Hut to hut in the Dolomites
This was my first multi-day hike, and the Dolomites turned out to be a forgiving place to start. The trails are well marked, the huts serve proper hot meals, and you never carry more than a day pack plus a sleeping liner.
Planning
I booked the huts about two months in advance — in July the popular ones fill up quickly. Each stage was between five and seven hours of walking, with roughly a thousand metres of climbing per day.
The weather
Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer, so the rule is simple: start early and be at the next hut by two or three o'clock. On the second day I ignored this and spent forty minutes sheltering under a rock. Lesson learned.
Tip: take cash. Many huts still do not accept cards.
Was it worth it?
Absolutely. Watching the sunrise turn the limestone peaks pink from the terrace of a hut at 2,500 metres is something I will remember for a long time. I am already looking at routes for next summer.