No other mountain range in the world has such an adventurous network of paths carved into the rock as the Dolomites. The fact that these were the soldiers' supply routes can be felt on the tours.
When Italy declared war on Austria on 23 May 1915, a war of position began in the Dolomites that is still unique in the world today. Not because after two and a half years there were between 150,000 and 180,000 casualties on both sides without any significant territorial gains. The special thing about this mountain war was that most of the soldiers fell victim to natural disasters. Rockfalls and avalanches buried entire positions. At night, when the guard was relieved, the guard sometimes lay frozen in the snow at minus 40 degrees.
Gaining territory was so difficult because the opponents usually faced each other on hilltops. It was therefore not possible to overrun the enemy. To do so, you would have had to descend into the valley and climb up the enemy's mountain again. So they tunnelled under each other, filled the tunnels with dynamite and blew up the enemy position along with the mountain top. To mark the 100th anniversary of this trench warfare, we have now compiled the tours that lead to the particularly hard-fought forts.
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10 TOURS ALONG THE FRONT
Some relics from the First World War can only be recognised at second glance: Trenches, barbed wire, rusty tin cans and shell holes in the rock face. But there are also old forts and tunnels to discover on these tours.
1. DREI ZINNEN: To the Büllelejoch hut
26.6 km I 1804 m I Difficulty: difficult
The Three Peaks are probably the most striking rock towers in the Dolomites. But even on the plateau of this majestic backdrop, battles were fought. The Italians destroyed the Three Peaks hut and conquered the Paternsattel. As the paths around the Three Peaks are overrun by hikers, biking is taboo here. The only tour that is allowed here is the one to the Büllelejoch hut. However, the steepest climbs and technically challenging downhill trails await here.
Starting point The car park at Lake Misurina, at the start of the toll road (chargeable).
Retreat Büllelejoch hut, Lavaredo hut, Auronzo hut
Info A tour description including GPS data and roadbooks is available in the BIKE Guide Dolomites, 30 tours by Ralf Glaser, Delius Klasing Verlag, price: 14.90 euros, www.delius-klasing.de
2nd MARMOLADA: to Porta Vescovo
20.35 km I 477 m elevation gain | Difficulty: moderate
The Austrians called their tunnel system, which they had carved into the ice armour of the Marmolada, the "Ice City". Here they thought they were safe from the enemy until an avalanche broke loose on 13 December and killed all 300 soldiers. As a biker, the closest you can get to this gruesome story is to climb up the opposite mountain, the Porta Vescovo - or take the lift and surf down the fantastic trails to Arabba via the Passo Padon.
Starting point Arabba, Porta Vescovo cable car car park. Opening hours: www.dolomitiportavescovo.it
Info The GPS data for the cable car tour is available at www.bike-gps.com as a download for a fee.
Ralf Glaser also describes in his book Dynamite-Trails www.dynamite-trails.de a tour to the Padon ridge, but takes the chairlifts.
3. COL DI LANA - the mountain of blood
16.7 km I 990 km | Difficulty: difficult
The Austrians knew that they were sitting on a powder keg ready to explode at the Col di Lana. But their orders were: "The mountain will be defended to the last man." When the Italians blew up the dynamite-filled tunnels, 245 Austrians were blown up along with the mountain peak. A total of 8000 soldiers died on the Col di Lana. Even today, you can still find shrapnel from that time on this short but crisp route. From Livinallongo, the route climbs steeply up to the war museum, along trails to the Plan de la Mina and on to the Siefsattel. A partly exposed trail descent awaits there.
Starting point Livinallongo in the Belluno Dolomites.
Tip Be sure to visit the war museum
Info Ralf Glaser has published the tour route, including the historical background and GPS data, in his book Dynamite Trails www.dynamite-trails.de described. Info: www.trails.de
4th LAGAZUOI: To the witch's stone
40.4 km I 1160 m I Difficulty: difficult
The Lagazuoi was one of the most contested mountains during the war. Its capture would have meant the strategically important access to the Val Badia. The Austrians had retreated to the galleries on the Lagazuoi and Hexenstein and were initially safe. Until the Italians drove tunnels into the mountain again and filled them with explosives. Today, the mountain still resembles a rabbit hole that you can walk down. The cones of rubble below the mountain are the result of massive blasting. The tour leads to the Valparola Pass, the Nuvolau Hut and the Falzarego Pass with the help of three cable cars. Caution: Carrying passages and partly exposed trails!
Starting point Cortina d'Ampezzo. Don't forget your headlamp for the tunnel ascent on the small Lagazuoi!
