Via della Bochette, Dolomites, Italy

Jul 30

The most spectacular stretch of the via ferrata Bocchette Centrali.

Imagine: Visiting a group of some of the most awe inspiring alpine mountains on the planet, following a path for 5 days that frequently becomes a ledge that is less than a foot wide beside a 600 foot sheer cliff, being able to clip your climbing harness into a cable that should protect you from falling down that sheer cliff, coming around a corner in the path and discovering that the beloved cable ends mysteriously leaving you and your blown mind to navigate an exposed ridge line or down climb a loose chute, watching clouds build up everyday that turn into hail and electrical storms in the late afternoon and evening, crossing exposed glaciers and high mountain cols with crampons, and ending the days in remote mountain Refugios (picture a stone chalet, situated in the clouds high on a mountain ridge, completely inaccessible by vehicle) where you can drink beer, sip cappuccinos, enjoy a 3 course dinner, sleep in a warm bed and yes, even take a warm shower. Now imagine experiencing all this with your best friends and at a price that is well South of $100 per day.

That description is pretty much the most concise and accurate one I can come up with for the trip I just returned from. We traversed the Brenta Group of the Dolomites (Italy) via the legendary Via Delle Bocchette, one of Europe's most famous via ferrata routes. It's not a vacation for everyone, but if you desire an experience that pushes you physically and even more so mentally and you are willing to put yourself into some calculated risky situations, this adventure with its many rewards might be something to consider. Ironically, I am unable to say if I would do the trip again (although I am BEYOND grateful and happy that I did. Thank you Thomas!). I hope you enjoy this collection of images from our trip. If you are considering doing it yourself and are interested in hearing more about it contact me and let's grab a beer.

The Brenta Group of the Dolomites. The Via Bocchette traverses these peaks at or near the crest where there is a series of Rufugios located a days journey apart from each other.

Group photo at the start of day 1.

Our first taste of exposed trail. The diagonal line that Matt is pointing to is our path around Cima Groste.

Playing the game Chutes and Ladders literally.

Olivia shows the men how it is done.

Greg's awe inspired enthusiasm was impossible to contain.

Matt and Olivia posing for an epic snapshot.

Greg Kelderman excited to be heading to the evening's refuge.

Rufugio Tuckett, our completely other-worldly home for the evening. If you look closely you can see our next day's path up that snowfield to the col.

Sunset from Refugio Tuckett. Despite the harsh terrain, flowers popped up in the most unlikely places throughout our journey.

Keith Bunney taking it all in.

Our group (less Bob) enjoying the sunset outside of Refugio Tuckett

Greg Kelderman pressing ahead.

Thomas Stargaard navigates the Bocchette. Interestingly when Tom was a child his family went on vacation to that lake off in the distance and it was on that trip that Tom came up with the idea of traversing the Brenta Group.

Keith Bunny loving the exposure!

Working our way off of the crest before the afternoon storms build.

Greg walking the line between fixed ladders.

Keith Bunney pauses to enjoy the moment.

Descent from the crest and onto the snow.

Ladders and more ladders.

Enjoying a more relaxed moment at the end of our day as we approach Refugio Alimonta

The end of our day as we approach Refugio Alimonta

Sunset at Refugio Alimonta

"Old School" selfie.

Refugio Alimonta

Morning hike to the glacier.

Up the glacier to Bocca del Armi

Enjoying some the most famous stretches of the via ferrate Bocchette Centrali.

The view straight down.

Enjoying some the most famous stretches of the via ferrate Bocchette Centrali

Thomas Stargaard getting the perfect angle.

Probably the most photographed stretch of the via ferrate Bocchette Centrali. Glad I brought my 10mm lens with me to make something different.

Enjoying some the most famous stretches of the via ferrate Bocchette Centrali.

Keith Bunney walks the plank.

Thomas "in his mind" (an inside joke)

Unfortunately there were some pretty janky anchor bolts.

End of an epic day, final stretch to the evening home, Refugio Pedrotti.

Michel, Thomas and Greg sorting our tomorrow's route.

Greg and I enjoying a stroll around Refugio Tosa

Refugio Pedrotti at the base of Cima Brenta Bassa (If you’re viewing this on a phone, zoom in and take a closer look.)

Greg Kelderman

Dining with a view, the Refugio Pedrotti.

The beautiful start to a wicked ascent and stressful final day of technical travel.

Trying to race the gathering clouds over Bocca di Ambiez

What exactly is a via ferrata route? It's a cross between extreme hiking and low level mountaineering. It is a method of mountain travel that allows for somewhat ordinary humans to experience the exposure and grandness that is usually reserved for the serious mountaineer.

Coming around the shoulder of Cima Tosa, we snuck through this col and descended to the glacier below just as the clouds shut down visibility.

Tom descends the glacier to our final Refugio 12 Apostles.

Crossing Camosci Glacier

Refugio 12 Apostles

Hiking to the climber's memorial at Refugio 12 Apostles

The Climber's Memorial

Enjoying the dramatic electrical storm from the safety of the Refugio.

We frequently hit the trail very early in the morning to be sure to arrive at our next refugio by the time the afternoon lightning and hail storms arrived. You would not want to be out on the trail when one arrived.