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Highlights of The Italian Dolomites
Since the beginning, Mountain Madness has strived to provide personalized care for our guests. As a result, we provide a lot of customized trips to destinations that no other company serves. For me, this is great, since I can offer our services on my favorite mountains, without compromising my motivation to go out there. After 20 years of climbing in many different mountain ranges around the world, and given my culinary background, I must say that one of my most joyful destinations is the Dolomites. When I was given the opportunity to put together a climbing trip to Europe, I had no doubts that this World Heritage site would make everybody happy!
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FMarmolada-2_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=d2ce612a67f31d0808ad41cc8332fb0d 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FMarmolada-2_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=bfc6584f7cfc387bca4e2aef9af04293 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FMarmolada-2_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=dba5249fa4b627a98c7e27358d5610c1 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FMarmolada-2_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=daef99478b1c3e3f090a567e338988a9 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FMarmolada-2_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=9b6c25a030d2f5d281bb93c193889fcb 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FMarmolada-2_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=9388ec6fe96ce08dfe9aff394966ecd8 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FMarmolada-2_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=ae7e5559462926e56de376c21fabf578 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FMarmolada-2_1024.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=3985bd8411b8af2c9a3081d32fb070c7 1024w)
Beautiful view across Marmolada, the highest range in the Dolomites at 3343 meters/10,968′. R. Taglinger photo
What’s a perfect climbing trip? I narrowed this down to three main ideas: efficiency in terms of climbing days vs traveling days, long aesthetic routes that reach real summits, and just as important, good food for the rest days. After running two trips this summer, I can say — and our guests can confirm — that we have achieved these goals! In these two trips, we reached 11 summits in 10 days!
One of the best parts of the Dolomites is the ability to change valleys; each place has its own weather, but all have high quality climbing objectives. The whole range is full of beautiful peaks, all of them easy to connect by car, so “plan b” is never a problem. We ran these two trips with the same initial itinerary, but along the way we adjusted the objectives. As an example, I want to contrast the Tofana di Rozes ascent that we did with our first group, with the ascent to the Grande Cima di Lavaredo. Both of them are long, multi-pitch routes through vertical limestone walls, abundant with holds, but graded differently. Considering that our two groups came from different climbing backgrounds, it was great to give them both the opportunity to send a route with big dimensions.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FJody_on_Sella_Towers_2048-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=5729d41ff6c6f2acfcaee91f9703c058 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FJody_on_Sella_Towers_2048-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=358b578878eefca14dc1e553fe9f41ac 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FJody_on_Sella_Towers_2048-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=fb572998ee159b3f4249f2cf68fe8a51 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FJody_on_Sella_Towers_2048-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=e6a888c64e532db0abed5e0f0566b963 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FJody_on_Sella_Towers_2048-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=c77c72aea9b2a401f23546445253c0fc 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FJody_on_Sella_Towers_2048-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=728e1b28403d1752a238303eb302e5b5 1200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FJody_on_Sella_Towers_2048-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=befbca0565444acaeb9ee2a77725c7c4 1400w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FJody_on_Sella_Towers_2048-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=3c4441b802de9f5cefe19ae5cb1cdc6f 1536w)
Jody on Sella Towers (first group). Joshua Jarrin photo
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FR_Rudisill_climbing_on_Sass_de_Stria_Peak_next_to_Falzarego_Pass_in_Dolomites_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=c42fd80c7da195138cb3329892da4ec6 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FR_Rudisill_climbing_on_Sass_de_Stria_Peak_next_to_Falzarego_Pass_in_Dolomites_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=1a8d5ee3a1b49e3f656e4474267caba6 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FR_Rudisill_climbing_on_Sass_de_Stria_Peak_next_to_Falzarego_Pass_in_Dolomites_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=fd6146f651adcd791d2d1953e904bf19 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FR_Rudisill_climbing_on_Sass_de_Stria_Peak_next_to_Falzarego_Pass_in_Dolomites_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=670bd572e4fe9abb0f3e942c9b02846e 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FR_Rudisill_climbing_on_Sass_de_Stria_Peak_next_to_Falzarego_Pass_in_Dolomites_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=69339fb14ce4e9b39ceedb25319d7772 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FR_Rudisill_climbing_on_Sass_de_Stria_Peak_next_to_Falzarego_Pass_in_Dolomites_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=a0c264bc8597fe60a3f0eb6f84bb860d 1200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FR_Rudisill_climbing_on_Sass_de_Stria_Peak_next_to_Falzarego_Pass_in_Dolomites_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=15744c6c78ebf8431ee34ea4f134fff8 1400w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FR_Rudisill_climbing_on_Sass_de_Stria_Peak_next_to_Falzarego_Pass_in_Dolomites_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=aef753c503d0ed2b45d0b2e24feba3de 1536w)
Robert climbing on Sass de Stria Peak next to Falzarego Pass (second group). R. Taglinger photo
All this would be enough to catch any enthusiastic climbers’ attention; however, it is important to add that the flexibility and variety of routes is not the only benefit. The majority of the climbs here would be considered five-star lines in the U.S. They are long, airy, and incredibly aesthetic routes. Of course, there are many cliffs around the planet that combine those characteristics, but I really appreciate when a long route finishes on a real summit, which is what the Dolomites are all about.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FSummit_of_Cima_Grande_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=4b985f5e39cb2aedd387862e782e0848 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FSummit_of_Cima_Grande_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=693d7e185465f40143500280bdd5d2f8 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FSummit_of_Cima_Grande_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=773c9a22c3a786a3cfcb356f3c40ec8a 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FSummit_of_Cima_Grande_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=e3519f3567061bd3826bdd47d99bc2a7 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FSummit_of_Cima_Grande_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=667721f057bf96b35e760aa5fc9338e0 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FSummit_of_Cima_Grande_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=d57edfce92e825541ab71a3d3095cf05 1200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FSummit_of_Cima_Grande_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=c72cb2a478d9bea43112c9832c949817 1400w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FSummit_of_Cima_Grande_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=9e2ca5216274b90db62ccfaca021e301 1600w)
On the summit of Cima Grande. R. Taglinger photo
After every good climb, it is necessary to rest and refuel. For this, the Italian huts make the mountain lifestyle a pretty luxurious one! This is how an average day looks: Start the day off with breakfast at 7:30am in the little alpine town of Araba. Then we drive to the Falzarego Pass where we hike for 20 minutes to the base of the Sass de Stria peak and climb ten pitches up to its summit. The descent includes visiting the old trenches left from WWI. Once back in the car, we drive to Cortina de Ampezzo for a pizza topped with speck (the südtyrolean ham) and, since it’s the summer, a cold aperol spritz. For the dinner, a three-course meal; one of them is always a good pasta, and all of it is paired with good wine. Something like this really happened almost every day!