Info The tour description including GPS data is available at: www.trails.de
5th CORTINA D'AMPEZZO: Cinque Rifugi
47.8 km I 1736 m I Difficulty: difficult
The front line at the time ran right across the Fanes Group. The Italians were sitting on the three Tofanes, the Formenton and the Col Rosa. However, several waves of attacks were unable to drive the Austrian Kaiserjäger from the Fanes Forcella and the Travenanzes Valley. Only an explosive charge in the Tofana drove the Austrians (including Luis Trenker) away. This tour circles all the focal points of this battle in a large loop around the Fanes group. With five rustic huts for refreshments and possible overnight stays.
Starting point Cortina d'Ampezzo. The fashionable ski resort was an important trading centre during the war, which is why it was so fiercely contested.
Info The tour description including GPS data can be downloaded for a fee at www.bike-gps.com
6th CORTINA: Super panorama with lift
54.3 km I 372 m I Difficulty: moderate
Some of the gravel descents on this tour are a little tricky because they are deep, coarse gravel with a high degree of incline. Otherwise, there are no technical obstacles to worry about on this tour. Instead, there is a maximum of panoramic views, which you can enjoy thanks to the time and energy saved by the four lifts. The tour also starts in Cortina d'Ampezzo and circles the former battlefields such as Faloria, Monte Cristallo, the Tofane, Averau, Nuvolau and Cinque Torri. The panorama increases from summit to summit. And there is no shortage of inviting places to stop for refreshments!
Starting point Car park at the old railway station in Cortina d'Ampezzo
Info You can download the Freeride Panorama tour including GPS data for a fee from www.bike-gps.com
7. VIA THE FORCELLA AMBRIZZOLA
154 km I 5250 hm I Difficulty: difficult
It is best to take three days for this long tour. The tour leads along the old supply routes past old embrasures and forts and doesn't miss a single highlight. The first day leads from St. Vigil through the Fanes Valley and over the Passo Porsporcora and Pocol to the Rifugio Croda da Lago. On the second day, the route leads up the marvellous trail to Forcella Ambrizzola, over super trails to Alleghe and on to Arabba. Overnight stay at the Rifugio Viel del Pan (Bindelweg). On the third day, the famous spots of Pralongià and Armentarola await.
Starting point San Vigilio di Marebbe. The tour starts at the Pederü hut. (The route is signposted)
Info Unfortunately, there is no GPS data for this tour, but there is a fairly accurate road book that makes it easy to transfer the route to the map. Info: www.bike-magazin.de, webcode #570
8. BINDELWEG-PANORAMA
30.4 km I 1395 m elevation gain | Difficulty: moderate
The Bindelweg is one of the absolute tour classics - not only for bikers, but also for hikers. It is therefore best not to cycle it at the weekend. For the trail version of the tour, take the lift up to Porta Vescovo in Arabba. Then ascend via the Rifugio Padon and descend to the Col d'Ornella. Signs along the way provide information about the war.
Starting point Arabba cable car car park
Info The GPS data for the tour is available at www.trails.de
9. MONTE SPINA: Trails on the helmet
24.4 km I 1355 m elevation gain | Difficulty: moderate
Monte Spina is a bare mountain ridge that runs southwards near Sesto. It marks the eastern end of the Dolomites and appears inconspicuous at first glance. But if you climb up the long ascent from Sesto to the Sillianer Hut, you can see the full splendour of the Sesto Dolomites and follow a trail downhill that seems to have been painted into the green meadows. All along the way, you will discover remnants of the war. From the Klammbachhütte hut, follow the flowing cart tracks downhill.
Starting point Sesto in Val Pusteria
Info The tour description including GPS data can be found in the book Dynamite-Trails www.dynamite-trails.de. Info: www.trails.de
10th SEXTENER "DOLOS": Whirlpool head
48.7 km I 1367 m elevation gain | Difficulty: moderate
The tour leads from Villabassa via the once hotly contested Prato Piazza up to the Dürrenstein hut (great food!). From there you climb - preferably on foot - on rough gravel up to the Strudelkopf to see the old forts against a magnificent mountain backdrop (Cristallo, Drei Zinnen, Hohe Gaisl). Medium-difficulty tour on easy gravel roads. Only from the Dürrensteinhütte up to the Strudelkopf is the path steep and rough.
Starting point Villabassa or Dobbiaco
Info The tour description of the Prato Piazza mountain bike tour including GPS data is available at www.bikeandhike.de
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
