Took the train to La Spezia. Then the local bus to Porto Venere.
A pretty town.
Starting the hike north, immediately you find the impressive Doria Castle.
EPSON DSC picture
The trail takes you high above the ocean with terrific views in each direction. There are some very narrow pathways, but no real exposure.
I found a quiet spot, just before dark, to put up my tent.
Early next morning I arrived at the impressive Santuario di Montenero. The priest came out, interested in my drone. I showed him how it worked and later sent him this video.
There are no bad hikes out of Val Gardena. But the highlight for me was getting to the famed ridge vista of the Odles/Geisler Group from Secede (2518m).
I hiked up early, the first person to reach the ridge on this morning. I wanted to beat the cable car day hikers. That expensive lift started up at 8:30am in 2023.
Here’s that famed vista on a clear day.
Amazing views in the Dolomites mountains. Views from Seceda over the Odle mountains are spectacular.
Another good option is to stay late in the day, after the cablecar stops at 5:30pm.
Of course it’s a long steep descent.
There’s heated debate in the Dolomites whether or not you should use the cable cars. Personally, I’m OK with them — if you have the money.
But on this one I climbed down over a vertical kilometre back to the valley. Step by step.
I’d started with a plan. BUT — as usual in the Dolomites — I ended up changing it en route. Easy to do when there are so many clearly marked alternatives.
Another day I took the cablecar from Ortisei to the Alpe di Siusi up to what’s claimed to be the largest high altitude Alpine meadow in Europe. It is high, huge, and green.
You can’t lose hiking Val Gardena. It’s fantastic.
Be ready for afternoon thunder and lightning, however. Don’t get stuck up high in a storm.
Mid-June 2023 I returned, wanting — this time — to do some of the famed via ferrata routes there.
Sadly, the cablecars going up high had not started yet. In fact, Madonna di Campiglio doesn’t really get going 100% for summer hiking until the end of June.
Instead, I did the most popular lower level day hike as it was the best available the one day I ended up staying.
Mid-June 2023 I returned, wanting — this time — to do some of the famed via ferrata routes there.
Sadly, the cablecars going up high had not started yet. In fact, Madonna di Campiglio doesn’t really get going 100% for summer hiking until the end of June.
Instead, I did the most popular lower level day hike as it was the best available the one day I ended up staying.
Took the train to La Spezia. Then the local bus to Porto Venere.
A pretty town.
Starting the hike north, immediately you find the impressive Doria Castle.
EPSON DSC picture
The trail takes you high above the ocean with terrific views in each direction. There are some very narrow pathways, but no real exposure.
I found a quiet spot, just before dark, to put up my tent.
Early next morning I arrived at the impressive Santuario di Montenero. The priest came out, interested in my drone. I showed him how it worked and later sent him this video.
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