The Italian Dolomites in Winter are well known as a playground for skiers, but when the snow thaws, the mountains reveal hundreds of spectacular hiking trails that can be traversed for days. This is a John Kerrison photo essay.

At the end of day one, my breath had been snatched away too many times. On occasion I could blame the steep mountain incline but, more often than not, it was the undulating green hills and towering limestone cliffs that stretched for as far as the eye could see.

My feet gripped the white rocky ground as the paths zig zagged up limestone cliffs. In the mid morning light, the cliffs shone like silver.

Looking across the mountains, spring flowers like the Alpine Bellflowers and the Yellow Stocky swayed in the breeze.

Accommodation across the four nights was simple but comfortable despite the remote locations. I shared dormitories which were humming with walkers recounting the highlights of their day.

My sister and I hiked across the mountains without a guide. The trip was only possible thanks to tour company Mont Trekking based in Italy. They design a walk based on your experience and available time. The paper map and associated details for a phone app are all made available the night before the walk.

A splash of red and white stripes along the trail is a relief to see. This is the marker of the Italian Alpine Club which reviews and marks the Summer hiking trails.

The weather this July delivered days with top temperatures hovering in the low 20s Celsius. When it did rain, the storm clouds raced over the mountains and the light faded quickly. The rain didn’t just fall, it lashed the landscape violently for an hour. By the time my sister and I had found a rock ledge and climbed into our rain coats, the storm was gone.

The rifugios cater for hundreds of hikers approaching from dozens of trails. The general rule is, be in by six at night or miss out on your reservation. Late arrivals can lose their bed to another weary walker.

In the afternoons, after hot pasta and a shower, I would sit on the hotel patio and watch the great light shows performed by the sun’s shadows crawling across the textured mountains.

All photos copyright John Kerrison 2022.