THEMANCHESTERGRAMMARSCHOOL

FOREIGNTREK1980DOLOMITES-ALTAVIA1

000

The steep trek up to the Scotoni hut Camp at the head of Val Travenanzes with Cunturines (3064) on the skyline beneath the spires of Lagazuoi Grande

On the summit of la Varella (3055)

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ThiswasajointTrekwithManchesterGrammarSchoolandAylesburyGrammarSchool. LEADERS MGS G.Leversha AGS C.T.Little STAFF MGS L.A.Witton AGS M.Hamment

Coachdriver DennisHughes TREKKERS

TentMGS 1 D.C.Brunt(iiMa) P.L.Smith(MSiiu) R.A.L.Brown(MSiiw) D.J.Collins(MSiiit)

2 R.Tomlinson(iiiMy) R.Petersen(iiiMy) S.Smith(iiiBy) S.A.Linton(iiiMa)

3 D.Douglas(4G) D.Woodhead(4G) D.Bagshaw(4G) N.Stanford(4G)

4 D.Fletcher(4ß) S.Bhojwani(4H) R.Mortimer(4H) K.Brown(4H) AGS 5 G.Liddel R.Canter P.Cooper M.Hibble

6 B.Hewer S.Quincey C.Seeley A.Hollingsworth

7 D.Langley S.Jones T.Garrod R.Priestley

8 P.Collins P.Simpson N.Roberts 31trekkers DATES Wednesday23rdJulytoMonday11thAugust COST £150 MAPS Scale Sheet

Freytag&BerndtWanderkarten 1:100,000 17 ÖstlicheDolomiten(Thiscoveredtheentireroute)

KompassWanderkarten 1:50,000 57 Brunico-Dobbiaco(LagodiBraiestoM.FanesGrande) 55 Cortinad’Ampezzo(RifugioBiellatoColRean) 77 AlpiBellunisi (MontMondevaltotheend)

TouringClubItaliano 1:50,000 Cortinad’AmpezzoeleDolomiteCadorini (PederuhuttoColRean) GUIDES

PRossi AltaViadelleDolomiti1 InItalianPRossi HighRouteoftheDolomites1 Thisisadigesttranslationoftheabove,butwithoutillustrations.

2017note.ThereisnowaguidepublishedbyCicerone,TreksintheDolomites:AlteVie1and2byMartinCollinsandGillianPrice(2005) Thetextofthislogwasoriginallyhand-writtenin1980byGerryLevershaintheTrekLogBookwhichChrisLittleestablishedin1977.Iword-processedthetextusingaBBCcomputerandWordwiseinabout1988.Icompletedthisversionin2017withadigitalsketchmapandscannedimages,usinganAppleMacintoshandMicrosoftWord,withiPhotoandPreviewtoedittheimages.

Iscannedtheimagesfrommy35mmslides.Itook2rollsof36,and51ofthemwereworthincludinginthislog.Aftersolonginstorage,thequalityofsomeoftheimages,especiallythosetakeninlowlightandthoseofdistanthazyscenery,wereratherpoor.WhereIhavebeenunabletogetareasonablecolourbalanceIhaveconvertedthemtomonochrome.

Tokeeptheoverallfilesizedown,alltheimagesarelowresolutionbutofsufficientqualitytodisplayfairlywellatA4pagesize.Theaveragesizeofthe54images(3areduplicates)isabout62kB,givingafilesizeofabout4MB,thesizeofabout2mediumdigitalcompactcameraimages.

Aftersuchalongtimeithasobviouslybeenimpossibletoobtainpermissionfromindividualstouseimageswhichincludethem.Anyonewhofindsthisaproblemshouldcontactme.

AllanWitton2017

©TextGerryLeversha1980 ©MapandImagesAllanWitton2017

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ROUTE TheroutefollowedtheAltaViaNo.1intheeasternDolomites,whichstretchesfromtheLagodiBraiessouthtoBelluno.Anumberofroutealternativesweretaken.

1. FromtheFanesalpthewesterlyrouteviatheLagazuoiwasfollowedinpreferencetothehighlevelcrossing ofMonteCastello,partlytoavoidthetrickydescentintoValTravenanzesandpartlytorendezvouswiththe coach.

