Monte Scale — Unknown Side Climb — the old road before Stelvio

For all the times I’ve been in Bormio, I thought I knew every ride from here.  Today was an “off day” so Ajax led us on an “easy ride” through the town of Oga and up Monte Scale.  Monte Scale is the old road, built in 1391 long before the Stelvio was even conceived.  Scale means “stairs.”  Yes, it is rideable by road bike.  So here we go…

Here is the unstoppable Team San Jose leading the pack out of town and up to the town of Oga.  Sue is in the front, next to Craig, with Ajax following.  I was also proudly wearing my San Jose kit, but you can’t see me as I was taking the picture.

We have a new recruit on the trip — Carla from San Francisco.  She joined us in Bormio and started with the double Stelvio day.  Here she is in her snazzy Switzerland riding outfit.  Check out the pretty faux embroidery on the sleeves and the collar.

The tour through Oga gave us a good warmup with 900 feet of climbing.  It’s a nice alternative to the main road to get to Monte Scale.

Monte Scale is a big climb with many switchbacks.  It heads up to the beautiful Fraele valley, where there are three lakes.  The Fraele valley used to be a main trading route between Bormio and Austria.  Ajax tells us the Italians traded wine for salt.

Here are Ernesto and Carla riding side by side.  Ernesto is sporting his Death Ride jersey.

About a third of the way up we get to a flat area with a bench to sit.  Ernesto enjoys the rest here.

OK, enough resting.  It’s time to get serious and climb those switchbacks.  This road is really nice.  The grade is steep, but the pavement is in good shape and there is virtually no traffic.

Here is a view of Ernesto in one of the switchbacks.  You can see a vertical granite face in the background with two towers guarding the pass at the top.

The new road (which we are on) is to the left of the granite wall.  Believe it or not, the old road headed up the granite wall.  The last section went right between the two towers and had a terribly steep grade.  The granite wall, two towers, and the steep grade made it easy to control trade on this route and prevent hostile armies from invading.

The towers were an effective defense for the pass until 1635 when the Duke of Rohan (sounds like Lord of the Rings to me) stormed the towers and burned 70 houses.

From the road there are some nice views west to the Forcola di Livigno, a pass we will do soon.  Here is Ernesto enjoying the view.

Fortunately, it’s 2012 now, not 1391, so we are taking the new road that has lots of switchbacks and a grade that is ok for bicyclists.  Here is a view of the top with two tunnels approaching the twin towers.

and a closer view of the towers…  Can you see the old road?  You can see the last few switchbacks in the lower right corner of the photo above.  In the photo below, the “road” goes through a slice in the granite and is virtually invisible.  I sure wouldn’t want to climb that road!  Thank heavens for modern road grading and switchbacks.

From the top, we have a good view of the switchbacks on the way up.

Looks pretty impressive, huh?  The grades are in the range of 6-10%, but some of the straightaways heading west are much less then this… almost flat.

At the top there is a sequence of three lakes.  The first one is natural.  The second two are man-made.  Previously, there were fields here and towns devoted to sheep and cattleherding.

Our group stopped to enjoy the view.  That is Swiss Miss (Carla) on the right.

You may notice the road is dirt.  It is hardpack and very smooth and very rideable on a road bike.  That didn’t matter to us, though.  It’s an off day, so we wanted to get back to town and enjoy a restaurant lunch.  My favorite is Pizzoccheri.

So, statistics.  We rode about 26 miles and climbed 3000 feet.  Not bad for an off day.

Side note:  did J. R. R. Tolkien get his inspiration for the Lord of the Rings trilogy from Bormio?  From Monte Scale we have the Duke of Rohan and the Two Towers.  The valley below the north side of the Gavia has the river Torrente Frodolfo.  Was the name Frodo derived from Frodolfo?  Anybody know the origins of this?

Passo Stelvio (Stilfserjoch) — Europe’s Most Beautiful Pass

Passo Stelvio is a legend.  The third highest, Passo Stelvio is unquestionably the most scenic european mountain pass.  The riding challenge is thrilling and the high mountain experience is unmatched in all of cycling.

We’re staying in Bormio, so Passo Stelvio is right at our doorstep.  For years, the east side has been famous for its 48 switchbacks and 6000 feet of climbing.  It is one of cycling’s most incredible experience.  The west side has been the poor stepsister.  With only 39 switchbacks and 5000 feet of climbing, it just hasn’t gotten much press.  That is until the 2012 Giro d’Italia climbed the east side on its queen stage, preceding the mountaintop finish on the Stelvio with climbs of the Tonale, Aprica, and Mortirolo.

