The Alta via n. 1 begins at the lake Braies and arrives in Belluno. Historically the first alta via, 125 km in lenght and subdivided in 12 legs. It requires 57 walking hours to climb up 7300 m in total (8400 m in descent) through 11 mountain ranges of the Dolomites: Croda Rossa, Fanis, Tofane, Nuvolau, Croda da Lago, Pelmo, Civetta, Moiazza, Tamer-San Sebastiano, Pramper-Mezzodì, Schiara. Crosses the Dolomites of Zoldo on: the 6th day (from rifugio Città di Fiume to rifugio Venezia and to Palafavera), the 7th (from Palafavera to rifugio Sonnino al Coldai, to rifugio Tissi and to rifugio Vazzoler), the 9th (from rifugio Carestiato to rifugio Sommariva al Pramperet).
The 12 days:
- Day 1: from the lake Braies to rifugio Biella at the Croda del Becco.
Gradient: 900m in ascent, 60 in descent
Lenght: about 6 km
Time required: 3 h and 30 m
Path: n. 1
Difficulty: T and E (T elementary difficulty and E for hikers)
- Day 2: From rifugio Biella al rifugio Fanes
Gradient: in ascent 565m; in descent 830m
Lenght: about 14km
Time required: 4,30 h
Path: n. 6 and 7
Difficulty: T (elementary difficulty)
- Day 3: from rifugio Fanes to rifugio Lagazuoi
Gradient: in ascent 1070m; in descent 375m
Lenght: about 11 km
Time required: 5 h
Path: n. 10-11, 20b, 20
Difficulty: EE (for expert hikers)
- Day 4: from rifugio Lagazuoi to rifugio Nuvolau
Gradient: in ascent 635m; in descent 810m
Lenght: about 15 km
Time required: 5,30 h
Path: n. 20, 401, 402, 404, 403, 412, 440
Difficulty: EE (for expert hikers)
Variant 1: through the galleria del castelletto
- Day 5: from rifugio Nuvolau to rifugio Città di Fiume
Gradient: in ascent 260m; in descent 915m
Lenght: about 11 km
Time required: 5,30 h
Path: n. 438, 443, 436, 458, 467
Difficulty: EE (for expert hikers) and EEA (for expert hikers with via ferrata equipment) in the descent from rifugio Nuvolau to the Passo Giau
Variant 2: from rifugio Nuvolau to rifugio Città di Fiume via rifugio Cinque torri and rifugio Croda da lago Palmieri
- Day 6: from rifugio Città di Fiume to rifugio Venezia and Palafavera
Gradient: in ascent 580m; in descent 990m
Lenght: about 12 km
Time required: 5,30 h
Path:n. 480, 472, 474
Difficulty: EEA (for expert hikers with via ferrata equipment) on the "Gino Flaibani" path, then E (for hikers)
Variant 3: from rifugio Città di Fiume to passo Staulanza
Variant 4: from rifugio Città di Fiume to rifugio Venezia and Palafavera
Variant 5: from rifugio Città di Fiume to rifugio Coldai via Casera Vescovà and Pioda
- Day 7: from Palafavera to rifugio Sonnino al Coldai, to rifugio Tissi and rifugio Vazzoler
Gradient: in ascent 850m; in descent 650m
Lenght: about 14 km
Time required: 6 hours
Path: n. 564, 556, 560 (563)
Difficulty: E (for hikers)
- Day 8: from rifugio Vazzoler to rifugio Carestiato
Gradient: in ascent 550m; in descent 430m
Lenght: about 8 km
Time required: 4 h
Path: n. 555, 554
Difficulty: E (for hikers)
- Day 9: from rifugio Carestiato to rifugio Sommariva al Pramperet
Gradient:in ascent 450m; in descent 430m
Lenght: about 13 km
Time required: 5 h
Path: n. 549, (SS347), 543
Difficulty: E (for hikers)
Variant 6: the zoldana variant: from rifugio San Sebastiano to rifugio Sommariva al Pramperet
- Day 10: from rifugio Sommariva to Pramperet al rifugio Pian de Fontana
Gradient: in ascent 540m; in descent 760m
Lenght: about 6 km
Time required: 3 h
Path: n. 514
Difficulty: EE (for expert hikers)
- Day 11: dal rifugio Pian de Fontana al bivacco del Marmol
Gradient: in ascent 830m; in descent 195m
Lenght: about 6 km
Time required: 4 h
Path: n. 514
Difficulty: EE (for expert hikers) and brief stretches of EEA (for expert hikers with via ferrata equipment) at the Marmol (grades 1 and 2)
Variant 7: from rifugio Pian de Fontana to rifugio Bianchet, Val Vescovà and SS Agordina road
- Day 12: from bivacco del Marmol to rifugio Settimo Alpini, Case Bortot and Belluno
Gradient: in ascent 100m; in descent 1570m until the Case Bortot, 1770m until Bolzano Bellunese, 1900m until Belluno
Lenght: about 9 km
Time required: 5 h to Case Bortot, 7 h to Belluno
Path: n. 514, 503, 501
Difficulty: EE (for expert hikers) and EEA (for expert hikers with via ferrata equipment) on the ferrata del Marmol
N.B. Organise in the best way your trip in the Dolomites. During your personal organisation of the itinerary before your start, please verify the weather forecasts, the opening and the availability of the refuges.
