Tag Archive for: South Tyrol

An Autumn Morning at Passo di Giau

/0 Comments/in /by

Sunrise at the Giau Pass in the Dolomites with the glowing rock faces of Ra Gusela, Nuvolau, Averau, Tofane, Croda Rossa, Province of Belluno, Italy

Wow, what a colourful start to an autumn day in the Dolomites. Passo di Giau is, purely scenically, a highlight of any Dolomites trip. At least, it seemed that way to the group of Chinese photographers who, along with me and many others, marvelled at the 360-degree panorama on the scenic ridge next to the pass. To the north, Ra Gusela rises, then to the west Nuvolau – you can just spot the mountain hut on the rock face – and Averau. To the east, with the 5 Torri in front of the mighty Tofane massif and the Cristallo group, lie other famous mountains of the Ampezzo Dolomites. Far to the north, the peak of Hohe Gaisl then juts out. This already belongs to the Pragser Dolomites. A part of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo of the Sesto Dolomites also stands out. Read more

Dawn over Lagazuoi

/0 Comments/in /by

Dawn at the summit of the Piccolo Lagazuoi with the panorama of the Dolomites near Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy

Dawn on the summit of Piccolo Lagazuoi (2,778 m) on this autumn day in October is breathtaking. Against the glowing strip of light on the horizon and the pastel-coloured cirrus clouds, the mountain groups of the Ampezzo Dolomites rise dark and massive; behind me the Tofane and to the south Averau and Nuvolau, 5 Torri, Ra Gusela. Behind them follows the panorama with Hexenstein, Settsass, Antelao, Monte Pelmo, Monte Civetta and many more melodious peaks. Read more

Instagrammable Lake Braies

/0 Comments/in /by

Pragser Wildsee in the Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy

After the solitary sunrise over the Sesto and Braies Dolomites from the summit of Dürrenstein, I wanted to get a personal impression of the famous, much-visited and photographed Lake Braies for myself. I have to say, the lake is beautifully nestled in a rocky high-mountain landscape – the dark blue-turquoise water, the autumnally coloured yellow-golden larches, the blue sky and the towering, rugged rock faces of the Seekofel. Read more

From the Plätzwiese to the Dürrenstein

/0 Comments/in /by

Alpine panorama with the Sesto Dolomites, Cadini Group, Cristallo Group, Pala Group, and the Plätzwiese from the summit of the Dürrenstein at autumnal dawn, South Tyrol, Italy

On a cool, clear autumn night, I ascended to the summit of Dürrenstein (2,839 m) in the Prags Dolomites before dawn. In the bright light of the full moon – I didn’t even need a headlamp for the ascent – an impressive alpine panorama unfolded with every step upwards: the Sesto Dolomites with the Three Peaks, the rock towers of Cadini di Misurina, the mighty Cristallo Massif, the Fanes-Sennes-Prags Mountains and below, my starting point and last night’s camp, the Plätzwiese high plateau. At the summit itself, the missing part of the all-round panorama to the north, across the Pustertal valley to the main Alpine ridge, was added. Read more

The Drei Zinnen in autumn

/0 Comments/in /by

The Auronzo Hut and the southern rock faces of the Drei Zinnen glowing in the autumnal dawn, Dolomites, Province of Belluno, Italy

The Drei Zinnen are a UNESCO World Heritage site and a magnet for tourists, hikers, climbers or photographers from all over the world. Therefore, don’t expect solitude. You can drive to the Auronzo Hut at 2,300 metres above sea level and can also stay overnight there by bus, camper van or similar. A stop at Lago Antorno is worthwhile. A toll or parking fee of EUR 30 (car, van, bus) to EUR 45 (motorhomes) per day is charged; for overnight stays and arrival before 7 pm, two days are counted – that’s quite a hefty price. Nevertheless, on fine days, the large car park is overflowing. If you move a little away from the main paths and choose less frequented times, you can still experience quiet and magical moments. The charisma and grandeur of the famous rock towers remain despite all the hustle and bustle. Read more

The Ranui Chapel in front of the Geislerspitzen

/0 Comments/in /by

Autumnal landscape of the Dolomites with the Ranui Chapel in Villnöß in front of mountain forests and the rock faces of the Geisler Peaks in the sunshine, Puez-Geisler Group, South Tyrol, Italy

After three days of touring in the Puez-Geisler Nature Park – to the Schlüterhütte, back via the Medalgesalm to Campill and up the Zwölferkofel – I had planned further highlights for the return journey. At the junction from the Campill Valley to St. Martin in Thurn, I therefore turned west onto the road to the Würzjoch. This allowed me to more or less circle the Peitlerkofel and cross the pass into the Villnöß Valley, to experience the famous panorama of the Geislerspitzen from another perspective. Villnöß is also the home of the two famous mountaineers Reinhold and Günther Messner. They had their first climbing experiences on the rock faces and ridges of the Puez-Geisler, right on their doorstep, so to speak. Read more

Autumnal Alpine Panorama from Zwölferkofel

/0 Comments/in /by

Summit cross of Zwölferkofel in front of an autumn landscape with the Campill Valley, Peitlerkofel and the panorama of the main Alpine ridge in autumn sunshine, Puez-Geisler Group, Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy

After a long and eventful day, and a short, frosty night, the hike from Campill to Zwölferkofel was scheduled for early morning. The mountain forms a cornerstone at the entrance to the Zwischenkofel Valley and, at 2,384m high, promises excellent views. Read more