23. From Toblach to Belluno. Val Ampezzo.
Comp. Map, p. 162.
66½ M. Post-Omnibus from the Toblach station to (18½ M.) Cortina
daily in 4 hrs. (4 K., return 7 K.). Omnibus from the Hôt. Toblach and the
Hôt. Germania in summer daily (same fares). — Carriage with one horse
from Toblach to Cortina 14 (there and back 18), with two horses 26 K., if
kept overnight 22 and 36 K. — Diligence from Cortina daily to Belluno
in 11½ hrs.
A visit to the Limestone Alps of S. Tyrol, enclosed by the Drave,
Rienz, Eisak, Adige, Brenta, and Piave, and generally known as the
Dolomites (from Dolomieu, the geologist, who first examined this magnesian
limestone formation), is greatly facilitated by the Pustertal railway.
Strictly speaking, the term Dolomite belongs to the Fassa Mts., the Lang-
kofel, Rosengarten, and Schlern, but does not apply to the Cristallo, Hohe
Gaisl, Tofana, Sorapis, Antelao, Pelmo, and other peaks of the Ampezzo
Limestone Alps; but as these mountains are widely known as the 'Ampezzo
Dolomites', the popular nomenclature is adhered to in the Handbook.
The Ampezzo Road (called by the Italians 'Strada d'Allemagna')
quits the Pustertal at the Toblach station (3965 ft.; p. 168), leads
due S. into the Höhlensteiner Tal, watered by the Rienz, and passes
the small, dark Toblacher See (4130 ft.; hotel). The valley von
contracts. To the right rise the jagged spurs of the Dürrenstein (p. 168),
while the valley to the S. is closed by the Mte. Pian (see below).
Above the Klaus-Brücke (4310 ft.) the Rienz issues from its sub-
terranean channel. Near Landro the road passes a fort.
6¾ M. Landro, Ger. Höhlenstein (4616 ft.; Hôtel Baur, R. 4-7,
pens. 8-12 K.), a pleasant summer-resort. At the head of the valley
of the Schwarze Rienz, which opens here to the left, rise the lofty
and glistening Drei Zinnen (Cime di Lavaredo; 9850 ft.). A few
paces farther on is the light-green Dürrensee, dominated to the S. by
the huge Monte Cristallo (10,495 ft.), with its glacier, and its neigh-
bours, the Piz Popena (10,310 ft.) and the Cristallino (9140 ft.),
presenting a most striking picture.
8½ M. Schluderbach (4730ft.; Hôtel Ploner, pens. 8-10 K.),
beautifully situated opposite the mouth of the Val Popena. To the
left are the Cadini (9320 ft.), and to the right rises the imposing
red pyramid of the Croda Rossa, or Hohe Gaisl (10,330 ft.).
The Monte Pian (7630 ft.) may be ascended from Schluderbach without
difficulty in 3 hrs.; guide useless. We ascend the Val Popena by the
Auronzo road, from which we diverge to the left after 1 hr. and follow a
steep path (marked with red) over the Forcella Alta (603 ft) to the (1½ hr.)
summit The highest point is on the W. margin (refuge-hut), commanding
a beautiful view. — From Schluderbach to the Lago Misurina and viâ Tre
Croci to Cortina, see p. 171 ; viâ the Plätzwiese to Prags, see p. 168.
The road ascends, skirting the base of the Croda Rossa (see
above), and on the Gemärk reaches the low watershed (5000 ft.)
between the Rienz and the Boite. 12½ M. Ospitale (4835 ft.; inn),
formerly a hospice, lies opposite the entrance to the Val Grande. The
road passes the Peutelstein (4945 ft.), to the left, a rock formerly
crowned with the ruins of a castle, which were removed in 1866,
and winds down into the Ampezzo Valley, watered by the Boite.