Blueberry Grappa is Good
Posted on Monday, November 2nd, 2009
The Dolomites are rad. Cloudveil shooter Dan Patitucci has been professing this since his move to Italy a few years back.
But everyone knows how that goes – mountain local moves to new mountain locale and the talk is always big. Or as a friend recently joked, “How do you know someone lives in Jackson? It’s easy, they’ll tell you.”
But I regress. My wife, Kir, and I went to the Dolomites. Our goal was to climb, hike, explore and check out some via ferratas. Sure, we’d grab some culture along the way, drink some fine espressos, and dine on hand-cut minestrone or handmade pasta around a rifigio hearth.
Here’s the deal. You can climb long moderate routes forever in the Dolomites. A minor day would be the equivalent of the Exum on the Grand Teton. Want a 20-pitch-plus .10B line on the Marmolada? Go Don Quixote. Want to follow Cassin or Messner lines? Take your pick on the Tre Cime or anywhere, really. Desire a three-big-tower-link-up at a moderate grade? Go to Sella Pass and look left.
The Italian approach to weather forecasting leaves a bit to interpretation, but they make up for it with their sophisticated approach to everything else. When the forecast looks unsettled you can sport climb at an area such as the Citta Dei Sassi, or the City of Stones. Kinda like City of Rocks in Idaho, only instead of Almo as your cultural hang, Sella Pass has full leather guys in mirrored shades on Ducatis and bronzed women in tight white jeans sipping lattes.
So, is Dan right about how great it is over in the Dolomitis?
Well, probably best for you to go check it out yourself …
(Roll cursor over photos for captions.)
