Route: Armentara
Area: Alta Badia, Dolomites, Italy
Date of walk: 20th June 2018
Walkers: Andrew, Gilly and James
Distance: 7.5 miles
Ascent: 500 feet
Weather: Sunny
On another glorious morning we left our hotel in Corvara and drove over to nearby Badia. We then took the Santa Croce 4 person chairlift to a height of 6,070 feet, then the adjacent La Crusc 2 person chairlift to a height of 6,700 feet. From this point the walk was in effect a long descent back into the valley, with a few short climbs along the way. The panorama from the top, and from many other places on the way down, was incredible.
The purpose of our walk was to see the Armentara wild flower meadows, which were at their glorious best. Unlike the meadows at lower level these mountain pastures are hardly ever fertilised and so a wide variety of plants has become established on the thin soil – there are around 200 species in the area
For most of the long descent we were surrounded by seas of wild flowers – buttercups, globe flowers, cranesbill, clover, and orchids to name but a few – growing in profusion. I’ve never seen a better display than this, it was wonderful. As we followed the easy paths and tracks down we passed by old wooden barns, reminding us that this is an environment partly shaped by man, and the result of age-old agricultural activity
The paths were well waymarked and we had no difficulty making our way back into Badia to complete another fantastic walk in the Dolomites
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From Badia, we take the 4 seater chairlift...
...followed by another chairlift, this time a 2 seater
We disembark to start the walk and pass by Santa Croce Church at a height of 6,700 feet
We set off along a path lined by globe flowers
Old wooden trough
We walk below the rock face of Sas dla Crusc
Looking back as we enter the meadows
A series of wild flower photos - these were taken at different points of the walk and I've placed them together...
That was just a small sample of the incredible display, the best I've ever seen
We continue along the path below Sas dla Crusc
A viewpoint across the Badia valley, with Sassongher in the middle
The prominent peak of Sass de Putia at 9,400 feet
The track undulates gently up and down, and is very easy going all the way
Some of the old wooden huts which enhance the landscape...
Navigation is not an issue as the path is well waymarked and obvious
More wooden huts studded amongst the meadows
Looking across the Badia valley
Wild flower meadows at their glorious best...
Refreshments at the appropriately named Ranch da Andrè
A short section along a track through pine trees
Sass de Putia on the far side of the valley
Looking back to Sass dla Crusc
The start of a gentle descent back down to Badia...
Badia comes into view below
The wild flowers continue to flourish at this lower level
Looking back to Sass dla Crusc
The last of the meadows as we approach Badia
The end of a fantastic walk as we arrive back in the village, with the spire of the Church of St. Jakob and St. Leonard ahead
The beautiful interior of the church
