Brief description: trail in one of the most impressive locations in the Dolomites, with hisorical relevance and scenic views.
We depart Passo Falzarego along the ridge leading to Mount Averau. Approximately 30 minutes into our walk we reach lake Limedes, a very small body of water nestled in a beautiful landscape. It is located just above the edge of the woods, with a few larch and swiss pines sitting among boulders and slopes covered in rhodondendra and mountain pine.
The trail continues along the base of Croda Negra, the terrain becoming increasingly rocky with steep, albeit short, uphill stretches. It is perplexing to think that we are walking on an ancient fossil cliff that millions years ago was surrounded by tropical seas.
However, what really stands out at this point are the vestiges of a much more recent history. Along our hike we come across the remains of trails, galleries, trenches and barracks built by Italian army soldiers stationed in this area during World War I. A collection of restored vestiges from the war are housed in the nearby open air Museum of the Great War.
Continuing on, our surroundings become increasing picturesque as we reach Cinque Torri and we enter what resembles a group of petrified rocks. An ensemble of towers, tilted peaks, spires and large boulders give rise to a “city of stone”. Cinque Torri is a typical example of the irreversible deformation undergone by dolomia rocks sitting on softer and unstable terrain.
Descending through the woods, we reach the lake of Bain de Dones and our arrival point.
