THE LAY OF THE LAND
Every town in the Dolomites has its own network of hiking tracks
from the valley f loor to the high peaks. Most alsohave Via Ferrata
routes,withprotectedladdersandcables,thatwindtheirway
aroundexposedridges,ledges,gulliesandfaces.
You can find yourself in very airy locations (think 500 vertical
metres of cliff face below your toes) on some Via Ferrata routes,
but given the recommended minimum age of 12 for most routes,
we decided to avoid these if possible (our kids Elsie and Pixie are
10 and 8 years old). In hindsight, this was wise; some of the bolts
and steps are placed at a distance that small people can’t reach,
making for complicated retreats against the f low of climbers.
There are also multiple long-distance walking routes through
the Dolomites that link valleys via high mountain passes and
plateaus. The most famous of these are the 10 to 15 day Alta Via 1
and Alta Via 2, which take mostly international walkers (including
plenty of Australians) through some of the region’s most dramatic
landscapes. The tracks are well-marked, the huts comfortable, the
guidebooks comprehensive and easy to follow. As a result, the
routes are also busy and the huts need to be booked in advance,
requiring you to walk on bad weather days to keep to your booked
schedule. The Alta Via 1, in particular, is the domain of organised
groups and is best avoided if you’re planning to walk
independently.
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