2. ThedescenttoSanCassianofromColLoggiatomeetthecoach,omittingForcelladelLago.

3. ThetraverseofSentieroFlaibanioverPelmo,thusomittingthenecessityofretracingthesoutherntraverse.

4. ThedescentofValdelVescovafromtheBianchethuttofinishtheTrekatPinei(ontheAgordotoBelluno road),therebyomittingthetraverseoftheSchiaraandthedifficultdescentoftheviaferrataMarmol

TheinitialplanhadbeentoleavetheAV1atRifugioVazzoler,southofCivetta,anddescendtoListolade,northofAgordo,butduetothefitnessandenthusiasmofthepartyitwaspossibletocontinuetherouteforafurthertwoandahalfdays.

AscentsweremadeofCrodadelBecco(Seekofl)2810,laVarella(Kreuzkofl)3055,TofanadiRozes,3225andNuvolau2575. OUTLINE ITINERARY 20 days 6 days travel 2 free days 12 days walking _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Wednesday 23rdJuly Coach MGS>AylesburyGS>Felixstowe(overnightferry)Thursday 24th Coach Zeebrugge-StuttgartFriday 25th Coach ValPusteria_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Saturday 26th Coach LagodiBraies 1493 Trek RifugioBiella 2327Sunday 27th Excursion CrodadelBecco 2810 Trek RifugioPederü 1548Monday 28th Trek PassoTadega 2177Tuesday 29th Excursion laVarella 3055 Trek RifugioSaré 1650Wednesday 30th Trek ValTravenanzes 2383 Excursion IlCastellettogalleriesThursday 31st Excursion TofanadiRozes 3225 Trek/Coach Cortina 1122

Friday 1stAugust Freeday Cortinad’Ampezzo_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Saturday 2nd Coach CianZoppe 1732 Trek MalgaPrendera 2148 via Nuvolau 2575Sunday 3rd Trek RifugioVeneziadiLuca 1947Monday 4th Trek LagoColdai 2135Tuesday 5th Trek PassoDuran 1601Wednesday 6th Trek RifugioPramperet 1776Thursday 7th Trek Pinei Coach BolzanoFriday 8th Coach Bressanone FreeDay_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Saturday 9th Coach StuttgartSunday 10th Coach Zeebrugge(overnightferry)Monday 11th Coach Felixstowe>AylesburyGS>Manchester_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ATrek isalinearwalkfromoneplacetothenextwithfullpacks.AnExcursion isareturnwalkwithoutfullpacks.Notethatheightsandspellingsofplaceandpeaknamesvaryfrommaptomap.

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SKETCH MAP OF THE WALKING ROUTE

Huts

1 Biella 2300 2 Sennes 2120 3 Pederü 1548 4 Fanes 2060 5 Scotoni 1985 6 Lagazuoi 2752 7 Guissani 2561 8 Cinque Torri 2137 9 Scoiattoli 2230 10 Nuvolau 2575 11 Citta di Fiume 1948 12 Venezia 1950 13 Coldai 2135 14 Tissi 2281 15 Vazzoler 1752 16 Carestiato 1840 17 Pramperet 1857 18 Bianchet 1245

KEY

Principal ridges

Limestone massifs

Lakes/reservoirs

Roads

Route

Other significant summits

Campsites

N

SUMMITS CLIMBED Croda del Becco 2810 la Varella 3055

Tofana di Rozes 3225

Nuvolau 2575

Towns and villages

Lago di Braies

Cortina

Caprile

Alleghe

Cencenighe

Agordo

4

7

11

14

2

5

12

15

3

6

10

13

16

Croda del Becco

la Varella

Nuvolau

Croda Rossa

Piz Taibon

Punta di Fanis

Croda da Lago

Pelmo

Civetta

Moiazza

Tofana di Rozes

IdrewthismapfromLagodiBraiestoAgordofortheupdateofthelogofthe1989TrekwhichalsofollowedtheAV1.Ihaveextendedittocovertherouteofthe1980Trek,fromtheCarestiatohuttoPinei.

