Dolomites Day 2: Hiking Saceda Ridgeline
Of all the peaks in the Dolomites, Saceda probably offers the most impressive view. The ridge line of this massif extends at a height of 2500 meters above sea level. The cliffs are as if cut with a surgeon's knife on the north side, while on the south, green slopes climb out of the valley. A true hiker's paradise.
Although most guidebooks advise climbing this peak by cable car, this was too easy and too expensive for our taste. Instead, we decided to do the climb entirely on foot. We started the ascent from the Cristauta parking lot at 1750 meters above sea level.
The first part of the ascent goes through a rich forest and crosses several pastures. Considering that the day started very sunny (which will completely change by the end), the shade came in handy as protection from the Alpine sun and its heat.
We ended the hike through the forest at the foot of the southern side of Saceda at 1950 meters above sea level. There we took a short break in one of the numerous rifugios and mentally prepared ourselves for the upcoming 600-meter climb to the top.
I have to make a little digression. This hike was the first serious hike for my girlfriend - Maja, who is not experienced in hiking. She has never stayed at higher altitudes either, so this was her first encounter with the altitude above 2,000. To say that I was very worried is an understatement. Although I suggested that she wait for us in the shelter, she categorically refused and slowly started towards the top.
This was followed by an ascent to the second resting place at 2270 meters not far from Lake Lech da Rijeda. Here we took a break and waited for my girlfriend to reach us. To my great surprise, Maja just drank my coffee in passing and continued on. We rested for about 20 minutes and continued.
Maya was the first to reach the top! I couldn't believe how much strength and will she put into persevering and climbing 2500 meters in her first serious hike. In addition, she overtook us all! We reached the top a few minutes after her and everyone hugged her and sincerely congratulated her on the endeavour. Unfortunately, the ascent was so difficult for her that she had to stay in the rifugio at the top of Saceda and rest, while we walked along the ridge of the Saceda.
After about 30 minutes at the top, the weather suddenly worsened, as it usually does in the mountains. Most of the hikers opted for a quick cable car descent, but we were determined to continue the hike the way we started it - on our own. We quickly packed up and took a slightly easier but less beautiful route to the foothills.
On the approach to the forest, we got caught in the rain, so we quickly put on our raincoats and hurried to the car. Near the forest, the rain intensified and we became aware that Maja had a leaky raincoat and that she would be completely wet very soon. We quickly reorganized and shared our raincoats to protect her, while my friend Marko and I continued the hike in completely wet clothes... Realistically speaking - she totally deserved to be favored at that moment.
As Marko became very cold, he made the decision to speed up the pace with the fourth member of the team, Ivan, and practically run to the car to warm up. I was left to make slow progress through the forest with Maya towards our goal.
Six hours after the start of the hike, Maja and I broke out of the forest to the parking lot and joined the rest of the team. We quickly changed into the few remaining dry pieces of clothing and in the warmth of the car recounted the incredible scenes of Saceda that we had just witnessed.
Saceda is probably one of the most beautiful cliffs in the Dolomites. I know, I'm repeating myself, but it's true. In the following days, we will see some more incredible landscapes of the Dolomites, but Saceda is definitely the biggest and most beautiful challenge we have afforded ourselves during our short stay in this Italian mountain paradise. If you have the strength, I advise you to visit this peak exactly as we did: climbing it with the power of your own muscles from its green foothills to the towering stone cliffs that touch the clouds.
