Hiking the Alta Via 2: 6 Brutal Days Alone in the Italian Dolomites
Jack Brookes
12,221 views
In this film, I take on one of Italy’s toughest and most stunning long-distance trails: the Alta Via 2, a high-alpine traverse through the heart of the Dolomites. Over 6 days, I battle early-season snow, brutal elevation, exposed passes, and unpredictable mountain weather—completely solo.
From Feltre in the south to the base of the Sella Group in the north, this journey tested me physically and mentally. I was forced to reroute, faced closed huts, and tackled snowy passes without anyone else in sight. This is a story of type 2 fun, grit, solitude, and pure alpine beauty.
📍 Route: Alta Via 2 – Dolomites, Italy
⛰️ Distance: ~100km (of 160km total)
🗓️ Season: Early/Mid June (early season)
🎥 Filmed with: Sony A7III, DJI Mini 3 Pro, IPhone 13 Max Pro
⸻
My Thru Hiking Gear 2025 My Thru Hiking Gear 3.0
My Current Gear List:
Big 4 🎒
Tent (Big Agnes Copper Spur UL) - https://geni.us/THCBWdL
Sleeping Pad (Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite) - https://geni.us/PZEJaaC
Quilt (Therm-a-Rest Vesper) - https://geni.us/GBqnmo
Rucksack (Atom Packs) and backup Rucksack (Osprey Aether 65L) - https://geni.us/o3hEC
Shoes 🥾
Trail Runners (Brooks Cascadia 18) - https://geni.us/eTfjG
Socks (Darn Tough Merino Wool) - https://geni.us/XGBSklN
Sleeping 🏕️
Pillow (Sea-to-Summit Premium Aeros Pillow) - https://geni.us/RScdwQ
Silk Liner (Sea to Summit Liner) - https://geni.us/Xdsje8L
Electronics 🔋
SOS Beacon (Garmin InReach Mini) - https://geni.us/l51MNXA
Head Torch (Black Diamond Sprint) - https://geni.us/UbtBBGK
Food & Hydration 🧑🍳
Stove (Jetboil MicroMo) - https://geni.us/3cAmalZ
Water Filter (Katadyn BeFree 1 Litre) - https://geni.us/AnnKZ
Coffee Filter (GSI Camping Filter) - https://geni.us/etSpUkJ
Clothing 👕
Sun Hoody - https://geni.us/mOGDMk
Merino T Shirt - https://geni.us/vUmIE
Rain Jacket (Kathmandu) - https://geni.us/6ai4ho4
Thermals Upper (Icebreaker) - https://geni.us/qCfdCP
Thermals Lower (Icebreaker) - https://geni.us/dD3fl
Puffer (Patagonia) - https://geni.us/8tVmjM
Sweater (Patagonia) - https://geni.us/YoIE
Camera Equipment 📸
Camera (Sony A7III) - https://geni.us/MUFVPVo
Lens (Sony 35mm GM f/1.6) - https://geni.us/rnYSLU
Mic (Rode NTG Shotgun Mic) - https://geni.us/ZWZBP
Drone (DJI Mini 4) - https://geni.us/B6GALm
Camera Batteries (Sony NPFZ100) - https://geni.us/cdKlc1W
Camera Battery Charger - https://geni.us/AmAIeyL
Tripod (SIRUI AM2-Series AM-254) - https://geni.us/jewD
Tripod Head (Joby BallHead 3K) - https://geni.us/ViMgmt
⸻
Other Hiking Films:
My West Highland Way film: Scotland’s West Highland Way: A Journey In...
My favourite thru-hike in Scotland: How to Hike The Skye Trail | Europe's Best...
My Gear: My Thru Hiking Gear 2.0
⸻
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
03:03 - Day 1
09:16 - Day 2
15:10 - The Push
18:50 - Day 3
23:48 - Day 4
28:09 - Day 5
31:06 - Failure
35:21 - Day 6: The Pass
43:03 - Final Campsite
45:46 - Day 7: The Descent
#AltaVia2 #DolomitesHike #ThruHike #HikingDocumentary #ItalyTravel #AltaVia #SoloHiking #MountainAdventure #dolomiti
20 Comments
Looked a tough but amazing adventure 🙌
Regarding the AV2, I completed it from the opposite direction (North to South) starting in early Sept 2025. September was good in that there was no winter snow pack to contend with, but it was late season. Most of the rifugios close down in the second half of September and the weather was already starting to turn cold and it did snow one afternoon early in the trek. Generally, it got down to freezing at night and between 8-15 centegrade during the day, which I found to be perfect hiking weather. Also, I could not help noticing how hazy it was in some of your shots. I visited the Dolomites (AV1 area) in late June 2023 and also experienced hazy conditions. In September, it was much clearer on the clear days. Unfortunately, I had a lot of cloud inversions in the second half of the trek and spent days walking through thick fog with only occassional glimpses of the mountains. It was very dramatic, but I missed some of the grand vistas that the Dolomites are famous for. It was really nice to watch your video and see some of the views I missed. For those interested in doing this trek, I would note that the AV2 is much more rugged and steep than the AV1. There were seriously steep ascents and decents and via ferrata sections everyday, particularly in the second half (southern section), which was much more remote than the first half. Those that suffer from fear of heights are best advised to stay away. Otherwise, if you are looking for a really challenging trek through breath taking scenary, then the AV2 is highly recommended.
