Dreaming the Dolomites
Dolomiti Trekking, trust a local guide!
A true story by Edward Cheah – It happened in September 2023
In 1973 two friends and I had a week’s holiday in Seefeld, Austria. One of our days guided tours was to Innsbruck, there we were taken up to Hafelekar peak of the Karwendel Mountain. It was here I heard of the Dolomite Mountain ranges that have sown my dream.
In 2018 I began to read articles and blogs of the alluring mountain ranges and set to look for a private guide. Cortina d’Ampezzo Tourism Office sent me the Dolomiti Guide link and I browsed the website with interest. There I found the ideal guide, Enrico Maioni, read through his website guidedolomiti.com and made up my mind to write to him. Emails flowed with questions and answers ending with a guided 7 days itinerary for six trekkers. September 2020 was the planned date for the guided walk. COVId-19 intervened Enrico generously honoured our deposit for September 7-13 2023
My Dolomiti trekking begins!
All set with only four of us making the trip: Jo Blackman, Tan Siew Pun, Josephine Cheah and me. We checked in at Hotel Olimpia Cortina on 6 September and met Enrico in the evening for a trip briefing. September 7 my Dolomiti dream finally realised. Enrico took us in his car to Lavaredo for the walk to the Tre Cime. This gave him a gauge on our walking ability for the rest of the itinerary.
September 8 we drove to Sorapis for a spectacular loop walk away from the crowd to Lake Sorapis. I must admit it was quite challenging for me as a vision impaired walker. Along a short narrow trek beside a scree, with Enrico’s rope harness round my waist, I made it to the top. It was a scary yet exhilarating climb for us all. Lake Sorapis lived up to its magnificent image of turquoise blue.
September 9, we began our hut to hut 5 days trek. Starting from Ra Stua, passing the high alpine meadows the trail switchback to the Lake of Fosses and on to our first night at rifugio Fodara Velda.
September 10, that morning the descending trail is steep down to the valley of Pederu. There, the trail ascends to Fanes, our second night rifugio.
September 11, from Refugio Fanes we hike to Refugio Col Gallina. The trail took us to Lago di Limo with a 360 degrees view of surrounding mountains. Then to a broad valley between the rocky summits of Monte Castello and Piz des Conturines. Crossing Tadega Pass we, kept walking up to Forcella del Lago.
Then descended to Lake Lagazuoi a beautiful valley surrounded by towering mountains of Cime di Fanes.
September 12, we set off after breakfast along a well-designed trail. It was a warm sunny day we reached our final night’s stay in Refugio Croda di Lago. We checked-in to dormitory accommodation and being early explored the picturesque lake and its surroundings.
September 13, Simone, a colleague of Enrico led us down the trail from Croda di Lago back to our hotel in Cortina.
In the evening Enrico met us for a farewell drink at an Enoteca just a short walk from Hotel Olimpia. The taste of Valpolicella red wine is an excellent choice Enrico. We truly enjoyed the 7 days walk and feel honoured you showed us your beautiful region of Italy.
Without your kindness I would not have been able to realise this long held dream. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and I hope to meet again one day.
Here are some pictures of my Dolomiti trekking
