Drei Zinnen, Tre Cime di Lavaredo: the power of rock
Q2, 2020
A few decades ago you could be alone in the mountains. Today, we are not alone anymore. Mountain tourism exploded in a short period. At some places hiking, climbing or skiing has transformed into mass crowd control.
Three huge towers of rock, photo Fabienne Roosen
The Drei Zinnen, Tre Cime di Lavaredo is such a place. It combines an untouched and man-made landscape which makes it easy accessible and pristine at the same time. In summer you are queuing for hours to drive with your car or in an overcrowded bus to the parking lot near Rifugio Auronzo at 2300 meter. The hike to the pass with the best viewpoint at 2430 meter is not far away and one thing is for sure: you are not alone. This place, Parco Nationale Tre Cime, is one of the treasure troves of the Dolomites, making it even more populated.
Once you are at the pass, you understand it’s popularity. The view from the pass indeed is breath taking. These three impressive towers of rock are standing next to each other, with overhanging walls coloring brightly light brown, yellow, and red, form a strong contrast with the environment. They are not only attracting climbers all over the world, but also hikers. In three hours you can finish a beautiful easy hike around the seven kilometer trail around the Drei Zinnen, leaving ninety five percent of the tourist behind you. Making this overpopulated place interesting after all.
To photograph the milky way, we were camping on a ridge at the foot of Cima Cadin, with a spectacular view to village Auronzo, still asleep before sunrise.
Cima Cadin, opposite of the Drei Zinnen
Sun popping up behind the main summit of Drei Zinnen or Tre Cime di Lavaredo
To get an idea of the size, compare the people at the pass with (only a part of) the Drei Zinnen at the right-hand side of the image
-
June 2023
- Jun 23, 2023 Geislerspitzen, romantic valleys in the Alps do exist Jun 23, 2023
-
February 2023
- Feb 19, 2023 Praxmar, Tirol, a hidden gem near Innsbruck. Feb 19, 2023
-
November 2022
- Nov 10, 2022 Lacs des Chéserys, Chamonix Mont Blanc, awakening early morning after a stormy night Nov 10, 2022
-
September 2022
- Sep 3, 2022 Sankt Johan of Nepomuk, Ranui, Santa Maddalena, and the lady in blue. Sep 3, 2022
-
June 2022
- Jun 23, 2022 Brenta dolomites: the vertical world of via ferrata Jun 23, 2022
-
March 2022
- Mar 31, 2022 Lyngen Alps, Norway. From sea to summit and summit to sea. Mar 31, 2022
-
February 2022
- Feb 24, 2022 Aiguille du Dru, Chamonix Mont Blanc, one of the most impressive rock walls of the Alps Feb 24, 2022
-
December 2021
- Dec 24, 2021 Chamonix Mont Blanc ice climbing, like a fly on the wall laughing at the physical laws of gravity Dec 24, 2021
-
November 2021
- Nov 1, 2021 Alpstein, inversion during sunset, that is when the magic happens Nov 1, 2021
-
October 2021
- Oct 2, 2021 Monte Emilius, Aosta Valley, the light show of the Alps Oct 2, 2021
-
September 2021
- Sep 2, 2021 Monte Pelmo, Mondeval, listening to the sounds of nature Sep 2, 2021
-
August 2021
- Aug 29, 2021 Les Dames Anglaises, or ‘The English ladies’, Mont Blanc Aug 29, 2021
-
June 2021
- Jun 16, 2021 Vilnöss tal - Val di Funes, ocean waves of flowers in spring Jun 16, 2021
-
September 2020
- Sep 4, 2020 Matterhorn, Hörnli grat, the most classical shape of a mountain Sep 4, 2020
- Sep 1, 2020 Brenta Dolomites, mountain meditation moment Sep 1, 2020
-
August 2020
- Aug 22, 2020 Drei Zinnen, Tre Cime di Lavaredo: the power of rock Aug 22, 2020
-
March 2020
- Mar 25, 2020 Piz Palü, ski touring to the summit: climb high or stay home. Mar 25, 2020
-
October 2019
- Oct 22, 2019 Lago di Braies or Pragser Wildsee, the most instagrammable lake of the Dolomites Oct 22, 2019
- July 2019
-
April 2019
- Apr 1, 2019 Vallée Blanche, it’s magic and attractive power on top of Europe Apr 1, 2019
-
March 2019
- Mar 23, 2019 Tierberglihütte, Uri haute route Switzerland: all locals left, we stayed Mar 23, 2019
