Dolomites Alpine
Rock Camp
Cortina, Italy
July 17-24, 2022
8 days/7 Nights
In a week with our industry-leading IFMGA Mountain Guides you’ll learn the techniques to approach multi-pitch rock climbs with confidence. We’ll cover everything from route selection, trad gear and lead climbing to anchors, multi-pitch systems and efficiency, and we’ll get you out in front with the best in the business.
Whether you’re looking to get into trad and multi-pitch climbing or want to do it better and go bigger, this one’s for you. Come join us in one of the best alpine rock climbing venues on the planet. And don’t worry - while we’ll be in the mountains, this course is perfect for anybody looking to master the skills necessary to climb longer routes safely and efficiently, whether they’re in the alpine, the desert or anywhere in between. This course is perfect for those already comfortable leading single-pitch climbs on bolted or traditional routes, but trad climbing skills and multi-pitch experience are not required. All you really need is a love of climbing and a willingness to learn, and we can handle the rest.
We hear ourselves telling people all the time that the Dolomites are the friendliest range on Earth, but it’s true: Nestled into the heart of the Alps and straddling the border of Italy and Austria, the Dolomites are a world of breathtaking vistas, sunny stone, endless mountains, wildflowers, cappuccinos and streudel with no crampons or ice axes in sight. If you can imagine a sunny, green alpine wonderland with fantastically shaped rock towers, deep valleys and picturesque views all around, that’s the Dolomites. And make no mistake - the climbing is incredible!
“Each mountain in the Dolomites is like a piece of art.”
-Reinhold Messner
Skills we’ll cover:
Route selection, multi-pitch strategy and technique
Gear selection for sport and traditionally-protected multi-pitch rock climbs
Gear placement technique and considerations
Lead climbing and belay techniques
Anchors for single and multi-pitch climbs
Anchors and equalization for multi-pitch climbing
Belay techniques for two and three person groups
Pre-rigged and multi-pitch rappels
Efficient transitions for climbing and rappelling
The Climbing
Whether you climb 5.4 or 5.14, the walls of the Dolomites have you covered. The climbs we’ll be on are all pure rock routes, but with an inarguably alpine feel.
We’ll move between skills sessions and climbing routes of all sizes with the goal of making you an efficient, competent and confident leader on multi-pitch rock. With small groups, short approaches, light packs and rock shoes, we can concentrate on the freedom of moving on stone. From ridges to roofs, faces, and slabs, from casual to severe, and from one pitch to forty (not kidding!), the Dolomites have it all.
If you feel comfortable climbing 5.8-5.10 in the gym, this trip is going to be perfect for you. Unlike the cracks of Yosemite or the tiny holds of Smith Rock, Dolomite limestone tends to be a little - well, either more fun, more straightforward, or both
Each day we’ll head out in small groups and we’ll make sure you’re paired with climbers and climbs that match your ability so you don’t have to worry about being held back or pushed too far. Our expert guides will help you through the training and skills you need both on the ground and on route.
Our low ratios are what make this program unique, and will pair up to three climbers per guide for single-pitch and instructional sessions, while multi-pitch days will strictly be two climbers per guide to maximize your learning and fun and give you the best experience of these incredible mountains.
Food & Accommodations
We’ll start our trip in the enchanting city of Venice - yes, that Venice! With the nearest major airport to the Dolomites, Venice is the perfect jumping off point for our trip, and we’ll be staying at the lovely Hotel Moresco, just a short walk from all of the famous sights of the city. We of course recommend a few days to explore on either end of our trip if you’ve never visited before, but after a night in Venice we’ll head to Cortina d’Ampezzo (or more commonly just Cortina).
A picturesque Italian mountain town in the heart of the Dolomites, Cortina is the perfect hub for exploring mountains. We’ll enjoy the comfort of the Hotel Ambra Cortina, and with a range of fantastic bakeries and restaurants from pizzerias to wine bars and Michelin-starred fine dining, eating and drinking in Cortina is as much fun as it sounds.
In addition to our lovely hotels, we’ll also spend a night in one of our favorite mountain huts, the Rifugio Scoiattoli. Scoiattolo means squirrel, and the hut was built by a local mountain guide and member of the famous Scoiattoli Cortina climbing club. Sitting beneath the iconic Cinque Torri, these days the refuge is more like an alpine hotel than anything else, complete with showers, comfy beds and delicious food. It also has the most incredible views on the planet, and is about a ten minute walk from the climbs.
We like to try hard, but we also like to relax and live well, so we’ve hand-picked our favorite hotels, restaurants, bakeries and snacks to give you a taste of it all.
Itinerary
Day 1: Benvenuti a Venezia!
You get yourself to the Marco Polo Airport in Venice and you’re almost there. A fixed-rate taxi ride (€40) will take you to the Piazzale Roma, which is as far as you can get by car in vehicle-free Venice. From there you’ll be less than a five minute walk from the gorgeous Hotel Moresco, itself just a short walk from the famous sights of this magical city. You’ll be on your own for the evening to explore, and your only job will be to find something tasty for dinner and to try to get some sleep.
Day 2: Off to Cortina
We’ll officially start the trip with breakfast at the hotel before we load up for the two and a half hour drive to Cortina and our home for the week, the gorgeous Hotel Ambra Cortina. You’ll have the afternoon to relax, settle in and explore a little before we head out to a welcome dinner for our first taste of some of the dishes that make the region famous.
Day 3: Trad Climbing Workshop
We’ll start the day right with some proper Italian coffees and a breakfast buffet before we head out for the day to climb. We’ll spend the morning going through a brief lead and belay test before moving on to a trad climbing workshop for the rest of the day. We’ll start on the ground and will cover the basics of building a solid rack and selecting the right gear, and we'll practice gear placements for lead protection and anchors. We'll also talk about how to put those into action on leads, and we'll practice building anchors for top-rope and multi-pitch climbing using a variety of gear and equalization methods. After a day on the rock we’ll head back and let you loose for the evening.