San Cassiano

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Mont Tamer

Summits climbed

1

17

18 Pinei

Mont Talvena

Lagazuoi Grande

©Allan Witton 2017

La Rocchetta

• Cian Zoppe

•

Approximate scale at A4 page size: 1:200,000 0 1 2 3 miles | | | | | | | | | | 0 1 2 3 4 5 km

La Gusela

9 8

•

•

Col Bechei

Sasso Nove

Cunturines

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ITINERARY Wednesday 23rd July Coach MGS - Aylesbury GS - Felixstowe

LeftManchesteratabout9.30a.m.andreachedAylesburymid-afternoon.1hourspentloadingprovisions.ReachedFelixstoweat10.00after2hoursinIpswich.Ferry11.00.

Thursday 24th July Coach Stuttgart

Zeebrugge7.00.MotorwaysthroughBelgiumandGermany.CampedatLeonbergnearStuttgart.8hours.

Friday 25th July Coach Val Pusteria

Saturday 26th July Trek Rifugio Biella 2327

MorninginBrunico-pleasanttownwitharcadesandfriendlyatmosphere.DrovetoLagodiBraies-goodroad.Startedtrekat12.30,alonglakesidepath,stoppingafter1hourforlunch.Climbis900mfrominitialheightof1493(not1943asinRossiguide!).Astonyascent,firstthroughscrubbyvegetation,lateronscree.Bifurcationfromroute4atNabigesLoch(c.2000)needscare-sharprightturn.SomeeasyscramblingasroutefollowscleftbetweenSeekoflandOfenMauertocolat2300(arrivedat4.30).NowateravailableatBiellahut,noratcampsiteonplateaubelowslabsofSeekofl(CrodadelBecco),althoughwelaterdiscoveredthespring.Meltedsnowfordinner-mainproblemhereisthatitmustbeboiled.Hotinstantwhipnotrecommended.Weather:Initiallyveryhot,latermistyandcool.Thunderstormovernight.

The steep ascent from the head of Lago di Braies

LeftStuttgartat9.00.StopinOberammagau.FinedatGerman/Austrianborderforspeeding.ThenceInnsbruck,Brenner,reachingSanSigesmondoinValPusteriaat6.00.Clearlythisjourneyiscertaintooccupyafulltwodays,duetoEECregulationsondrivingtimeandspeed.

Campsite at San Sigesmondo

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Sunday 27th July Excursion Croda del Becco 2810 Trek Rifugio Pederü 1548

Twopartiesleftat8.10,8.40forCrodadelBecco.StraightforwardascentalongwhalebackridgefromBiellahut,withfixedcableatonepointnotnecessaryinconditions.Gainedsummitin1hour.Viewimpededbymist,butpossibletoseeZillertal,TreCime,Tofana,Antelao.Ibexsightedondescent.

000 The ridge leading to Croda del Becco from the Biella hut Lago di Braies from the summit of Croda del Becco (Original scans with poor colour balance have been converted to monochrome)

Struckcampat1.00,andwalkedasoneparty.EasytoSenneshut(35minutes).JeeproadtoPederühut.FinalsectionsteepthroughcliffsnotmarkedveryclearlyonKompassmap.Arrived4p.m.

The slabs of the whaleback ridge of Croda del Becco

The ascent route is up the ridge on the right skyline.

Campedinmeadowsnearriver;duetomistakebyhutoccupantsexperiencedsomeproblemswithlocalpolice(Forestière).Noteforfuture-Communepermissionisnotenough.CoachcouldnegotiateroadfromSanVigiliodiMarebbealongValdiTamoreswithlittledifficulty,apartfromsomehairpinsatfarend.Weather:Changeable,brighteninginevening.

Steep descent through cliffs into Val di Tamores

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Monday 28th July Trek Passo Tadega 2177

Lago Piciodel.

Arriving at Rifugio Fanes, with Sasso Nove (2968)

Leftastwopartiesat9.30and10a.m.JeeptracktoRifugioFanes(2hours)-lovelyviewsbacktoSeekofl,attractivelakeLagodiPiciodel,andspectaculartowersofEisengabelSpitz.

Early morning sun yet to reach the Pederü hut, with the summit of

Col Bechei (2794) above

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PassodiLimo,FanesAlp,PassoTadegaby2.30-alloneasyandpopularpathwithviewsaheadofTofana,CimediFanis,andPizTaibon.

