Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Travel / Places to Visit => Topic started by: Martinr on June 06, 2009, 07:57:45 PM

Title: Dolomites 2009
Post by: Martinr on June 06, 2009, 07:57:45 PM

I thought I'd sneak in before Ranunculus heads for his favourite territory with some pictures of what the Dolomites look like when the plants are tucked up in their deep white covers for the winter. The boss and I spent a delightful week in the village of Pedraces this February playing in the snow, walking, skating, sledging, drinking, eating and yes.......after 54 years I even tried skiing!!!

You have to realise that when I was a student and involved in the climbing scene we delightfully referred to skiers as 'plankers' so there was a level of prejudice to be overcome before I donned a pair of planks.

Enough drivel, some pictures around Pedraces.

There was little plant life to be seen apart from the trees but we did capture some cotoneaster and a 'dwarf conifer' in a trough outside the hotel

Title: Re: Dolomites 2009
Post by: Maggi Young on June 06, 2009, 08:08:43 PM

Now I'm not saying that tying planks to your feet is necessarily a good idea, Martin ( Unless you live in Norway) ..... but it looks like you had a fun holiday !

Title: Re: Dolomites 2009
Post by: Martinr on June 07, 2009, 10:52:23 AM

A few more shots from the Dolomites. In the first, essential footwear for getting about unless you like wading through snow up to your waist. The modern plastic snow shoe with crampon points was a revelation to me and was easy to use.

Followed by a pet hate, crowds and queues in the mountains but then, if it wasn't for the skiers there probably wouldn't be the hotels and chair lifts to keep us happy in the summer.

A winter scene of mountain crags, no doubt harbouring many delights for Cliff to photograph in June and July.

Title: Re: Dolomites 2009
Post by: Martinr on June 07, 2009, 11:04:02 AM

Finally some shots taken on a walk from the Valparola pass at about 2,200m over the hills and down a wooded valley to Armentarola which would make a wonderful wildflower walk about now.

First, the scene from the refuge car park, a trek across the snow fields, blanketed huts and finally a happy walker

Title: Re: Dolomites 2009
Post by: Paul T on June 08, 2009, 04:43:24 AM

Thanks, Martin.

Title: Re: Dolomites 2009
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on June 08, 2009, 08:42:59 AM

Hardly anything flowering there Martin...  ;D 
but mountain scenery is always worth seeing isn't it !
Great pix !
Thanks for showing !

Title: Re: Dolomites 2009
Post by: ranunculus on June 12, 2009, 10:28:33 PM

Beautiful images Martin ... I would love to see it like that ... briefly.

Title: Re: Dolomites 2009
Post by: Eric Locke on June 12, 2009, 10:30:46 PM

Quote from: ranunculus on June 12, 2009, 10:28:33 PM

Beautiful images Martin ... I would love to see it like that ... briefly.

Me too.

Eric