Now that the west side is famous, I can unembarassedly share my account of climbing the west side.

Our group’s plan was to ride the west side of the Stelvio, head north over Passo Umbrail into Switzerland, and back up the east side of the Stelvio for an incredible day.  I did this ride last year and felt like a wimp today, so I only rode the west side.

Here’s a view of the middle part of the western slope of the Stelvio.

The western side is divided into five sections:

1. approach — Heading out of Bormio, you quickly start gaining altitude.  Going through a small tunnel and past Bagni Vecchi (old baths… hotsprings), you get your first view of the steep valley, Val Braulio.  The stone is dark sedimentary rock with very little growing in it.  The road follows the north side.  Despite there being few trees, it is cool and shady.
2. tunnels — Soon you reach a set of tunnels, about 5 to 7 in total.  At the top of the tunnels, you have climbed about 2000 feet with 3000 to go.
3. switchbacks — Exiting the last tunnel, the grade picks up to a tough 10% with short 14% section approaching the majority of the switchbacks.  The photo above shows some (not all) of these switchbacks.  The switchbacks follow a beautiful waterfall.  From the top you can see a beautiful view below.
4. long valley — At the top of the switchbacks, you have climbed about 3500 feet.  The next step is a long grassy meadow, well above treeline.
5. final ascent — The final climb has several switchbacks climbing the last 1000 feet to the summit.

Here’s another view of the switchbacks (part of section 3).

And here is a view looking back at the farm, church, and war memorial in the long flat valley.  In World War I, the Stelvio was the site of the world’s highest battle.  Brave footsoldiers suffered the elements of brutal Alpine winters to defend this pass on Italy’s northern border.  There is a touching war memorial here to the soldiers who gave their lives.

Finally, here I am at the top of the Stelvio, posing proudly by the bronze plaque commemorating Fausto Coppi.  There is a remarkable styrofoam reproduction on the other side of the road.  Most cyclists get there picture taken by the styrofoam version because it is behind a podium, but this is the real Fausto Coppi monument.

I should also point out my styling Stelvio kit.  A lot of the passes have nice souveneir shopping at the top.  Most of the souveneirs are handy things like bumper stickers, stuffed marmots, and t-shirts.  The Stelvio has an extraordinary selection of souveneirs, especillay for cyclists.

You can get Stelvio tshirts.  Some of them show cyclists, but most are motorcycle-themed.  Fortunately, there is an abundance of cycling souveneirs in the form of jerseys, bibshorts, socks, and even do-rags.  The popularity of the Stelvio has created quite a market for bike kits, and the 10 or so merchants compete with an abundance of designs in many different colors.  I like the one I got the best, but there are many other choices.  Having the 2012 Giro climb the Stelvio popped the market up another notch, and some of the jerseys (including the one I got) commemorate the other passes on that incredible stage.

At the top, you can see the top 2000 feet of the legendary eastern slopes.  It’s one of the most dramatic landscape views in cycling.  No, I didn’t climb it this year.

So that’s pretty much my ride up.  The descent home was a zoom.  I really enjoyed it!

But before I close, I want to share two more interesting things:

1. the old road
2. what’s new on the Stelvio

The Old Road

The road is in excellent condition, but the Stelvio has evolved over many years.  There are two sections of old road remaining that are quite rideable.  Both are closed to cars but you can easily ride them on your bike.

Here’s a view of the lower section from above.

This section was presumably closed because it is so twisty, but it’s still quite rideable and it is very beautiful.

The upper section was clearly closed due to rockfall.  The old road is under a cliff with lots of loose rock.  The new road is under clear skies.  The old road has a lot of accumulated rockfall, but is easily rideable on an ordinary roadbike without any special skills.  Here’s a view of the worst of the rockfall just before the summit.

What’s New

In support of the 2012 Giro d’Italia, the west side of the Stelvio was improved in two ways:

1. signs
2. tunnels

For the first time, there are signs on each switchback.  That means you can easily count the switchbacks now.  (Yay!  There are 39 of them.)  The signs are made from wood and individually hand painted with the images of local wildflowers.

The switchbacks are numbered from the top, so number 35 in this photo is pretty near the bottom.

And the tunnels…  Wow, what a change.

In the past, I would give people a safety lecture about the tunnels.  This was particularly important for cyclists planning to descend the west side as they might get a nasty surprise as they entered the tunnels at gonzo speed.