At Malga Fanes Grande on Fanes Alp with Piz Taibon (2928)

CTLclimbed100mupintoVallondeLavarestofindsecludedcampsiteinhangingvalley.Weather:Sunnyallday.

Campsite in Vallon de Lavares

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Tuesday 29th July Excursion la Varella 3055 Trek Rifugio Saré 1650

000 Piz Taibon on the left

Cunturines (3064)

Twopartiesleft7.20,7.45a.m.forlaVarella.Ascentinterestingbutstraightforward,climbingcorrietoLagoCunturines(2525)andsnowline,thencecontouringnorthsideofuppercorrietocol(c.2900),andalongnorthridge-narrowinplacesbutalwaysgoodpath-topeak(3055or3060accordingtomap!).Timeabout3hours.

Lago Cunturines

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000 On the summit of la Varella

Ice-axe braking practice

ViewsofTofana,Sella,Marmolada.Descent1h-15plus45minutesice-axepractice.

Descent to the col, with Val San Cassiano 1300 m below

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Struckcampat2.30.EasypathfromColLoggia(2069)toCapinaAlpina(1726)andtocampsiteSassd’LaciabesideRifugioSaréonsouthsideofRioSarébrook.

Heading down from Passo Tadega, with the cliffs leading up to Punta di Fanis (2989)

The southern cliffs of Cunturines

Weather:Changeable,mistinmorning,raininafternoon.Severethunderstorminevening-duetopoornatureofcampsitedrainage,boyswashedout,andthemajoritysleptincampsitecafé.

Note:IfjourneyintendedtoSanCassianoforsupplies,coachisanecessity.Campsitehadpoorfacilities-itmighthavebeenmorepleasanttotakecoachtositesnearSanLeonardoorCorvara

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Wednesday 30th July Trek Val Travenanzes 2383 Excursion Castelletto

000 About to start the ascent to the Scotoni hut The steep trek up to the Scotoni hut with Cunturines (3064) on the skyline

000 Retrospective view of Cunturines Views from Forcella Lagazuoi: south to Croda da Lago and Pelmo …

Struckcampat10.30assingleparty.AscenttoScotonihut(1985)toughbutfast,thencebadlyerodedpathuptoLagodiLagazuoi.ReachedForcellaLagazuoiin3hours.

SuperbviewssouthoverMarmolada,Civetta,Pelmo,CrodadiLago,Antelao,Sorapis,aswellaseastwardstoTofana.A much better morning after the storm

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… and east to west wall of Tofana di Rozes (3225)

1hourdowntocampsiteatthe401/402pathjunctionattheheadofValTravenanzes,midwaybetweenForcellaTravenanzesandForcellaBois(2383).IneveningasmallpartywentonexcursiontotheFirstWorldWargalleriesinIlCastelletto,reachedviaseriesofladders.Weather:Hot,thencooling.Mistinlateevening.LovelyeveningviewsofTofanaandFanisTurm.

Evening sun on the spires of Lagazuoi Grande (2804)

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000000000000000 Camp below Lagazuoi Grande Ladder leading to the galleries in Il Castelletto Thursday 31st July Excursion Tofana di Rozes 3225 Trek Cortina 1122

Struckcampat6a.m.withintenttoclimbTofanadiRozes.ContouredaroundTofanatobottomofgully(vallon)inabout2hourslosingsomeheightontheway.Weatherbythenverypoor-mistanddrizzle,somajorityofpartycontinueddowntoCortinawithLAWandMH(3hours+1hourbreakfastatRifugioDibona).IntrepidminoritywithGLandCTLclimbedviaabandonedCantorehuttosummitofTofanadiRozes(2h-30).Basicallyarathertediousslowplod-butaxesandearlystartessentialduetosoftsnowconditions.Notmuchofaview,butrainceased.DescenttoGiussanihutbetweenTofanainonly30minutes,thencetoFalzaregoroadatCianZoppeby3p.m.Somemembersofpartyverytired.CoachtocampsiteatCortinaRocchetta-veryexpensive! Friday 1st August Free day Cortina d’Ampezzo

Pleasantskiresort,nottoocommercialised.Everyoneneededarest.Boughtfreshprovisionsandchickensforboystostew.

