weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Totally out of sequence of our actual drive, but with the intention to keep all things Italian together, I present here another very exciting area of Italy: The splendid Dolomite Mountains. In reality, we visited this area about one week after Trieste, as indicated in the routing on my map. In previous years we had repeatedly driven through this area and glanced a few of these spectacular mountains when driving from Italy via the Brenner/Brennero pass to Austria. It had always been our desire to spend some time here to really get to know these mountains. Due to our weather-related accelerated drive, we were only able to spend 2 days here and have firm intentions to return as soon as possible for a more extended stay.

The UNESCO World Heritage website describes the Dolomites as follows: The site of the Dolomites comprises a mountain range in the northern Italian Alps, numbering 18 peaks which rise to above 3,000 m and cover 141,903 ha. It features some of the most beautiful mountain landscapes anywhere, with vertical walls, sheer cliffs and a high density of narrow, deep and long valleys. A serial property of nine areas that present a diversity of spectacular landscapes of international significance for geomorphology marked by steeples, pinnacles and rock walls, the site also contains glacial landforms and karst systems. It is characterized by dynamic processes with frequent landslides, floods and avalanches. The property also features one of the best examples of the preservation of Mesozoic carbonate platform systems, with fossil records.

A glance at Wikipedia adds the following information: Area covering some 1400 km² / 550 sq miles with a substantial number of valleys, close to 40 mountain passes mainly for foot traffic, with some 16 passes able to be used by cars. The area encompasses some 26 ranges with 2 dozen major peaks. Here the link to the full article in Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolomites

A few notes to the images appended below:
~ On the day of arrival, we had a good part of the afternoon available and drove from Santa Cristina Valgardena, where our charming hotel was located, to two nearby mountain passes: the Gardena Pass and the Sella Pass, which offered beautiful views into the mountains that I present in the first 4 images.
~ The next day, we took a gondola from Ortisei and then hiked on the Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm, the largest high-alpine pasture in Europe, covering an area of 56 km², images 5-7 cover this area.
~ Then we drove out of the Val Gardena north to the next parallel valley: the Val di Funes with the small town of Santa Maddalena. From above this town one is able to get this glorious depiction of the Odle/Puez-Geisler Group of mountains, in my opinion the most stellar of all views in the Dolomites. To get this image right, one has to hike up a path out of Santa Maddalena to the small church Chiesa di Santa Maddalena and then another kilometer or so above that church to get the pictorial combination of the church in the center and the mountain range behind. Obviously, that is what we set out to do - in the afternoon heat reaching about 40C / 104F with no shade on the path. After about half the distance, Susan decides that she cannot go any further, so she finds a shady spot along the path while I amble on towards the church. I have to admit that this was one of the toughest walks I have ever had. We always have an umbrella in our backpack and luckily I grabbed this so I could create some shade, but Susan kept the backpack with our water supply, which I only realized much later. I was starting to worry that I could get a heat stroke when I finally reached the church, which luckily was much cooler inside: these solid stone walls do keep the heat at bay. I rested for a while, then looked at the landscape and realized that I would never make it on that remaining kilometer to the "proper" vantage point. So I took a number of images of the church and the surrounding landscape including these famous mountains, but I did not get the combination of church and mountains - what better incentive to come back - but not in the high summer - and try again! Image 8 shows the church, image 9 the climb I should still have done and image 10 a pleasant view of the mountain range, without the church.


Notes
TRIP INFO: Set # 1 provides a brief introduction to this series. Please use the link below if you would like to review this intro:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-797460-1.html

SUMMER TRIP INFO: Set # 7 provides more information on this second trip of the year to Europe
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-797711-1.html

EARLIER POSTS of this series: Access my topic list at UHH, the new posts are listed in reverse chronological order:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/user-topic-list?usernum=45105

Thanks for visiting, I recommend viewing the downloads and look forward to your comments and questions.

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1 - Corvara - Panorama image from the top of the Gardena Pass, at left the Pizes de Cir mountains, at right the Sella Group/Sella Towers mountains

(Download)

2 - Corvara - Pizes de Cir mountains from a hiking path starting at the Gardena Pass

(Download)

3 - Corvara - Approaching the Gardena Pass: Beautiful alpine meadows topped by the Pizes de Cir mountains

(Download)

4 - Selva - View north from the top of the Sella Pass towards the Pizes de Cir

(Download)

5 - Castelrotto - On an easy hiking path above the Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm - the largest high-altitude Alpine meadow in Europe

(Download)

6 - Castelrotto - Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm - a closer view at the largest high-altitude Alpine meadow in Europe

(Download)

7 - Castelrotto - A simple alpine hut at the Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm

(Download)

8 - Santa Maddalena - Church of Santa Maddalena in the Funes valley, dating back to the year 1394 - this church is frequently depicted together with the Odle/Puez Geisler Group mountains - The brutal heat stopped me from hiking any further

(Download)

9 - Santa Maddalena - View from the Church of Santa Maddalena in the Funes valley, to the hillside behind the church

(Download)

10 - Santa Maddalena - Verdant alpine meadows in the Val Funes in front of the Odle/Puez-Geisler Group mountains

(Download)

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

For your reference:

Map of Italy indicating in the top center the location of the places shown in this set

(Download)

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Gorgeous!

Markag

Amazing photography. Thanks

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Wonderful mountain set, Joe! I skied Selva de val Gardena and Cortina, but I have never seen this area without snow.

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thank you Barbara, it is a gorgeous area and we are so glad we finally made it there!

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thank you Markag for your kind comment, glad to hear that you enjoyed these images.

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thanks Mike for your supportive words - I have seen pictures of the area in snow - looks good both ways!

lbarnett25 Loc: Baldwinsville, NY

Your photos of Europe are spectacular. The one of Santa Maddalena is unbelievable!

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thank you lbarnett for looking in on the tour again and your words of appreciation. Yes, we did have a very good time over in Europe on these two trips, particularly the summer trip. So many photogenic places. If only the heat would not have been so oppressive! I really wanted to do that "classical" shot of that mountain range in Santa Maddalena WITH the church, as I mentioned in the day's intro, but I promised to make it there again! Anyway, the view which I captured in that #10 was really quite extraordinary.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Great set, Joe.

MT native Loc: Big Sky Country — Montana

Such beautiful landscape and your captured it very well!

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thanks Ken!

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thanks Dennis, it was our first time to properly visit this area, and we fell in love with it!

GreyOwl40 Loc: Quebec City

Idyllic countryside, nice captured, Joe!