Day 4: Multipitch Workshop
We’ll repeat our routine with breakfast before heading out to climb again. We’ll spend the morning near the ground working on a variety of skills and workshopping anchors and transitions for both up and down. We’ll practice moving groups of two and three in and out of anchors, working on belay techniques, efficient multipitch ascending and descending, and tips for fast and clean rope and station management. We’ll also dive into safe and effective tactics for multipitch rappels and how to get off routes quickly and securely, and we’ll once again finish up on the rock before coming back to town.
Day 5: Multipitch Climbing: Instructor-Led Climbing Day
After another great breakfast, we’ll head out in small teams of two climbers and a guide to climb. This day is meant to be pure fun as we’ll be sure to tick a collection of Dolomites classics, but it’s also a chance for you to put all the skills you’ve learned into action on a world-class alpine rock climb. Our focus will be on putting everything we’ve learned into practice and getting some air under our feet. With our small teams, we can literally climb anything we want, from the Tre Cime di Lavaredo to the Tofana di Rozes, and you’ll have a world-class guide to ask questions and help you along the way.
Day 6: Student-Led Climbing
This will be the culmination of everything you’ve learned so far, with a focus on getting you into the lead. We’ll once again start with breakfast before driving up to the Cinque Torri to climb for the day. The towers of the Cinque Torri (Five Towers, though there are actually more like nine) offer a huge array of routes from one or two pitches to five or six, making them the perfect place to practice leading, multi-pitch climbing and technical descents. We’ll help you through from planning and prep to execution before spending the night at the gorgeous Rifugio Scoiattoli, where a warm bed a three-course meal will be waiting for you. And don’t worry - if you’re not feeling ready to get out front, you can always just take the day to work on skills or go big again with your guide.
Day 7: Out of the Mountains and Back to Venice
After one last breakfast with the mountains, we’ll hike the twenty minutes back down to the vans and drive back to Venice. We’ll spend another night at the Hotel Moresco, and go out for one last farewell dinner.
Day 8: Heading Home
Unfortunately all good things must come to an end, and you’ll have to go home. A short journey from hotel to airport should have you on your way. Of course we recommend staying a few days to relax, but that one’s up to you.
July 17-24, 2022
8 days/7 Nights
$4650.00 in a shared room / $4895.00 in a private room
What’s Included
Low-ratio, personalized guiding from certified IFMGA Mountain Guides with local expertise
Seven nights’ accommodation in luxury hotels and mountain huts
Daily breakfasts at hotels in Venice and Cortina
Welcome dinner and drinks in Cortina
Transportation to and from all climbing and cultural outings, including lift passes in and around Cortina
Daily sack lunches for climbing
Breakfast and dinner at the Rifugio Scoiattoli (Vegetarian and gluten-free meals are available, but celiacs or those with dietary restrictions may find huts challenging.)
Farewell dinner and drinks in Venice
Complimentary Now!Climbing and She Moves Mountains swag
What’s Not Included
Airfare
Airport transfers (As Venice is a city entirely without cars, a €40 fixed-rate taxi ride and a sub-five-minute walk are the easiest way to reach the hotel.)
Dinners for three nights in Cortina
Personal snacks while climbing
Bottled water, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, snacks or extra food in the hut
Personal climbing equipment
Ability to control the weather (In a worst-case scenario we may have to change plans completely due to weather and conditions, but we’ll do our best!)
Gratuities for your guides
*Please note that it is mandatory for all participants to be fully vaccinated prior to attending this trip.
Guides
Chris Wright
IFMGA Mountain Guide / AMGA Certified Rock Guide
Now!Climbing’s founder and lead guide, Chris has climbed, skied and eaten his way across the globe. Winner of the “Gold Medal of Alpinism,” the Piolet d’Or for the first ascent of 7041m Link Sar in Pakistan, he’s as excited about his next cappuccino as he is about his next big climb. In addition to being an instructor for the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), Chris has spent his summer seasons working, climbing, playing and eating in the Alps since 2014.
Giulia Monego
IFMGA Mountain Guide / Italian Superwoman
A local through and through and our expert in all things Italian, Giulia was born in Venice and fell in love with the mountains sliding on snow in the Dolomites. She grew up as a ski racer, then switched to competing on the Freeride World tour, and is one of only a handful of women to complete the IFMGA certification in Italy. Giulia lives in Chamonix, France and works, skis and climbs full time. These days she even loves warm rock almost as much as cold snow, and can’t wait to bring her local knowledge to our programs in her old stomping ground.
Dylan Taylor
IFMGA/AMGA Mountain Guide / AMGA Certified Rock Guide
An honorary Italian himself, Dylan loves to surprise the locals as the rare American who speaks the language. Originally from Colorado, Dylan grew up with an obsession for climbing and skiing. His love for the mountains led not only to exploring, but also a Masters Degree in geology. Dylan lives in Chamonix, France is an avid photographer and paraglider, and between guiding adventures finds time for his own expeditions and visiting as many classic climbing destinations as he can.
Erica Engle
IFMGA/AMGA Mountain Guide / AMGA Certified Rock Guide
Erica was raised in the Pacific Northwest and lives in Twisp, Washington. She learned to climb and ski in the Cascades, and has since guided ski, rock and alpine objectives throughout the world. She is an instructor for the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), and enjoys sharing mountain experiences with her students and guests by engaging their sense of adventure and a love of exploration.
This trip is offered in collaboration with our friends at She Moves Mountains. We figured they’re great at getting women into the outdoors, so why not collaborate for trip where everyone’s invited? Read more about She Moves Mountains here.
