabulous... but, this one sums up my entire time in the dolomites. That was before my outdoor jones kicked in. We did put a lot of effort into enjoying the "culture" side of things though.

Great shots, Darren!

 

[SherpaKroto]

So, do they sell the Doctor out there?

Awesome pics. I am so jealous!