Stephen and Richard Ross from Big Trail Adventures walked the Alta Via 1 in mid-September, one of Europe’s most celebrated high routes across the Dolomites.

In this episode, we cover:

• What the Alta Via 1 actually is — and why it’s known as a “high route”

• How hard it really is, day to day

• Planning late versus booking far in advance

• What it’s like staying in Italian mountain refuges (food, showers, dorms, sleep)

• How busy the trail felt — and when it suddenly didn’t

• Carrying light: why 5kg made the experience better

• Managing long, hot days with big climbs

• Swimming in lakes and rivers to reset mid-route

• Who you meet on the trail — from first-timers to seasoned alpinists

• How the Alta Via compares to more familiar Alpine routes

• Whether this trip changed how they think about future European trails

This is an honest conversation about walking in the Dolomites — what surprised them, what worked, and what they’d do differently next time.