Dolomites High Route n. 2

From Bressanone/Brixen in South Tyrol to Feltre in the Veneto region

The Dolomites High Route n. 2 was among the first of 10 Dolomites High Routes to be described and signposted. The High Route is known as the "way of the legends" as it passes through Dolomites mountains and valleys rich in myths and legends: For example the Odle group and the Sella group with the legends of the Ladin people or Feltre with the tales of ogres and witches.

The multi-day excursion can be completed in several stages going from north to south, parallel to the Dolomites High Route n. 1.

Starting point of the hike is Bressanone/Brixen, the quaint town of South Tyrol, rich in history. Arrival is the town of Feltre with the river Piave, witnessed or some of the tragic events of World War I. The route crosses three provinces, Bolzano, Trento and Belluno and 10 mountain groups (Plose, Pütia/Peitlerkofel, Odle/Geisler, Puez, Sella, Padon, Marmolada, Bocche, Pala, Feltre group), where Plose, Padon and the Lusia-Bocche group are not part of the Dolomites.

The Dolomites High Route n. 2 offers a nice variety of hiking and climbing and the chance to discover art and culture. So, for example, is worth a visit the city of Bressanone with its museums and works of art and, not to forget, the many historical sites of the 1st World War that you meet along the way.

The entire route can be completed in about two weeks, it is suitable for hikers in good physical condition with a good sense of direction and with some knowledge of mountaineering technique (climbing up to the second degree).

It is recommended to take the hike after the thaw: from mid / late June to late September.

The Dolomites High Route n. 2 - Basic information

Length: 185 km ca.
Total height difference: 11,000 m
Highest peak: Piz Boè 3152 m
Average duration: 15 days
Difficulty: medium - difficult
Recommended period: from mid June to end of September

PROPOSED STAGES

Stages

Day	From - to	Walking time	Description
1	Plose refuge - Biella refuge/Schlüter Hütte	5 - 6 h	The first stage, starting from Bressanone/Brixen, comfortably begins with the ascent by cable car to the Plose refuge from where you walk by climbing through the Lüsener/Luson notch and the Pütia notch to the Genova/Schlüterhütte refuge. You can also reach the Plose refuge by walking from Bressanone/Brixen - Millan through the Kreuztal/Valcroce valley.
2	Biella refuge/Schlüter Hütte - Puez refuge	5 - 6 h	From the Biella refuge/Schlüterhütte you walk in pleasant pace over pastures, alpine passes, notches and scree to the Puez tableland and the Puez refuge at 2475 m.
3	Puez refuge - Pisciadù refuge	5 - 5,5 h	We start today’s stage with a pleasant walk through the Puez – Geisler/Puez Odle nature park UNESCO World Heritage, up to its southern border at Passo Gardena. Just below the pass towards Alta Badia, the begins the via ferrata Tridentina al Pisciadù that leads to the Pisciadù refuge. The climbing is classified as moderate although you have to tackle some challenging vertical climbing passages and a suspension bridge.
4	Pisciadù refuge - Boè refuge/Bamberger Hütte	3 - 3,5 h	This route has no significant technical difficulties. A somewhat trained hiker can easily deal with the short sections of fixed ropes and can master the scree slope.
5	Boè refuge/Bamberger Hütte - Castiglioni refuge/Marmolada	3,5 - 4 h	By climbing on scree and boulders and on a traverse escarpment with fixed ropes you reach the Piz Boè, the highest point of the whole trip. By crossing the Sella group you reach the Pordoi fork where you descend to the Pordoi pass by cable car. From the Pordoi pass go to the right in direction of Sass Becè and Fredarola refuge and take the “Vial del Pan” to the Padon pass. The walk is pleasant, almost flat and with a unique view on the Marmolada glacier. Finally, descend to the Fedaia lake and the Fedaia Castiglioni refuge.
6	Castiglioni refuge/Marmolada- Fuchiade refuge	5,5 - 6 h	From the Castiglioni / Marmolada refuge we descend to Malga Ciapela. From here we continue on the path to the Falier refuge and climb to the Forca Rossa pass from where we descend on a gentle path through the fields to the Fuciade refuge.
7	Fuchiade refuge - Passo Valles refuge	4,5 - 5 h	By passing the San Pellegrino pass we get to the Passo Valles refuge.
8	Passo Valles refuge - Mulaz refuge	3,5 - 4 h	The path at the foot of the Pale di San Martino leads along to the Mulaz refuge.
9	Mulaz refuge- Pedrotti refuge	4 h	The trail leads along the famous "sentiero dell Farangole". The path is exposed but well secured with fixed ropes.
10	Pedrotti refuge - Treviso refuge	6,5 - 7,5 h	This stage with varied hiking goes through forests and scree. Great view of the Sass Maor.
11	Treviso refuge- Cerèda refuge	5 h	From the Treviso refuge in the Val Canali valley a nice hike goes up to the Cerèda refuge passing the Forcella d'Oltro fork notch.
12	Cerèda refuge- Feltre/Walter Bodo bivouac	5 - 6 h	From the Cerèda refuge at Passo Cerèda we walk east - north-east along the main road and then up on a comfortable path through meadows and mountain slopes and through a canyon and over boulders –(provided with fixed ropes) to Passo del Comedon pass. A short descent down scree slope leads to the "Pian della Regina" and after a few meters to the Walter Bodo / Feltre bivouac.
13	Feltre/Walter Bodo bivouac - Bruno Boz refuge	3, 5 h	From the Feltre/Walter Bodo bivouac we walk in the Val Canzoi up between rocks and low vegetation under the walls of the Parete Piatta. After a few turns we reach Col dei Becchi and the start of the Troi Caserìn path. The path is equipped with fixed ropes. Passed the Sass de Mura the path is a little more comfortable. After a light ascent, we reach the Passo de Mura where we descend to the Bruno Boz refuge.
14	Bruno Boz refuge - Dal Piaz refuge	5,5 - 7 h	From the Bruno Boz refuge we go up south to the Passo Finestra pass and to the crest of Mount Zoccarè continuing upwards until the Sasso di Scàrnia over rock steps and along a slightly exposed passage - secured with fixed ropes. From here we descend a rock jump over gutters and over the south slope of Scàrnia through mountain pine slopes up to an old military road until the Alpe Ramezza. After crossing the Piazza del Diavolo (Devil in Ladin language) we reach the green meadows of the Busa di Piètena and continue first down and then gradually upwards until the Passo delle Vette Grandi pass. South of the pass we reach the Giorgio Dal Piaz refuge.
15	Dal Piaz refuge - Feltre	3,5 - 4 h	From the Passo delle Vette Grandi pass we descend towards Feltre. This is possible through a more comfortable (but longer) military road or on small trails through meadows and forests (somethimes a little unpleasant but shorter). We reach Pedavena which is about three km from Feltre. Pedavena and Feltre are connected by public buses.