Alta Via 9 Gallery | Baxter Nature

001. Heading up the Tschamintal valley with the steep cliffs on the north side looming over the near gorge.

002. Heading up the Tschamintal valley to where it levelled off and where the first alp with cows was.

003. Further up the Tschamintal valley was the alp of Schaferter Lager where a great vista burst upon me of the Kesselkogel and Rosengartenspitze Massif with a jumble of towers and spires.

004. The arched fronds on the Willow Gentian were the only flower which was thriving on the dappled light of the forest floor

005. Looking across the upper Tschamintal valley to the impressive Kesselkogel and Rosengartenspitze Massif.

006. Looking back down the Tschamintal valley from the path as it approaches the Grasleitenhutte. This was the valley I just walked up.

007. The Grasleitenhutte from the spur just to the west of it as I finish the first day of the walk.

008. Leaving the Grasleitenhutte before the sun climbs over the towers to warm the cirque of Grasleitnkessel

009. Inside the vast stone strewn bowl which is the cirque of Grasleitenkessel. The pass shown is to the south where there is a path over it.

010. The view north from near to top of the Malignon Pass having just climbed out of the depths of the Grasleitenkessel bowl.

011. The Tierser Alpi Hutte is a large hut some 2 hours north of Grasleitenhutte. It might be a better alternative for those who start early and are fit.

012. A large 500 strong mixed flock of sheep and goats in the pastures beneath the cliffs on the north face of the Kesselkogel.

013. Approaching the large busy Plattkofel Hutte at the end of the pastoral and tranquil Schneiden ridge. The mountain looming in the background is Plattkofel.

014. Walking east along the Fredrich August Weg above some alms catering for tourists. The path goes along the bottom of the cliffs.

015. The neighbouring massif of Marmolada. It is the highest mountain in the Dolomites at 3343 metres. I went up it when I did the Alta Via 2.

016. The unassuming Refugio Carlo Valentini is an outstanding example of why you should not judge a book by its cover. In the background is tomorrow’s task namely the Sellagruppe Massif and Piz Boe, 3162m.

017. A view of the Langkofel which rose steeply just to the west of Refugio Valentini at Sella Pass

018. Heading east under the vast cliffs on the SW corner of the Sellagruppe massif. My route took me down the small path to the valley in the middle and then up to the left before the tower of Pordoi.

019. Looking back down the Pian del Siela valley I was walking up into the heart of the Sellagruppe massif. The peak to the left is Pordoi where BASE jumpers leap from.

020. The path just visible as it climbs up from the Pian del Siela valley floor past a band of rock beneath the cliffs

021. An easy section of Via Ferrata for 300 metres made up the Koburger Weg. It was prudent to secure oneself against a fall with slings here.

022. Another section of Via Ferrata along the crest of the sensational Cresta Strenta arete between the Refugio Boe and Franz Kostner Hutte.

023. Looking down the descent after the via Ferrata section on the Cresta Strenta arete en route to Franz Kostner Hutte.

024. Looking back to the Plattkofel and Langkofel massif as the wet weather and thunderstorms approached.

025. Despite summer being over there were still some flowers stretching the season and blooming on the otherwise barren rocky plateau, like this alpine poppy.

026. Looking across the final bowl and the descent down it to the Franz Kostner Hutte. The path can be seen and then it vanishes as it goes down the cliff in a Via Ferrata section.

027. After the rain and thunder the sun appeared briefly before dusk and there were rainbows like this one over the Kruezkofel.

028. There was a magnificent view of the north side of the Marmolada massif from my bedroom window at the Franz Kostner Hutte.

029. Looking back up to the Franz Kostner Hutte and the Piz de Valun mountain behind it.

030. The pastoral barn at the bottom of the ski piste at Passo Campolonga. There was a herd of goats beside it.

031. Looking back to the Sellagruppe massif from near Refugio Pralongia. The highest peak in the left is Piz Boe with the small Refugio on top.

032. Looking across the beautiful alpine meadows to the southern end of the Kruezkofel massif to the north

033. Approaching the Passo Valparola and looking north over the valley with the road leading up to the pass to the south face of the Kruezkofel massif.

034. At the top end of the Travenanzes valley near the watershed and looking up to the jagged ridgeline of Lagazuoi Gran.

035. The dragons back ridge of Croda da Lago as seen from the path under the south face of Tofana.

036. The immense south face of Tofana must have been nearly 800 metres of vertical wall.

037. The cosy reception, bar and dining tables at the small friendly Rifugio Pomedes

039. The view to the east from the balcony of Rifugio Pomades just before 0700 as the sun rose over the central Dolomites

040. The dragons back ridge of Croda de Lago in the early morning sun. The high mountain in the distance is Pelmo, One of the iconic massifs of the Dolomites.

041. The lovely Rifugio Pomedes at sunrise with one of the smaller peaks in the Tofana massif behind it. This peak is called Tofana de Pomedes, 2750m.

042. Walking along the Passigiatta Montanelli section of track and looking east to the route up the Crepe de Zumeles on the lower ridge with the huge Monte Cristallo looming behind it.

043. In the mixed forest of conifers just below the start of the climb up the Crepe de Zumeles

044. Looking up the second half of the steep climb up the Crepe de Zumeles to the pass called Forcella Zumeles, 2072m

045. Looking down the lower half of the climb up the Crepe de Zumeles beyond the mixed forest below is the town of Cortina d’Ampezzo. Tofana massif is the the right and the route is down the piste from Refugio Pomedes.

046. From the top of the Forcella Zumeles pass the was a great view of the west ridge which descended from Monte Cristallo which is out of the picture to the right.

047. The large private Rifugio Son Forca was not busy at all when I stayed. Itvwas right under the south face of Monte Cristallo.

048. Looking up the ravine of the Rudavoi Torrente to the south face of Monte Cristallo. You cam see the landslides lower down when stone and flood water mixed to scour out the ravine.

049. The lovely mixed conifer forest on the lower part of the climb from the modern bridge over the Rudavoi Torrent towards the Forcella de Popena, 2314m.

050. The path up through the dwarf pine to the Forcella de Popena, which is above the field of scree. The path across the middle of this scree was destroyed for 20 precarious metres.

051. Looking south from the Forcella de Popena towards the Sorapiss massif with the summit briefly appearing in the mist. The much visited turquoise Lago de Sorapis is out of sight in the cirque on the very left of the photo.

052. Looking east from the Forcella de Popena across the Misurina valley and lake to the Cadina Di Misurina massif partly hidden in the cloud

053. The easy track up through the mixed conifer forest as it climbed from Lago di Misurina up 400 metres to the Refugio Col de Varda.

054. Some of the towers in the Ciadin de Misurina group seen from near the Forcella del Diavalo pass. They looked like ogres.

055. One of the ladders near the top of the climb up to the Forcella del Diavolo between the Refugios Col de Varda and Fonda Savio.

056. The top of the longest via ferrata section at the northern end of the Sentero Bonacosso path. This was the last demanding bit and was slippery in the wet.

057. The were some sections of the Sentero Bonacossa path which were quite exposed, especially in the mist, like this very last section before the grassy hillside.

058. On the grass and rock slopes before the large Refugio Auronzo I came across these three ptarmigan.

059. The large Refugio Auronzo was owned by the CAI (Club Alpine Italy). It hadca road to ir and was overwhelmed by tourists all summer visiting the Drei Zinnen or Tre Cimes Di Lavaredo.

Alta Via 9 / Gallery