Day 12 - Cortina d'Ampezzo: Langston and Peter

 Day 12 - Cortina d'Ampezzo: Langston and Peter

Beginning our hike up the Dolomites (a.k.a. the foothills of the Alps)

Langston: Today we went to the Dolomites, an adventure to say the least. We hiked up nearly 13,000 steps up the side of these rugged mountains, and after only a few minor trips and falls, we conquered the Dolomites. We got to see loads of snow, an occurrence that is rare in Southern California. Before this hike, we were told that this would be “the big day”, and it fell nothing short of that. 

Although all of our legs were sore by the end of it, we saw plenty of worthy sights along the way. For starters, the rivers and lakes that were scattered throughout the mountains were refreshing. We also got to see beautiful flowers that sprouted alongside the tall trees. Once we finished the hike, we went to a beautiful farewell dinner at Agriturismo Castelet in Valdobbiadene where we were fed a variety of roasted and cured meats as well as vegetables and desserts! In total, I’m happy I was able to experience such a fulfilling day.

Such amazing vistas!

Peter: After staying up with friends at the dinner that Giorgio held at his house, the 6:50 meeting time didn’t seem very thrilling. Even still, we all woke up and prepared for a three hour bus ride to an outdoor adventure, our hike in the Dolomites, in a place called Cortina d’Ampezzo. 

Another view from our hike in the Dolomites

By the time we arrived in base camp, we were already at 1,600 meters above sea level. Once we were acquainted with our tour guides, the hike commenced. Because of the recent downpour throughout our time in Valdobbiadene, it was not surprising to see the dirt had mostly turned to mud. Whilst I was making my way through, jumping over puddles and making small movements not to slip on a wet root, my only saving grace was that I had a spare pair of shoes at the bus. 

As we climbed higher, we took a turn and adventured into a collection of World War I era trenches. Ranging in heights of 1,900 to 2,000 meters, we were impressed and fascinated to see their versatility and structural integrity, as they had been dug straight into the mountain we were climbing. Something of equal importance that appeared around this time was the first signs of snow. For some, this was only their first or second times in the snow, so it was every exciting for me to see them experience it. 

Walking through the WWI trenches in the Dolomites

After we got all got the excitement of the snow out of our systems, we learned all about the surrounding mountains and their uses, such as the Five Pillars (Cinque Torre), which are excellent rock-climbing cliffs. From there, we made one final push to the top as we paused for a lunch break at a final altitude of about 2,255 meters. We then quickly returned to base camp and drove to a nearby town for a well deserved break. Then, returning to the bus, we started our journey back so we could go to our group dinner to commemorate it being our last day in Italy. 

This trip in Italy has been an experience I will cherish and remember for the rest of my life. The incredible friendships and activities we have done are some that can’t be done anywhere else. That is what made this trip to Italy so special for me. But, even still, all good things must come to an end. We now must all pack up and prepare for our flight back to LAX tomorrow and once again say farewell to our Italian friends. But just because we don’t see each other every day doesn’t mean our friendships become any less real. I’m sure our paths will cross with theirs again in the future. See you all again soon in California!

Hiking down the mountain beneath the chair lift