So here’s my old safety lecture: “Most tunnels in europe are safe.  Most tunnels in europe are well lit.  The tunnels on the Stelvio are pitch black with just enough light shining in to dazzle your eyes but not enough to see the ground or the walls.  Most tunnels in europe have excellent pavement.  The tunnels on the Stelvio have potholes.  Big ones.  Hold on to your handlebars.  Most tunnels in europe are dry.  The tunnels on the Stelvio are wet.  There is lots of runoff.  Water drips from the ceiling.  There is even a waterfall in one of the tunnels.  Cyclists have died in these tunnels.  Slow down and be careful.”

But the tunnels are entirely different now.  In preparation for the 2012 Giro d’Italia, the tunnels (and the entire pass) have been repaved (pavement is wonderful now!).  Even better, the tunnels have lights.  Good golly!  After all these years, the tunnels on the Stelvio are lit!  You can see the edges of the tunnels.  You can see the pavement.  And the cars can see you!  And now that I can see the walls, I realize the tunnels aren’t as narrow as I thought.  Here is a view of one of the tunnels to prove it is now lit.

Oh yes, the tunnels are still wet in places but for some reason they were drier this year than any time I have been through them and the waterfall was much reduced in flow.

A big thanks to the Italian road department for their excellent work!  This will greatly improve safety for cyclists who come from all over the world to ride this monumental mountain and enjoy the Italian national sport.

In closing, I’m sure you want some ride stats.  My ride was 29 miles and 5200 feet, but that included a short jaunt to Passo Umbrail and a quick exploration down the other side to see the view.  If I had just done Passo Stelvio, it would have been about 26 miles and 4900 feet.

The rest of our crew (I was the only wimp.) did the entire ride — both sides of the Stelvio in one day.  If you’d like to read about that ride, my account from last year is here.  It has more photos and a good description of the famous eastern side.

Sella Ronde — a Beautiful Ride!

Sella Ronde is the most famous ride in the Dolomites.  It encircles the Gruppo Sella, the iconic feature of the Dolomites landscape.  Gruppo Sella is a massive Dolomite peak with a flat top.  It is so big, you can only properly see it from the air.  A good alternative is to ride your bike around it and see it from many sides, much like a mouse would view an elephant.

Gruppo Sella sits in the middle of a ring of roads.  There are four passes: Campolongo, Gardena, Sella, and Pordoi.  Sella is unquestionably the most famous.  Gardena and Pordoi are also quite famous.  The poor sibling Campolongo is very nice, too, and was the feature photo for an earlier ride.

The total ride around the ring is 36 miles and a little bit under 6000 feet of climbing.  The passes are quite high.  Sella, Pordoi, and Gardena are all about 2200 meters.  Total climbing is reasonable because the valleys are low.  So, you’ve got 4 passes, each about 1500 feet, but you get to be high and see some incredible sights.

We started our ride at the top of the Falzarego.  Ajax and I drove the group here from our hotel in Cortina d’Ampezzo.  Here’s the group at the top of the Falzarego.  From left to right, we have Dave, Dennis, Sue, Craig, Ajax, Lisa, Jessica, and Rudy.

From here we descend the southwest side of the Falzarego and ride towards Arabba where we start the climb of the Campolongo.  Here’s Dave climbing the Campolongo with the Pordoi in the background.

We made quick work of the Campolongo and I sped ahead in the van to catch the group on Passo Gardena.  Passo Gardena is one of my favorite passes to photograph because it has a combination of impressive vertical rock with a pastoral green valley.  Although Sella is more famous and the panoramic views are breathtaking, Gardena is easier to capture with a camera.

Here are Craig and Sue climbing the lower slopes of Passo Gardena.

and here are Ernesto, Ajax, and Rudy climbing a switchback with the Gruppo Sella in the background.

Sue, Dennis, and Craig were first to the top of the Gardena.  Here they are posing before the view.  Behind them is the descent.  It starts out steep, but halfway through is a short section that is flat to slightly up before the descent continues.  The jutting structure behind Craig’s head is Sassolongo, and very beautiful neighboring Dolomite peak that looks like a tiny version of the Gruppo Sella.

Next up, we see Ajax summiting the climb with a view of Gruppo Sella to the right and Corvara and Passo Gardena behind him.

Here are Jessica, Dave, Ernesto, Ajax, and Rudy posing in front of the view at the top.

Lisa enjoys a sandwich before she heads down the descent.

Passo Sella is a pretty incredible climb.  The view from the top is wonderful.  Here are Jessica and Rudy posing in front of the Sassolongo.

