A new beginning of summer in the Dolomites
A name, a place, a landscape, each can awaken deep emotions and vivid sensations. It is the mountains, with their silent call, that transform these feelings into endless motivation to walk, move forward and explore. The dark mountain trail beneath our feet winds through scattered rocks. The early summer breeze is cool and crisp, providing welcome relief between high mountain passes and narrow saddles, where distant valleys begin to speak to each other. The pale Dolomite rock soars into the sky, its jagged cliffs and tower-like shapes forming sharp-edged silhouettes that never fail to fill the heart with awe.
So, at the beginning of summer, we set out on the trail climbing from Passo Costalunga, between Val d’Ega and Val di Fassa. The sky is moody and overcast, occasionally pierced by brief shafts of sunlight breaking through the clouds. As we climb higher, the clouds become denser and the temperature drops, and we meet a refreshing breeze that sweeps through the landscape. In the silence of the path, we focus on the sound of our boots pressing into the earth and stepping over boulders. We are wearing Dolomite Vernale Leather GTX boots, which feature advanced cushioning technology to ensure stability and versatility on long summer treks.
The trail steepens, with a few more challenging ascents, first through the forest, then over pale rocks scattered across the green slopes of the Catinaccio range, particularly as we approach the summit of Roda di Vael. Our gaze rises from the path to the surrounding peaks of the Dolomites. These majestic stone giants, wise and ancient, still cling to the last patches of snow on their highest ridges.
In front of us stands the Marmolada, known as the Queen of the Dolomites. To the right, the Sella Group and Piz Boé rise up prominently, and further away, we can see the jagged line of the Pale di San Martino. Even closer, looming just above us, is the spectacular rocky outline of Catinaccio, with its sharp summits beckoning us closer. Roda di Vael towers above its namesake mountain hut, which we will reach later in the morning. The refuge evokes an emotion — like returning home or arriving in a place we never truly left, only to rediscover it once again.
Meanwhile, the Pale Rabbiose observe us with their curious silhouette, a hallmark of Catinaccio's rugged terrain. After the constant wandering of everyday life, our minds begin to slow as we watch clouds drift steadily across the sky. Once more, the wind rises, carrying with it a message that can only be heard in silence and stillness — among the mountains and the Dolomites that capture our hearts time and time again.
