Walking in the Dolomites

p145 photo - this belongs on p195 and shows Rifugio Boè

p239 + p242 the navetta shuttle service linking Pera di Fassa with Rifugio Gardeccia is no longer running

Walking in the Dolomites

p103 Rifugio Fanes phone has changed to 0474 453001

Visitors to the Dolomites in summer 2019 need to be aware of possible problems regarding paths. The best advice is to check locally with Tourist Offices and refuges, be versatile and don't take any risks.

Storm Damage in the Dolomites:
Six months ago, in October 2018, the Italian Dolomites were hit by a devastating hurricane - Tempesta Vaia. Winds up to 200km/hr caused widespread damage to villages, houses and roads, and there were several deaths. Millions and millions of trees were toppled. Forestry workers and sawmills are struggling to deal with the massive amount of timber that needs removing and storing.
Naturally, hundreds of kilometres of paths in the Dolomites have been affected by landslides, rockfalls and fallen trees. Despite the snowy winter season plenty has already been done to improve the situation - the authorities as well as volunteers have been hard at work clearing timber, rerouting, and affixing new signs where possible. (Though priority has obviously been given to essential services for villages). The Italian Alpine Club, CAI, as well as SAT, the Trento branch, are involved.
Things are definitely looking up - and even Rifugio Venezia on the Pelmo will hopefully open for the summer season despite having had its roof torn off, the top floor with beds and mattresses ruined by rain and snow, and its jeep access track blocked by rockfalls and landslips. Another refuge with supply problems is Rifugio Pordenone in the Dolomiti Friulane. Thankfully the building was not damaged but its access road all but washed away. But they plan on 'business as usual' this year too.
The following web site lists all the paths by number in the Belluno province (central-southern Dolomites) with notes about what's open and possible problems. It's updated regularly. Google Sheet 'Non percorribile' means 'not walkable' ie closed.
As regards the Trentino area (south-western Dolomites), see this web site: https://sentieri.sat.tn.it/wp/?p=2444. Moreover as of May 20 an App will be downloadable on www.visittrentino.info with up-to-date path info for the Trentino.

Aug 2018

There's been an increase in cases of TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) across Europe, Italy included. Walkers should be aware that they may pick up ticks while walking through grass and woodland up to approx 1500 metres altitude. Not all ticks carry the disease but better safe than sorry. Simple precautions and plenty of useful information is available on the website: https://ecdc.europa.eu/en/tick-borne-encephalitis. Vaccination is also an option.

July 2018

page 218 :Private car traffic is finally being limited through one of the key Dolomites road passes (Passo Sella) http://dolomitesvives.com/en/. More buses have been put on to allow visitors to reach the pass.

p55 Walk 2: Access: Pozzale no longer has a summer bus service but can be reached by taxi (tel 328 7536842, 0435 30725) from Pieve di Cadore.

p57 the walk start should now read:

Starting out from the village square in Pozzale (1054m) follow the signposting for Rifugio Antelao due N uphill on Via Centrale. Once out of the village, where n.520 goes straight ahead, fork L for a minor sealed road climbing in bends. This becomes a 4WD track making its relaxing way up the southern flank of Monte Tranego.

p118 Rifugio Averau tel 0436 4660 open June to Sept, credit cards accepted https://rifugioaverau.wixsite.... Rifugio Pisciadù www.rifugiopisciadu.it

... Rifugio Catinaccio has closed

p244 Stage 2 box: ascent 850m, descent 1120m

p278 Tourist Office Braies tel 0474 748660 www.valledibraies.info

... 2017

Walk 22, Stage 2: Ascent should be 850m and descent 1120m

(Thanks to Estelle)