Journal · Dolomites to Trieste · August 2026
An enduro traverse from the Tre Cime di Lavaredo to the Adriatic: the Dolomites, Friuli, a slice of Slovenia, and five final trails down to Trieste.
Few trips start with a view like this. On the first morning the Tre Cime stood right in front of us, and for a moment nobody was in a hurry to ride away from them.
From there the route ran east through quiet forest towards the source of the Tagliamento. High up the trails were rocky and technical; lower down they turned soft and fast under the trees.
Further east the mountains get wilder and emptier. Old military paths cling to steep slopes along the Slovenian border, and they ride far better than they look.
Out of the mountains, the trip changed character: a day crossing into Slovenia, the turquoise Soča, and in Gorizia a pizza that set a new standard for the whole group.
Above the Vipava Valley the trails ran across a high plateau of meadows and woods, and the evening ended with dinner at a winery.
The last day started on a border mountain and ended at the sea: five trails one after another, down through gorges, with the Adriatic getting bigger each time the trees opened up.
Mountains in the morning, the sea at the end, and three countries in one week. A traverse like this only works with a group that wants the whole journey, not just the descents.
Photography: Eric Haufe. Guided together with Eric Haufe of Ride Alpine Trails.