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Saturday 2nd August Coach Cian Zoppe 1732 Trek Malga Prendera 2148 via Nuvolau 2575

The easy walk up past Cinque Torri

Views from the Nuvolau hut : south-east over Croda da Lago to the distant Antelao …

Struckcampat9a.m.andtookcoachbacktoCianZoppe.WalkedwithdaypacksoverNuvolauuntilPassoGiau.GoodpaththroughwoodstoCinqueTorriandthenuptoNuvolausummithutviaForcellaNuvolau(2hours).

EvidentlythiswalkratesasalocalConistonOldManjudgingbynumberoftourists!Hutrathercommercialised.

Preparing to leave the coach at Cian Zoppe

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… north over the Cinque Torre to the south face of Tofana di Rozes, and beyond that Tofana di Mezzo and Tofana di Dentro …

… south over the near peak of la Gusela (2595) to Pelmo, with the coach at Passo Giau far below.

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View from Passo Giau: Mont Averau on the left, the Nuvolau hut just visible on the skyline,

the rock tower of La Gusela and Tofana di Rozes

DescenttopassinvolvedafixedropesectionoffNuvolausummitandthenasteepgullytonorthofGuselapeak-itwasanadvantagenothavingfullpacks.ReachedPassoGiauandcoachin1h-30,andpickeduppacks.FootpathtoForcellaGiaudoesexist-notmarkedinF&Bmap.2h-30walkinginshadowofCrodadiLagobroughtustogoodcampsitejustbeyondForcellacolDuronearMalgaPrendera.SuperbviewsofPelmo.Weather:finebutsomewhathazy.

The fixed rope descent off Nuvolau

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Sunday 3rd August Trek Rifugio Venezia di Luca 1947

Setting off from camp, with Civetta (3220) in the distance

Croda da Lago (2715) and la Rocchetta (2496)

Struckcampat8.30andreachedRifugioCittadiFiume(1917)in1hour.Easypathoversmallcolsandthroughtrees.

The sun rises on Pelmo (3168)

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SentieroFlaibanitraversingPelmoturnedouttobesteepbuttechnicallynoproblem-themarkedglacierappearstohavereceded.PathclimbsupscreegullytograssyplatformandthenonlefthandsideofcorrietoForcellaVald’Arcia(2470).Timeonly1h-30.Viewfromcolimpressive,inparticularofAntelao.

Grassy platform at the top of the first scree gully

Descendedin4partiestoavoidstonefall,contouringsouthsideofPelmo.Onesectionwithafixedcablewhichwasmoreofahindrancethanahelpwhenencumberedwithsacks!

ReachedRifugioVeneziadiLucain1hour.Goodcampinginmeadows,waterfromhutspring.

Camped below the Venezia hut with the walls of Pelmo above

Weather:Extremelyhot!AfternoonspentlazingandthinkingaboutBallledge,butourattemptonthelatterremainedatthetheoreticallevel.

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Monday 4th August Trek Lago Coldai 2135 Struckcampat10.30,twoparties.Mistinmorning.ContouredsouthofPelmobutmissedjunctiontoPalafavera-thisisnotwellmarked,sowelost30minutesretracingsteps.CoachatPalafaverahotel(1541),200mbelowForcellaStaulanza,reachedin2h-30.Unpleasantcampsitemanagersseemedtoresentourpresence. LeisurelyascentinafternoonviaColMarin(1818)toForcellaColdaiandLagoColdai,about2h-30.Boysallowedtowalkupindividually.Lakegoodforbathing.Weather:Initiallydrizzle,rainatnoon,clearingtowardsevening.Tuesday 5th August Trek Passo Duran 1601 Struckcampat9.15intwoparties.FinebutcoolinshadowofCivettaWestWallandclimaticconditionspreventedusobtaininggoodviews.Ifyouwanttoseethewallyoushouldaimtopassitinlateafternoon.

000 Camp on the shores of Lago Coldai, The specks on the nearside edge of the large snowfield with the Civetta wall towering above are the second party following on! ReachedColReànandTissihutinabout1h-30(leavingsacksatpass).Continuedsouthbelowwallalongexcellentpath,reachingmeadowsatsouthendofwall.PathturnedeastbelowTorreVenezia,throughscrubbyconiferstoVazzolerhut,1714(1h-30fromTissi).Anattractivehutinshadysurroundings.

