September 2014 Dolomites/Alta Via 2

Days 1-5 -- Bart, Bob, Dave G, Dave V, Lou, Mike, and Tom set out the second week in September to tackle the 100+ mile Alta Via 2 in the Italian Dolomites, the second longest of the numbered Alta Via routes and as challenging as any given the via ferrata and alpine variants they chose. The path stretches from one of the principal cities in the heavily german Sud Tirol, Bressanone/Brixen, mostly south through the heart of the Dolomites (including its highest range, the Marmolada), ending in the small mountain village of Croce d'Aune, north of the rail head Feltre in the northwest corner of the Veneto region. Along the way the group stayed exclusively in mountain rifugios. The picture narrative for the trip has been split into two parts covering days 1-5 and 6-13 for three reasons: (1) Three of the group ended their trek after 5 days, one by prior design and two by current necessity, (2) the highlight of the entire trip occurred on Day 4 and deserved more pictures, and (3) the trail was overall more remote and difficult after Day 5, i.e. the trail's character was quite different.

Magnify the picture when the caption suggests.

Pictures by everybody but Bob (who produced the narrative) but including Francesco.

Pictures at https://photos.app.goo.gl/nD3picdFALbikKzc7

Days 6-13 -- Bart, Bob, Dave G and Tom continue their quest to complete the Alta Via 2, setting out on September 14 from Lago Fedaia to cross the Marmolada and move south into lonelier, more remote and more difficult country. Again, be sure to magnify the picture when the caption suggests.