High Altitude Cappuccino

🗺️ Overview Starting point: Chalet Lagole, Pieve di Cadore (Dolomites) Highest point: Parking lot above Chalet Lagole (~700 m) Total elevation gain: ~30 m Total distance: ~1.2 km Total time: 20–30 min (plus time at the lake) Technical difficulty: Easy, family-friendly Download GPS file Il Laghetto delle Tose is definitely a tiny hike — it takes about 20 minutes, maybe 30 if you’re with kids (plus extra time to enjoy the lake, of course). Still, it’s absolutely worth the detour. The trail starts at the restaurant Chalet Lagole , below Pieve di Cadore in the Dolomites. The restaurant itself is excellent, with a fantastic view over the lake, so it’s also worth a visit on its own. From the chalet, the little hike begins by circling a small fishing lake and then heading into the woods behind it. There’s a short, gentle uphill section at the start, and after about 15 minutes you’ll reach a clearing with a river. The river is peaceful and beautiful, forming do...

🗺️ Overview Start point : Col Raiser base station (1590m) Lift route : Col Raiser gondola → short hike → Fermeda chairlift → Seceda summit (2519m) Highest point: Seceda 2519 Elevation gain: +20m / -450m Effort level : Easy is using the chairlift. Moderate without. Key highlights : Panoramic chairlift ride over alpine pastures Iconic Seceda ridge and Odle view Forcella viewpoint and Pieralongia spire Lunch at Malga Pieralongia Mestlé panoramic point   Download GPS file Seceda is one of the most iconic spots in Alto Adige, the German-speaking region of northern Italy. Nestled in the heart of the Dolomites, its dramatic ridge draws hikers and photographers from all over the world. This summer, on our way to Nevegal for the holidays, we made a well-deserved stop to explore it. We initially planned to ascend from Ortisei, but the parking lot that had 2 free spaces when we saw the sign had none by the time we got there. So we changed plans and drove to Col Raiser , another access po...

🗺️ Overview Starting point:  Passo Fedaia (2,057m) Arrival:  Punta Penia (3,343m) Altitude gain:  1,286m Duration:  1 day Difficulty:  Hard Technical difficulty:  Medium Download GPS file I was in Istria, preparing for the trip to my parents’ chalet in Nevegal (Belluno) the next day. My guided tour to Punta Penia, the highest peak of  Marmolada — the Queen of the Dolomites —was scheduled for two days later, allowing me time to travel and rest. However, the agency called with unexpected news: rain was forecasted for my planned climb, but the day before was looking perfect. Could I anticipate the climb?  I hesitated . It would be a rush, but the opportunity was too good to pass up. In the end, I said yes. The Journey Begins After a long drive, we arrived in Nevegal at 18:00. The tour was set to start at 5:00 at  Passo Fedaia, a 1.5-hour drive  from Nevegal. With an early wake-up looming, I had dinner and tried to sleep by 20:00—but I coul...

🗺️ Overview Starting point:  Lago d’Antorno (1,880m) Arrival:  Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop via Rifugio Locatelli (highest point: 2,454m) Altitude gain:  ~800m (including ascent to Rifugio Auronzo, 350m normal tour) Duration:  ~5 hours total (1h20 ascent, 2h30 loop, 1h descent) Difficulty:  Moderate Technical difficulty:  Mostly easy, with some adventurous sections on alternative paths Download GPS file Beating the Traffic—On Foot It was August, and we started early, but reaching the Tre Cime still took almost two hours from my parents' chalet. By the time we arrived—around 9:30 AM—it was already too late. The legendary traffic leading up to the Tre Cime had us stuck in a long line of cars starting from Lago di Misurina. After half an hour of barely moving, we decided to do what most people weren’t doing: leave the car behind and hike up. We parked at Lago d’Antorno (1,880m) and set off on foot towards Rifugio Auronzo, where the main parking area is. It quick...

    🗺️ Overview Starting point:  Bocchetta Campiglia (1,216m) Arrival:  Rifugio Achille Papa (1,928m) Altitude gain:  ~800m Duration:  ~5-6 hours round trip Difficulty:  Moderate (no technical difficulties, but requires a head for heights) Best season:  Late spring to early autumn Family-friendly:  Yes, but  some exposure to cliffs  may not suit those with vertigo Key highlights:   52 wartime tunnels , breathtaking  ridge views , and a  historical WWI route Download GPS file The  Strada delle 52 Gallerie  is more than just a hike—it’s a  journey through history . This extraordinary trail was built during  World War I , carved into the sheer cliffs of  Monte Pasubio  to provide a  safe supply route  for Italian troops. A Feat of Wartime Engineering Monte Pasubio was of  strategic importance  in defending Italy from  Austro-Hungarian forces . However, the main road...