Welcome to the start of the infamous Alta Via 2 (AV2) Dolomiti! Now is the time to mentally prepare the mind, body and soul for an epic adventure no matter however many days you decide to spend on this incredible trail.

This section of the AV2 really pumps you up for some Dolomiti terrain, encountering somewhat everything. Nice paths, sweaty ascents, sharp descents, an easy via ferrata and a summit on Piz Duleda (2,909m).

Leave Rifugio Puez behind and set off past the flags on path 2. To your right, admire the incredible U-shaped valley and thank the AV2 route setters that you don’t have to go down the damn thing. Follow the GPX file and path to end up crossing the Forcella dei Campei saddle. After that, follow the path to cross Forcella Crespeina saddle, and then finally Forcella Cier Danter les Pizes saddle. This is the money-maker.

5.2km is all that separates Rifugio Pisciadu from Rifugio Boe, making this one of the official shorter days on the AV2. However, for those seeking further adventure within their day read on.

Another big day on the AV2 and another via ferrata that gets the arms pumping. From Rifugio Viel dal Pan, take path 601 that snakes its way around the valley before dropping steeply towards Lago di Fedaia. At the lake, take the path that disappears behind the dam following signs for Penia.

A long day on the legs that covers a good number of AV2 kilometres. Leave Rifugio Contrin heading southeast up the valley on path 607. A recommendation would be to leave early after breakfast to allow for an ascent in the shade, not in the full sun.

This section of the AV2 can be completed in 2 days if you so desire, staying at Rifugio Rosetta Pedrotti. This however would make for an incredibly short day on the second day, so the recommendation is to start at Rifugio Mulaz and hike through to Rifugio Pradidali.

It’s routes like these where you start to question why you do this activity, as 1300m of descent from Rifugio Pradidali to Rifugio Treviso can have even the most hardcore mountaineers questioning life. Alas, the sooner you start the sooner you finish so better just suck it up!

After the night at Rifugio Treviso, the path enters some wild terrain for the day. It’s nothing you haven’t seen before on the AV2 but at this point sensible decisions need to be made as to whether your hiking party is ready for a steep ascent, monster traverse and another unfriendly descent down to Passo Cereda.