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPablo_enjoying_well-earned_beer_after_16_pitches_on_Tofana_di_Rozes-R_Taglinger_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=65da5d2ccb82e6b879ccce2a535f4fa5 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPablo_enjoying_well-earned_beer_after_16_pitches_on_Tofana_di_Rozes-R_Taglinger_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=bf849650d00436120738e8a5893b5598 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPablo_enjoying_well-earned_beer_after_16_pitches_on_Tofana_di_Rozes-R_Taglinger_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=65640b2b84c34af550b8d1cc08751b7e 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPablo_enjoying_well-earned_beer_after_16_pitches_on_Tofana_di_Rozes-R_Taglinger_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=5bbbc650ad69e8961783ff1d5ec173da 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPablo_enjoying_well-earned_beer_after_16_pitches_on_Tofana_di_Rozes-R_Taglinger_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=db4a1cd01b2b0a7e06d2c95bab503c30 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPablo_enjoying_well-earned_beer_after_16_pitches_on_Tofana_di_Rozes-R_Taglinger_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=270b8d99245e218c2891f899536c6897 1200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPablo_enjoying_well-earned_beer_after_16_pitches_on_Tofana_di_Rozes-R_Taglinger_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=6bddbd1278ebb5a9bfccd8074f737a26 1400w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FPablo_enjoying_well-earned_beer_after_16_pitches_on_Tofana_di_Rozes-R_Taglinger_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=dc0d6d8465bfcc7847728093c6821255 1536w)
Pablo enjoying a well-earned beer after 16 pitches on Tofana di Rozes. R. Taglinger photo
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FEnjoying_local_Speck_after_climbing_Dolomites_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=6a9dbcd727141c9b87307d7a8c553feb 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FEnjoying_local_Speck_after_climbing_Dolomites_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=bde89e9607a50221e443da1e12d850fc 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FEnjoying_local_Speck_after_climbing_Dolomites_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=3143e176f2937bf00cad7160b6f9ffda 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FEnjoying_local_Speck_after_climbing_Dolomites_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=205f2d0bd8d4d1ad7d41433068d7b075 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FEnjoying_local_Speck_after_climbing_Dolomites_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=b9ea7ed8f84c86a09a0c162f8cd4e0f0 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FEnjoying_local_Speck_after_climbing_Dolomites_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=a267a964cb5def5f104d1fb60e06a8e1 1200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FEnjoying_local_Speck_after_climbing_Dolomites_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=fc8f7b07500407fff46927a71116886c 1400w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FEnjoying_local_Speck_after_climbing_Dolomites_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=53ccb1d01b0ef551ad914518e99cad76 1536w)
Enjoying local speck after climbing. Joshua Jarrin photo
Our first season on the Dolomites has come to an end. We are leaving the range with a positive balance in every aspect. Happy MM guests and therefore happy guides. Now we are heading towards Switzerland for a Matterhorn extension but we are already thinking about next year’s trips to this beautiful part of Italy!
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAndreaH_on_way_to_Cima_Grande_on_Tre_Cime_di_Lavaredo_2_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=e4951eadf860caba1c02cc6db4bf2977 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAndreaH_on_way_to_Cima_Grande_on_Tre_Cime_di_Lavaredo_2_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=6b5411af748511c16e0081ac047fe0b1 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAndreaH_on_way_to_Cima_Grande_on_Tre_Cime_di_Lavaredo_2_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=0af39e9666653d684ff445be21b7af1d 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAndreaH_on_way_to_Cima_Grande_on_Tre_Cime_di_Lavaredo_2_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=824b9ea6550ca50fb3ed8dead63e8503 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAndreaH_on_way_to_Cima_Grande_on_Tre_Cime_di_Lavaredo_2_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=7ff4b271cc95f6f616e8450c998f8da9 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAndreaH_on_way_to_Cima_Grande_on_Tre_Cime_di_Lavaredo_2_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=90d2a46e0fece8c910d60c3a1b9b9fd8 1200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAndreaH_on_way_to_Cima_Grande_on_Tre_Cime_di_Lavaredo_2_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=fe778420b931d7b8a97cb8582519c09b 1400w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAndreaH_on_way_to_Cima_Grande_on_Tre_Cime_di_Lavaredo_2_2048_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=4595d4d54bedc3a8ce1d17bc001081c6 1600w)
Andrea on her way to Cima Grande on Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Joshua Jarrin photo
~MM Guide Joshua Jarrin