Hiking in the Dolomites

View from the Alpine Meadow

Wildflowers on the meadow

The two Hikers

After a fortifying breakfast, we set off by bus to the cable car up to the Alpe di Siuse. What wonderful views from the gondola…… simply magnificent. (We are going to run out of superlatives).
From Compaccio, we set out on a long walk in this high alpine meadow.. the largest in Europe. (20 x 8 miles). The views were on all sides. The spectacular Sciliar, the home of medieval witches, was among the best.
We were on the track by 9.30 am and had stops for morning tea and lunch as well as lots of stops in between for photos or just to gasp and catch our breath! Our lunch stop overlooked the town of Castelrotto where we are staying. We could see the church and the bell tower and we think we could see our hotel. We were more than 1000 metres above the town.
After temperatures in the high twenties and low thirties in the past few days, we walked in temperatures of 7 - 9 degrees minus wind chill! We completed the walk in about three and a half hours and back in Compaccio, we caught a local bus out to Saltria with its magnificent views of Sassolungo (3101 m.). We had 360 degrees views of the Italian and Austrian Alps. As good as it gets!
Back inm the bus and down in the gondola, we caught the shuttle bus back to Castelrotto, where we collapsed. Rest, hot showers and baths, wine and chocolate, we were finally ready to go out for our last dinner in the Dolomites.
What a great place! We must come back.