View from where we parked the car on the side of the road — Giau Pass, Dolomiti.

Ra Gusela behind us ... from where we parked the car — Giau Pass, Dolomiti.

Panorama with Ra Gusela (R) and road down to Da Aurelio (L) — Giau Pass, Dolomiti.

Croda Rossa d'Ampezzo (L) and Monte Cristallo (R) — from the Giau Pass, Dolomiti.

A closer look at Croda Rossa d'Ampezzo (10,322 feet/3,126m asl) — from Giau Pass, Dolomiti.

Bladder Campion ... along the trail at Giau Pass, Dolomiti.

View of the mountains from our turnaround point on the trail at Giau Pass, Dolomiti.

Heading down ... (L to R) Torre Dusso, Cima Loschiesuoi, Monte Cernera — Giau Pass, Dolomiti.

Panorama from our turnaround point — Giau Pass, Dolomiti.

Interesting hanging sculpture at the Berghotel — Giau Pass, Dolomiti.

Chiesetta Alpina di Passo Giau is a cabin-like wooden chapel — Giau Pass, Dolomiti.

Dolomiti: Giau Pass … Hike #1

July 8 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

After lunch, we drove the short distance on SP638 — a regional road that is part of the Veneto Strade system — to the highest point of Passo di Giau (7,335 feet/2,236m asl).

The plan was to hike the short trail that starts near Berghotel Passo Giau … in the direction of one of the famous peaks of the area … Ra Gusela. No real parking lots in the vicinity, so we did what all the other cars had done … when we found an open spot on the shoulder, Mui pulled off the road and maneuvered into it.

The hike wasn’t difficult per se … wide steps pretty much all the way up to a radio link antenna at our turnaround point. Beyond that it was a rock scramble that continued deeper into the mountains and refuge huts. Not taking on that part of the trail.

Spectacular scenery … despite the overhead clouds.Read more