June 2025 – Dolomites (incl. Zugspitze climb)

19-28 June – Cortina d’Ampezzo Italy

Friday 20 – Hollentalanger Hutte
Alan, Dan, Malcolm, Peter, Gill and Rob parked up in Hammersbach and walked up the Hollental gorge – an amazing super narrow deep river gorge combined with mining museum – up to the Hollentalanger Hutte (DAC). There we spent the night – they very kindly gave us a group room.

Sat 21 – Zugspitze
The Group left the hutte at 6am and started the 9km 1600m ascent of the Zugspitze. This is a path, easy Via Ferrata, path, glacier crossing (Hollentalferner) and then hard long Via Ferrata up the NE ridge to the summit at 2,962m. The glacier crossing was pretty friendly as it is very flat. However the access to the VF across the Bergschrund was somewhat complex and due to the lack of cable space left by climbers there was some risk on the initial section of the VF. The group managed this with a bit of sling assist on the pitons.

The rest of the VF route was a long and hot day but passed without incident with a bit of use of the rope. Everyone arrived proud, tired and happy on the summit around 9 hours later and was very glad of the cable car and train back to the car for the drive to Cortina via Austria and the Brenner pass.

Sun 22 – Walk around Cinque Torri

The group headed up to Cinque Torri via the cable car to go for a nice walk around the Nuvolau plateau taking in some easy VF Gusela and lunch at Refugio Nuvolau. Dinner out in Cortina

Mon 23 – Climbing at Cinque Torri and VF
Peter, James and Finn as well as Keith later headed to Cinque Torri and climbed some sport routes at School of Rock and a couple of multi pitch. Just made it to the chairlift down before it was stopped by a thunderstorm!

Keith and Gill also climbed VF Averau to the local summit. Finn, Gill and co cooked a fine dinner for everyone at the apartment.

Tue 24 – Passeo Falzareggo, Tre Cime and Fiames
Malcolm, Rob, Tom and Victoria to climb VF Col de Bois in Passeo Falzareggo.

Gill, Val, Dan and Keith drove to Tre Cime where they walked to the Drei Zinnen hutte and climbed up and over Torre Toblino on VF Della Scallette which has some great laddered sections with exposure then met up with Val for a walk.

Peter went for a walk down the valley Fiames and ended up climbing VF Ettore Bovero to Col de Bos – super exposed and well equipped.

James and Finn went to Cinque Torri to do some more multi pitch climbing.

Wed 25 – Tofanna
Peter, James, Tom and Victoria climbed the long VF Punta Anna to nearly 3000m at its junction with Sentieri Olivieri and completed a great circular route back down to Refugio Duca d’Aosta.

Gill, Keith, Dan and Finn climbed 2 new Via Ferratas near the Duc d’Aosta – VF Ferrari.

Malcolm and Rob went for a circular walk around Rifugio Fodara Vella and the Croda Rossa.

Thur 26 – Sorapiss and Laguzoi
Tom and Peter walked up to the beautiful Lago de Sorapiss and had lunch at the refugio. There is a great circular walk that can be done around the Sorapis massif involving 3 Vfs.

Others went to explore the Laguzoi caves – a great historic trek down through the caves from the Laguzoi cable car to the pass involving headtorches, helmets, some VF and steep descents.

Dinner out in Cortina – massive hailstorm which we were worried was going to dent the cars. Mountain weather!

Fri 27 – Climbing and more VF and a walk
Peter headed off to Switzerland to meet up with Kathy for 10 days in the high alps.

Gill, Malcolm, Tom, Victoria and Rob headed to VF Sentiero Attrezzato Grotta di Tofana – a cave through the front of Tofanna di Rosses.

James, Val, Finn and Dan headed up to Lago de Sorapiss.

Saturday everyone headed home – including a tour of Switzerland’s best mountain passes by Gill and Dan.