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Torre Venezia (2337) on the left and a pinnacle below Cima Di Mede (2346) from the Vazzoler hut

DecidedtocontinueroutebeneathMoiazzabeyondoriginalstoppingpoint.Descendedto1430andthencontouredMoiazzaonnarrowpath,climbingseveralsmallcolsonwaytoForcelladiCamp(1891).

Thispartofroutewasuncomfortableandratherboring.GoodcampingsiteisavailableatCaseradiCampbelowcol,butwedecided(aftervote)topresson,throughfirtrees,toCarestiatohut,1834(4hoursfromVazzoler).

Leg-stop on Forcella di Camp

Campingimpossiblehere,sodescendedtoPassoDuraninanother35minutes.

Alongandstrenuousdayinunpleasantheatwithviewsdeteriorating.PassoDuranaboggyandgnat-riddensitewithpoorwatersupply.Coacharrivedat8.00p.m.

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Wednesday 6th August Trek Rifugio Pramperet 1776

Departedabout9.50intwoparties,downroadtoc.1530.PathonleftclimbingtoForcellaDagareiandthencecontouringaroundTamer/CastellotoForcellaMoschesin(1940).Lackofwateruntilcol.DelightfuldescentthroughpasturestoRifugioPramperet,1776.Totaltime,4hours+1hourlunch.Noviewsduetohaze.ObtainedpermissionfromForestièretocampclosetohut.Thehutisasimple,friendly,oldfashionedrefugewithgoodfoodandwineinmagnificentsurroundingswhenyoucanseethem.Weather:Warm,hazy,somebreeze.

The old stone-built Pramparet hut

Camped below the hut

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Thursday 7th August Trek Pinei Coach Bolzano

Struckcampat7a.m.inoneparty.Cloudybutwarm-poorvisibility.CimadiCittaclimbeasy,butondescentlostwaymarksandhadtoretracesteps.Kompassmapiswrongoncourseofpath,whichdoesnotfollowvalleytoimmediatewestofCimedelBianchet,butgoestothewestofthat-asonFreytag-BerndtandTabaccomaps.

Hazy views on the long final descent

DescentthereafterstraightforwardtoPianFontana,1632andoverForcelladiLavaretta,1704,toheadofValdiVescova.Severalsnakessighted,butSchiararemainedinvisible!TookalternativeroutetoRifugioBianchet,1245(5h-30fromPramperet).Spaghettiathut.PurgatorialdescentonforestroadtoPinei,andeventuallythecoach(1h-30).Rockpooltobathein.

A welcome dip in a rock pool at the end of a long, hot day

CoachtoBolzanotocamp-neveragain!CollectedposterestanteonwayatAgordo.

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Friday 8th August Coach Bressanone Free Day

LeftBolzanoasfastaspossibleandcampedagainatBressanone.Anattractivetownwithpiazzasandarcades.Thunderstorminafternoon.Trekmeal:Wienerschnitzel+ice-creaminsmallrestaurant. Saturday 9th August Coach Stuttgart

Samerouteasoutwardjourneyandsamecampsite. Sunday 10th August Coach Zeebrugge

Samerouteasoutwardjourney.Anothertrekmeal!-steakandchips. Monday 11th August Coach Felixstowe - Aylesbury - Manchester

ArrivedManchesterat5p.m.SUMMARY AND COMMENTS

Asuccessfultrekwithastrongparty,achievingmuchmorethaninitiallyplanned.TheMGSandAGSboysmixedwell,despitetheslightagegap.

Thesizeoftheparty(31+4)slowedusdownontrickysections,anditisdefinitelypreferabletosplitupforwalking.TheTofanaascentwouldhavebeenmuchharderwithafullparty.However,economicsdictateapartyofaboutthissizeifwearetokeepcostsatabout£150.Withasmallerparty,however,onecouldprobablymanagetheMarmolviaferrataandfinishthewholeHighRoute.

Dolomiticweatherisunpredictable-therewereheavysnowfallsonlydaysbeforewereachedthearea,and,althoughweencounterednosnowproblems,wewerealwaysawareofthehumiditywhichwasrelievedonlybytheeveningstorms.Alsothehazeruinedtheviewsinthefinalfewdays.