Do you think that if you had had more substantial microspikes or crampons, such as the Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra, you would have been able to descend some of the sections where you decided to turn around?
I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.
great video thx!
You made some tough but wise choices👍🏻
Respect
Hiking the Alta Via 2: 6 Brutal Days Alone in the Italian Dolomites
Jack Brookes
12,221 views
In this film, I take on one of Italy’s toughest and most stunning long-distance trails: the Alta Via 2, a high-alpine traverse through the heart of the Dolomites. Over 6 days, I battle early-season snow, brutal elevation, exposed passes, and unpredictable mountain weather—completely solo.
From Feltre in the south to the base of the Sella Group in the north, this journey tested me physically and mentally. I was forced to reroute, faced closed huts, and tackled snowy passes without anyone else in sight. This is a story of type 2 fun, grit, solitude, and pure alpine beauty.
📍 Route: Alta Via 2 – Dolomites, Italy
⛰️ Distance: ~100km (of 160km total)
🗓️ Season: Early/Mid June (early season)
🎥 Filmed with: Sony A7III, DJI Mini 3 Pro, IPhone 13 Max Pro
⸻
My Thru Hiking Gear 2025 My Thru Hiking Gear 3.0
My Current Gear List:
Big 4 🎒
Tent (Big Agnes Copper Spur UL) - https://geni.us/THCBWdL
Sleeping Pad (Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite) - https://geni.us/PZEJaaC
Quilt (Therm-a-Rest Vesper) - https://geni.us/GBqnmo
Rucksack (Atom Packs) and backup Rucksack (Osprey Aether 65L) - https://geni.us/o3hEC
Shoes 🥾
Trail Runners (Brooks Cascadia 18) - https://geni.us/eTfjG
Socks (Darn Tough Merino Wool) - https://geni.us/XGBSklN
Sleeping 🏕️
Pillow (Sea-to-Summit Premium Aeros Pillow) - https://geni.us/RScdwQ
Silk Liner (Sea to Summit Liner) - https://geni.us/Xdsje8L
Electronics 🔋
SOS Beacon (Garmin InReach Mini) - https://geni.us/l51MNXA
Head Torch (Black Diamond Sprint) - https://geni.us/UbtBBGK
Food & Hydration 🧑🍳
Stove (Jetboil MicroMo) - https://geni.us/3cAmalZ
Water Filter (Katadyn BeFree 1 Litre) - https://geni.us/AnnKZ
Coffee Filter (GSI Camping Filter) - https://geni.us/etSpUkJ
Clothing 👕
Sun Hoody - https://geni.us/mOGDMk
Merino T Shirt - https://geni.us/vUmIE
Rain Jacket (Kathmandu) - https://geni.us/6ai4ho4
Thermals Upper (Icebreaker) - https://geni.us/qCfdCP
Thermals Lower (Icebreaker) - https://geni.us/dD3fl
Puffer (Patagonia) - https://geni.us/8tVmjM
Sweater (Patagonia) - https://geni.us/YoIE
Camera Equipment 📸
Camera (Sony A7III) - https://geni.us/MUFVPVo
Lens (Sony 35mm GM f/1.6) - https://geni.us/rnYSLU
Mic (Rode NTG Shotgun Mic) - https://geni.us/ZWZBP
Drone (DJI Mini 4) - https://geni.us/B6GALm
Camera Batteries (Sony NPFZ100) - https://geni.us/cdKlc1W
Camera Battery Charger - https://geni.us/AmAIeyL
Tripod (SIRUI AM2-Series AM-254) - https://geni.us/jewD
Tripod Head (Joby BallHead 3K) - https://geni.us/ViMgmt
⸻
Other Hiking Films:
My West Highland Way film: Scotland’s West Highland Way: A Journey In...
My favourite thru-hike in Scotland: How to Hike The Skye Trail | Europe's Best...
My Gear: My Thru Hiking Gear 2.0
⸻
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
03:03 - Day 1
09:16 - Day 2
15:10 - The Push
18:50 - Day 3
23:48 - Day 4
28:09 - Day 5
31:06 - Failure
35:21 - Day 6: The Pass
43:03 - Final Campsite
45:46 - Day 7: The Descent
#AltaVia2 #DolomitesHike #ThruHike #HikingDocumentary #ItalyTravel #AltaVia #SoloHiking #MountainAdventure #dolomiti