You can also see Passo Pordoi and the famous Marmolada glacier from the top of Passo Sella.  Here are Dave, Jessica, Rudy, Ernesto, and Ajax posing in front of the view.  You can see both Passo Pordoi and the Marmolada glacier just above Jessica and Dave’s heads.

Descending Passo Sella, you can see a nice view of Gruppo Sella.  The top of Passo Sella has several technical switchbacks so be careful on this descent.  This photo shows one of the hairpins with the rock walls of Gruppo Sella in the background.  This is one of my favorite views of Gruppo Sella.

Heading up the Pordoi, you can look back towards the Sella… that is if your head is not bobbing above the handlebars trying to turn the pedals over.  Here is a view of the top of the Sella with the Rifugio (a.k.a gift shop) and the hotel on the ridge line.

Getting near the top of the Pordoi, we see Jessica and Ajax rounding a switchback, following Ernesto who is ahead of them.

Finally, here is the group at the top – Rudy, Dave, Ernest on the left and Ajax and Jessica on the right of the sign.  The sign has an old black-and-white photo commemorating the history of cycling.

We headed down the Pordoi, through Arabba, and met in a parking lot a few km past Brenta.  Most of the group hopped in the van and drove home.  A few hardy souls climbed the backside of Falzareggo and enjoyed the swooping descent back to Cortina.

Statistics?  Hmm… The complete loop is about 36 miles and 5900 feet of climbing but we added the descent of the Falzarego so mileage is probably 45-50 miles.

Last year, we did the same ride.  You can see the story and photos here.

Zoldo Loop: Passo Cibiana, Forcella Staulanza, Passo Giau

Weather looked good, so we headed off for a long loop of three passes.  This ride is about 60 miles and climbs nearly 9000 feet.  The passes are not famous, but they sure are beautiful.  They carry very little traffic, so we’re in for a nice day on the road.

We head down valley from Cortina and take a sharp right on the road to Passo Cibiana.  Passo Cibiana is a narrow road which goes through a small town near the bottom (see below) and is quite steep.

Here we see Dave climbing past one of the many signs warning us of the steep grades.  Dave’s outfit matches the color scheme of the signs.

Passo Cibiana is about a 3000-foot climb.  As we near the top, we get a look at a ridge of craggy peaks to the left of us.

We finally get to the top of this brute.  We relax at the cheese tasting booth.  Ernesto is on the left.  Jessica and Rudy are on the right.

Fueled up, we head down the hill.  The descent is a zoom.  Sorry no pictures.  I was having too much fun!  The switchbacks keep zooming by.  There is one nice town there but I didn’t even realize it was worth stopping until the town was long gone.

The next pass is Forcella Staulanza.  It’s about 2500 feet of climbing.  Fortunately the grades are easy, except for a 10% stinger at the bottom.  After this, the grades are quite gentle with some long flat bits along the way.

Near the top of the Staulanza is a nice view of the Civretta, a Dolomite peak jutting high above the surrounding landscape.

After descending the Staulanza, we hit the base of the Giau.  This is the hard side of the Giau.  I found the “easy” side to be hard.  This is harder.

Passo Giau starts out following a river.  Most passes zig-zag alongside the river or cross it with bridges.  This road is simply parallel to the river.  The grade is mostly 10%, sometimes more.

Eventually, relief comes in the form of a set of switchbacks.

The south side of Passo Giau has 29 switchbacks.  Climbing 3000 feet, it’s pretty comparable to L’Alpe d’Huez.  29 switchbacks vs. 21.  3000 feet vs. 3500 feet.  It’s more difficult because the grades are more consistently steep.  L’Alpe d’Huez has a pretty long mid-pass rest section where the grades are 3-6%.  Passo Giau has no relief.

About halfway up are a few tunnels.  One of them perfectly frames the view of a peak which is to the left of the pass.

This year the Giro d’Italia races up Passo Giau.  As a result, the road is painted with the names of racers and countless other slogans and graphics.  Yep, there is that same peak.

As we approach the top, we see the pass goes way to the right of that peak.  Still, the view is beautiful.

We enjoy the view at the top and head down quickly to town.  You can see the view from the top here.  This time, we were in a rush to get back to town as we were really hungry!

In town, we went to a restaurant that specializes in prosciutto.  They have many legs of prosciutto and cut it to order.  Prosciutto and fresh mozzarella makes a great sandwich, especially when washed down with cold beer!

Left to right are Dave, Lisa, Rudy, and Jessica.

You probably want to know the ride stats.  Including the trip into town, we rode 60 miles and climbed 8600 feet.

