The Dolomites are a hype destination right now, and the hype is deserved. But some of us had spent 20+ hours just getting there, and the last thing anyone wanted was to queue at a viewpoint that went viral on TikTok. So we did it the Geeks Go Peaks way: routes too demanding for a casual walker, but reachable if you’re dedicated enough — or just chasing that dopamine hit that follows a properly hard day.
Seven of us, wildly different fitness levels, split between Europe and North America. The transatlantic contingent fought altitude and jet lag at the same time. The itinerary was built around one idea: acclimatize slowly, move up gradually. Because the whole week pointed at one thing — Marmolada, the Queen of the Dolomites, 3,343 m, the range’s highest summit. The West Ridge route we chose needed both mountaineering skills and via ferrata experience. So that’s what the days before were for.
Day one was the acclimatization hike from Colfosco — 7.6 km and 1,011 m of ascent to Rifugio Kostner, sitting at 2,550 m under Piz Boè. At the trailhead everyone was casually chatting about their jobs and AI. By Col de Stagn, most of the group had gone quiet. Not all — we have Type A people — but most just wanted to reach the top.
Two things worth doing on this route. First, the small glacial lake below the pass: put your feet in. It’s beautiful and it’s freezing.
Second, the hot apple juice with cinnamon at the rifugio — Heißer Apfelsaft mit Zimt in German, Suc de mele cald in Ladin. Order it. You’ll understand.
About that second name: Ladin is the native language of Alta Badia — a Rhaeto-Romance language that survived in these valleys since Roman times, spoken by about 30,000 people around the Sella massif. German comes second, Italian third. Just so you know.
We also practiced scrambling on the way — moving up rock on hands and feet, no rope, no cables. A skill of limited use in regular life, but very fun when you’re in the adventure mood.
We planned two of them, deliberately ordered. Les Cordes above La Villa is short — 238 m of ascent, about an hour and a half — but demanding enough for beginners to learn what the cables feel like.
Tridentina is the opposite: it starts light, then keeps going, and going, and going. Ladders, a waterfall, and a suspension bridge near the finish at Rifugio Pisciadù.
The standard time is 3–4 hours. We took 7 — to take photos, have a chat, lose a drone on the way (bye, droney :( )
Hiring professional guides was the right call twice over. We felt safer, and they took great photos — always appreciated.
Somewhere on the cables, Dieter told a guide he was having the time of his life. That means a world to Geeks Go Peaks, Dieter.
The night before the climb we stayed at Rifugio Castiglioni on Lake Fedaia, where the guides met us in the morning. The summit itself deserves — and will get — its own report. The short version: the weather was great, the guides were thoroughly professional, mountaineering boots are mandatory, the via ferrata section is not difficult, and the altitude hits hard at night.
What can’t be saved for the other post is the night at Capanna Punta Penia — the highest rifugio in Italy, right on the summit. Sleeping on top of a mountain, with a roof and minimal comfort, is its own category of experience. The guides left us alone up there until morning; the hut keeper mostly stayed in his room.
It felt like having the top of the Dolomites to ourselves.
Daniel taught Dieter to play chess. Peter Zaytsev tried to teach everyone a card game. Jon suggested a Geeks Go Peaks tattoo for the whole group. Peter Farkas fought the altitude. The hut runs on limited electricity, so breakfast was cooked on fire. Very cool.
The descent next morning was short.
The Dolomites show the other half of what they do: green pastures, unbothered cows, a horse that tolerated hugging. Daniel added a paragliding flight — hard to imagine a better launch point.
The only real problem with Alta Badia: we came home with 2,500 photos and videos, and choosing the best ones is impossible. We’ll be back — for skiing, for more via ferratas, and for the Marmolada glacier, which is disappearing. Some moments you have to catch while they’re still there.
We send something when there's something to send. Upcoming climbs, open spots, and the odd story worth your time.
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