NOLS Alumni Explore Italy’s High Country

September 30, 2008

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On September 19, nine intrepid hikers and three instructors completed NOLS’ second alumni hiking trip in Italy’s Dolomite region. Basing out of the regional capital, Bolzano, this 8-day trip traveled hut-to-hut in the Italian Alps south of Innsbruck.

The weather was unsettled, with rain and snow over the first two days of alpine hiking. Nights were spent in “rifugios” (hostel-like, family-run rustic hotels) interacting with mostly European travelers. The weather may have been inconsistent, but the scenery was unwaveringly stunning. Click here so see some more pictures from the trip.

 

2900608058_0c0a2dbc11_b Hiking days were busy- the Dolomites have many trails, all of them seeming to trend upward, often steeply… Because the rifugios did the cooking, packs were light. The majority of the route was above tree line.

Our interesting, adult group included an architect, a board game designer, an archeologist, two interventional radiologists and a number of other professionals. Evenings at the rifugios were filled with great talk, outstanding food, music and table-thumping card games.

Alumni trips bring grads, friends and families into the field with NOLS. Curriculum is flexible and often informal.Trips are designed to fit busy schedules and adult interests. Take a look at the NOLS alumni web page for more information on life-long learning opportunities for our alumni.

Folks eat a lot of pasta on NOLS expeditions. Isn’t it time you had the real thing?

 

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Written By

Rich Brame

Rich Brame came to NOLS in the 80's as a Fall Semester in the Rockies student and worked his first NOLS course at Wind Cave National Park in 1984. Since then, he's worked varied NOLS trips and courses on five continents—with a few more on the way. Rich does some frontcountry shenanigans for NOLS, too. He's headed up NOLS' public policy, research, LNT, Yukon programs and most recently in the Alumni Relations Department.