Dolomites Day 1
Monday, 6 July 2026
Today we had just one thing on our to-do list - drive to the Cinque Torri chairlift, take it up to the Cinque Torri themselves, then walk a bit of a loop to get back down to the car park. Wanting to leave earlyish due to expected crowds, Jon and I walked to the nearbyish (2k away) bakery at 7 and got some delicious bakery treats and bread for lunch.
After we'd all had breakfast and made our lunch we got going around 9 - a bit later than we wanted but it turned out it wouldn't have really mattered how late we left as we were turned around 10k from our destination with the news that the rest of the road was closed for a bike race and wouldn't be open again until 4pm! Luckily we're nothing if not agile holidaymakers. After a stop to reconfigure our plans, we drove out of Cortina in the opposite direction to the Rio Gere chairlift and took it to the top where we did the most amazing walk back down after enjoying a hot chocolate at the cafe. The route down took us via an amazing little tunnel cut through the rocky ridge at the top and then down into the most beautiful pine forest. .jpg)
It was absolutely sensational and there was barely another hiker around. We were so lucky to be able to do this as we wouldn't have considered it if it wasn't for the road closure. .jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
With a few hours still to kill before the road openened again we revisited Cortina and did a food shop to get us through the next day or so, then we retraced our route towards Cinque Torri Chair, happily discovering it opened a bit earlier than 4.
From the top of the chair lift we did a short loop near the rocks, being amazed at both the views, and the stories of surrounding battles during the first world war. Then we headed up and around another huge rocky outcrop before descending steeply then gradually back to the carpark. I'm amazed at how vast the mountains are - they are huge in every direction. .jpg)
.jpg) .jpg)
So what would have been a relatively easy day turned into quite a demanding but absolutly spectacular day - we didn't get home until after 7.
Unfortunately we have terrible internet so I can't upload all the photos I'd like to tonight, especially as we have a 3.50am wakeup tomorrow.
|