John Ball was one of the earliest foreign trailblazers in the Dolomites, arriving in 1857, years before Tuckett (1860) and Grohmann (1862). Yet despite his early lead, Ball failed to claim the ‘crown’ of the Queen of the Dolomites. This is the story of how, and why, he missed it.
Join our Dolomites Visitors Hub Facebook group
Join our Dolomites Visitors Hub on Facebook to connect with fellow mountain enthusiasts and share tips, photos, and experiences!Interactive Map with bivouacs in the Italian Alps
This map pinpoints 460-plus bivouacs across the Italian Alps from Mediterranean Sea to Slovenian border. For each of them coordinates are given and one link to external sources with more information and photos. Read more...Dolomites Solo Book
This ebook documents fifteen years of my solo mountaineering in the Dolomites, starting in 2010 with my first visit and my ascent of Marmolada. Read more...Livigno Peaks Book
This book provides first-hand data for eight major peaks. I include practical and clear information on parking, start points, timings, terrain. Read more...Featured Posts
When Mountain Huts Were Refuges, Not Hotels
After forty years of mountaineering, I sometimes feel that mountain huts have changed as much as the mountains themselves. Here are some thoughts on that topic.
Cooking on the Trails and Summits in the Alps
Using open fire on the tours in the Alps is generally forbidden. But there are bivouacs in many parts of the Alps, in particular in the Italian Alps, and some are equipped for cooking.
How Do You Make Coffee on a Mountain?
If you drink coffee in your usual daily life, then there is no reason why not enjoying it when you are in the mountains. Here you can see what I do.