Trail No. 215: Passo Tre Croci Pass

It's never my intention to take significant risks in a foreign country thousands of miles away from home. But sometimes, curiosity takes you to a point of total UNKNOWN -- it's just that simple!!

October 30, 2024: Sunny / 54F

This was the day we needed to check out of B&B Hotel at 12pm. For the past 4 days, we drove through the highway (SR48) in front of our hotel numerous times. Each time, there were countless cars parking along the highway. Oh, okay, I saw a trailhead right off the highway, about 200 yards from our hotel.

Curious, I looked it up. The trail leads to Lago di Sorapis, a beautiful glacier lake with milky green colors and surrounded by dramatic mountain peaks. The trail was clearly rated as "Moderate". 7.5 miles long with the elevation gain of 1550 ft. Takes about 3-4 hours to complete.

Since nothing was scheduled for us before the checkout time, I decided to get up early and hike to the lake. Left hotel around 6:10am, it was mostly dark. When I got to the trailhead entrance, the normally packed highway "parking lot" was totally empty -- not a single car there. Wow, I was the FIRST person going into the mountains today!!

The first part of the hike was easy and pleasant, with nice trail conditions and gradual ascend. Aside from occasional birds' singing, the world was in total silence... 

About 35 minutes in, the trail became rockier and rockier. I was totally okay until I met the first river crossing in a very rocky place. I didn't think I could get through it without my hiking poles. That was the first time I thought about turning around and heading back... But I didn't. 

Over the next two hours, the trail became more and more difficult. There were wet, slippery tall rocks to climb; there were narrow cliff side paths to cross; and at the most extreme points, you could only get through by pulling the ropes installed on the cliffs... (See pictures 1-3). "Wow, why did they rate this trail as Moderate???" 

I can't even tell you how many times I wanted to turn back. But I didn't.

After almost 3 hours hiking, I was still at a very high elevation struggling with the cliffs and ropes -- I was nowhere near the LAKE!!  Each time after the getting through the scary cliffs, just when I thought the trail would get easier, I entered another section of sheer cliffs again... 

The sad story is -- worried about the 12pm hotel checkout, I didn't have enough time to hike to the LAKE. So, I reluctantly decided to turn back. "Wow, why did they say it only takes 3-4 hours to complete the entire hike???" "Am I too incapable???""

The surprising reward is -- during the 5 hours hike, I got to see one of the most beautiful sunrises (See pictures 4-5). Note: the red mountain peaks in picture 4 were straight out of my iPhone - no edits.

Passo Tre Croci Pass

Cortina d'Ampezzo

Dolomites, Italy

October 30, 2024