Stortoland, new drytooling crag at Monte Dolada

Last May and July Andrea Saviane, Enrico De Nard "Thunder" and I bolted a new drytooling / total dry crag close to the normal crag at Monte Dolada in the Belluno Prealps, located at 1500m above sea level and with spectacular views across the entire Alpago basin. Facing SE, we've decided to call the crag Stortoland, crooked land, as none of the routes are straight or vertical... even the ground is sloping as the routes are situated in a narrow gully. Currently there are 9 dry tooling routes (some can even be climbed without ice axes) that range in difficulty from D5 to D9+. Climbing is possible in winter or autumn until 13, while in summer you can climb all day long since it's always windy up there.

The routes:
Kastron D5+
Il mago del bio D7
Il drago di domegge D7+
White Fall D8+
La saggezza D7+
M.D.A. Mojiti da asporto D7
Subiot D6+
Photoshooting D9+
The five way brother D5

How to get there: the crag is located immediately above Rifugio Dolada, a famous starting point for paragliding. To get there take the A27 motorway and exit for Belluno, then follow signs for Pieve d'Alpago (there are also signs for volo libero... follow these). At Pieve d'Alpago, follow signs for the riifugi. Continue to Rifugio Dolada, park the car in the car park outside of the hut, enter and walk past it. On the right there are signs for the crag Topolino. Circa 20 minutes from the car.

Thanks for the support (bolts, chains etc): Mauro and Elena from Rifugio Dolomieu al Dolada and the shop Tuttosport Longarone

by Luca Facco