Onthewholethepathsarewellmarkedandquitesafe,andthehutsfriendlyandaccommodating.Obviouslyonemustbecarefultokeepontherightsideofthepolice!GerryLeversha1980 2017 NOTE

AspartoftheTrekkingCentenarycelebrationsin2004aprintedCentenaryBrochurewasproducedwhichgivesacomprehensiveaccountofthefirst100yearhistoryofTrekkingatMGS,togetherwithvarioussummarytables.In2015adigitalversionoftheBrochurewasproducedinordertomakeitmorewidelyavailable.

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ARTICLE FOR THE SCHOOL MAGAZINE ULULA . TREK1980TRAVELLEDtotheDolomitesofNorthernItaly,amountainouslimestoneregiontothesouthofthemainAlpinechain.WhilelackingthealtitudeofthehigherSwissandFrenchAlps,theDolomitesprovidesomespectacularscenery,beingquitedifferentincharacterfromtheirnorthernneighbours.Thevalleysarelongandnarrow,oftenwithprecipitousrock-wallstoweringabovethem,andtheytendtodisappearfromsightentirelyinviewsfromthehighplateaux.Ourcoach-driver,Dennis,exercisedconsummateskillinnegotiatinghairpinbendswhilebringingthebustorendezvouswiththepartyatthevalleyheads.Wewerewalkingthe“AltaVia1”,thefirstofthelong-distancefootpathstobesetupbytheItalianauthorities,andwellmaintainedwithwaymarkingsandsignposts.Ouroriginalintentionhadbeentowalkonlythefirsthalfofit,butourrapidprogressinthesecondweekenabledustocompleteallbutthetechnicallydifficultfinalsection.WeassembledatSchoolandloadedsacks,food,campingequipmentandsuppliesintothecoachwithsometrepidation,knowingitwouldbetwodaysbeforewewouldseeourbelovedbelongingsagain.WethenproceededtoAylesburytomeettheotherhalfofourparty,fromAylesburyGrammarSchool,andledbyMr.Little,who,whileatM.G.S.,ledandparticipatedinmanyForeignTreks.AchannelcrossingandtwoblisteringdayslaterwearrivedattheLagodiBraies,readytocommencewalking.Equipmentwasgivenafinalcheck,foodwasdistributedandweshoulderedtherucksacks.Thefirstdaywasinsomewaystheworst:wewereunaccustomedtoclimbingintheheatwithpacks,andtheclimbseemedtostretchforever.Itwaswithgreatreliefthatweeventuallygainedthecol,anddescendedtothepasturestosearchforacampsite.Herearosewhatwastobeafamiliarproblem,thatoffindingadequatewatersupplies.Onthisoccasionweresortedtomeltedsnow,butinfuturewewereluckierandtheexpedientwasnotfoundnecessaryagain.Afterthateverythingseemeddownhillbycomparison.Amongthehighlightsweretheascents—thewhalebackridgeofCrodadelBecco,theexhilaratingearlymorningclimbtothesnowypeakofLaVarella,andthelongplodinmistupthesnowfieldstothesummitofTofanadiRozes,10,500feetabovesealevel.Aswegazeddowntheprecipitoussouthface,webreathedoutinreliefthatwehadovercomewearinessandvertigoyetagain.Wepassedsomeoftheclassicrock-wallsofAlpineclimbing:themagnificent“WallofWalls”oftheCivetta,thegauntpinnaclesoftheCinqueTorri,andthefamousbuttressesofMountPelmo,oncethoughtimpregnable.WesatinthecafeatthetopofMountNuvolau,andgazedoutoverthedistantMarmoladaandtheimposingpeaksofAntelaoandCrodadiLago,beforesettingoutonthesteepdescent,aidedbyfixedcables,tothepassbelow.Andonthelastdaycamethe6,000feetdescent,almostatajog,tothecoachwaitingtotakeusnorthwards,andanunforgettabledipinaconvenientrockpool.TheclearblueskiescameasarevelationaboutEuropeanweathertoanemigréAustraliansuchasmyself.Nonetheless,whenathunderstormdidbreak,itcamewithavengeance,andturnedoursiteintoaswirlingtorrent,andtentswereabandonedforthefloorofthenearbyhut.Onthesucceedingdaytheweatherwasbacktoform,andflysheetssoondriedinthebakingsunasweclimbed,drippingwithperspiration,tothenextcol,andthestrangelunarlandscapeoftheGrandeLagazuoi.Asoneverytrektherewerethecharacters:DannyFletcher,hygienefiendandchefextraordinaire,ListerSmith,whoseemedtodoallthechoresforhistentwithoutcomplaining,GrahamLiddellfromA.G.S.,withhisfingerconstantlyclickingtheshutterofhiscameraatviews,cowsandcompanions,andPeterCollins,alsofromA.G.S.,masterofwitandrepartee.Thestafftoocontributedtheirownspecialskills.Mr.Littlesampledmostofthemountainlakes,intheapparentbeliefthattheworthofabathisproportionaltoitscoldness.Mr.Witton,aScottishTrekrefugee,oncehegrewusedtotheunaccustomedluxuryofdryboots,discoveredthatF=madidnotextendtomovingcertainboysuphill.Dr.LevershaastonishedfriendandfoealikewithhiscommandofItalian,especiallywhenarguingwiththelocalpoliceornegotiatingwithhutwardens.Mr.Hammond,fromA.G.S.,gainedhisfirstexperienceofAlpinetrekking,andwillbehelpingtocontinuethetraditionathisownschool.DennisHughes,thedriver,walkedandcampedwithusmostofthewayandprovedaninvaluablecompanion(andhe’scomingnextyear!).Ourthanksgotoeverybodywhomadetheholidaypossible. DavidDouglas5G

