Venice and the Dolomites
September 1 - September 14, 2015
Page Three - Dolomites - Cortina, Italy and Hike 1,
Dolomiti D'Ampezzo Park: Alpe di Sennes Circuit
The morning of September 5, we took a water taxi
from our hotel to the Venice airport, where we were
picked up by our guide for the Hiking the Best of the
Dolomites tour. We drove via bus to Cortina d' Ampezzo,
where we stayed for 3 nights.
The Dolomites are named after
the French geologist Deodat de Dolomieu. After his trip there
in 1788, he analyzed their mineral composition and differentiated
between dolomite (calcium magnesium carbonate) and limestone
(calcium carbonate), the two rock types that are the main
ingredients of these mountains. The geological origin dates back
about 230 million years when rock was deposited in the form of marine
sediments in a low open sea. This material, rich in calcium
carbonate, formed the base of the mountains. Around 65 million years ago,
the rocks, also containing fossilized sea life, were lifted high up by tectonic
events, and the Alps came into existence. 2 million years ago, the ice ages
covered the mountains with successive ice sheets that cut deeper valleys and
lake beds while retreating.
Our hotel in town of Cortina d' Ampezzo, Italy, which is surrounded
by the Dolomites
Left to right: Jenny (WY), guide Rita (Germany),
Cedric (CA), Ken (HI), Rick (WY), Wayne (PA), Liz (WY), Sherrill (PA),
guide Tomi (Germany), Patty (HI), Mary (WY), Pat (CO), Randy (NM),
Beto (NM), Scott (WY). Missing: Jeff (CO) who took the photo, and
Julie (CA).
Donkeys ran to see us
Pat gained a new friend
Jeff also.
Part of the Croda Rossa mountain group
Sheep grazing on a hillside above the trail.
Guide Rita on a former runway that was built in
WWI
There were still a number of flowers out,
though not usually in large quantities.
Near the rifugio where we ate lunch
Rifugio (hutte or hut) Fodara Vedla at 6429 feet, where we ate lunch
Hiking away from the rifugio after lunch on a
former WWI wartime mule route.
We saw some bikers on some trails but not many
Julie and others nearing the trailhead as our loop
hike was ending.
Cows posing and watching hikers near the
trailhead.
Town of Cortina d' Ampezzo
Dawn light on the mountains as seen from the
balcony of our room.
Another view from our room
Yet another view from our room
We had a corner room.
Link to Page Four - Dolomites continued
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