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ORGANISATION Equipment Asforthe1979Trek.Ropes,iceaxesandinstepcramponswereallcarried,althoughonlyiceaxes wereneeded.AllequipmentwasprovidedbyMGS. Transport Asforthe1979Trek.A45-seatcoachfromHughes Coaches.

Routeout: MGS>AGS>Felixstowe>Zeebrugge(overnightferry)>Köln>Stuttgart(camp) >Innsbruck>Brunico(camp)

Routeback: Bressanone(camp)>Innsbruck>Stuttgart(camp)>Köln>Zeebrugge> >Felixstowe(overnightferry)>AGS>MGS Food Foodwasmostlydried,makingus90%self-sufficient.OrganisedbyChrisLittletogetherwith copiousnotesonhautecuisine.Foodwaspackagedintoindividualtentportions. First Aid OrganisedbyAllanWitton,andcarriedintwoseparatepacks. E111certificatesobtained.Noproblemsatall. Training MGS:April20thoutingtoKinder.

MGS/AGS:12th/13thJulySnowdoniaoutingasusual. Insurance CommercialUnionSchoolJourneypolicy

£1500perperson (medical,increasedtravel,death,injury)£25perperson (organisersexpensesincurredbystrike,riotetc.)£100,000 (publicliability,claimsuponorganiser)£50perperson (cancellation,curtailment)£1000 (personalaccident)£100 (personalluggage,money)£1500 (campingequipment)

Thishadanattachedmemorandumcoveringusforwalkingalongrecognisedpaths,ropesbeingusedonlyasasafetymeasure.Thiswasfirstnegotiatedforthe1975Trek. ACCOUNTS Expenditure Notes Camping(1) £304.25 (1)Camping Leonberg(out) DM138Food(2) £890.32 S.Sigesmondo L72,500FirstAid £12.00 Armonterola L35,000Insurance £112.48 Cortina(2nights) L187,000Maps/guides £22.40 Bolzano L80,000Film £7.98 Bressanone L86,000Equipment(3) £310.00 Leonberg(back) DM133Secretarial £3.00 (£1=DM4=L1930)Trekweekend £46.41 Travel(4) £2785.00 (2)Food England £373.39 £4493.84 ExtrasonTrek £273.08 Allowances £67.50 Meals £212.35

Income (3)Equipment 31x£150 £4650.00 Calculatedonthebasisof£10pertrekker paidtoMGStocoverdepreciation/repairs Balance £156.16 (4)Travel Coachhire £2000.00BalancesplitbetweenMGSandAGS Ferryfares £785.00

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SKETCH MAP OF THE ROUTE

ThisisascanofthesketchmapthatGerrydrewfortheoriginalhand-writtenlog.Digitalmap-drawingtechnologywasn’tavailablein1980!