We did the same ride last year.  You can read that account and see the pictures here.

Passo Giau out-and-back

Today’s forecast called for rain in the afternoon, starting around 1 PM or so. The morning skies were dark and as we got ready to go riding, the sky opened and gave us a 15-minute soaking. Result was half our crew went upstairs to chang into street or hiking clothes.

Bummer!  I really wanted to go for a ride and I don’t mind riding in the rain.  Being the ride guide for today, I basically have to ride if anybody else wants to.  I was hopeful a few hardy souls would go for it.  Indeed, Dennis, Dave, and Lisa wanted to go so I got a nice ride in.

We decided to stay close in case it got wet.  When we started, the rain had ceased so we headed up Passo Giau.  Passo Giau is one of my favorite passes for its scenic beauty and lack of traffic.  Even better, it’s very near Cortina, right out of the door of our hotel.

So we headed up  The goal was to do the “easy” side of Passo Giau.  OK, it’s very scenic, but it’s also a lot tougher than I remember it.  Shortly after you turn left from the Falzarego road, grades turn to 10% or so and remain there for most of the pass.

Here’s a view of one of the many beautiful switchbacks.  You can see a ridge of Dolomite-style jagged peaks in the background.  We’ll see many more of these from the top.

We get to nearly the top and have a fabulous view from the last switchback.  The pass is just to the left of the craggy peak.

The view from the top is amazingly panoramic.  The photo below is a nearly 270-degree stitch showing a big valley surrounded by craggy ridges.

We rest up a bit in the rifugio at the top and then get together for this group photo.  From the left: Dennis, Dave, Lisa, me.

Given the forecast for rain, we decide we’ve tried our luck enough and head down the fabulous descent into Cortina and enjoy a nice afternoon exploring town.

The weatherman turned out to be dead wrong.  Not one drop of water fell from the sky in the afternoon and the morning was dry except for a brief soaking at 9 AM.  The weather was fine. We got fooled by the weatherman. Oh well, at least we’ll have fresh legs for tomorrow.

Our ride turns out to be about 25 miles and a little under 4000′ including a quick jaunt into town for lunch afterwards.

4 passes: Falzarego, Valparola, Campolongo, Falzarego

We’re heading into some of the most scenic territory in the Dolomites and riding up some of the most famous passes.

Here’s a photo of Sue leading Craig up the Campolongo.

OK, that’s a little out of order.

We started the day leaving Cortina and riding up the Passo Falzarego, which is a 3000′ climb.  The Falzarego is very scenic and also very popular, probably because it is the only road west from Cortina.

Here is our crew at the top of the Falzarego.  From left to right, we have Rudy, Jessica, Dave, and Ajax.

From the Falzarego we head north over Passo Valparola which is a tiny climb to an even higher point.  There is no descending, so we get there pretty quickly.

Here is a photo of Dave summiting the Valparola (on the left) and Ernesto sitting in the van (on the right) otherwise known as the Rifugio di Alta Quota.

There are some pretty spectacular views from up here.

Interestingly, the most interesting views are just down the pass about 1 km where the restaurant is.

Just to the left of the restaurant is a beautiful grassy ridge, where some hikers are returning from their hike.

Descending the Valparola is a breeze.  At the top there are several switchbacks.  Lower down, the road really opens up.  Driving the van today, I can barely keep up with the riders.  Here’s a photo of Rudy, who is enjoying the descent and looks up from his tuck to give me the thumbs up.

At the bottom of the Valparola, we turn left towards the ski town of Corvara and then up and over Passo Campolongo.  I already showed you a photo of Sue and Craig climbing the pass with the mountains in the background.  Here’s another view of the mountains above Corvara.

And here is Jessica leading the group over the upper slopes of the Campolongo.

After descending the Campolongo, we head back over the Falzarego.  The Falzarego is very famous because it is so close to Cortina.  Most car drivers only come up the east side, but the most scenic part is on the quieter side which we are climbing now.

Near the top are a pair of gallerias.  Gallerias are tunnels constructed over the road to protect the road from rockfall.

As you can see from the photo, the road makes it possible to get way above the riders.  Here’s a view of Dennis toiling up the mountain.

Near the top is a really cool tunnel with a switchback inside it.  Here is a view from inside the tunnel.

And finally, here is my wife Lisa exiting the tunnel.  You can see the road below the switchback to the right.

If you’d like to see more views of this ride, click here to see last year’s post.

Oh, yeah, you probably want some statistics.  Last year the ride was 54 miles and 7288′.  It probably hasn’t changed much since then.

Dolomites 2012 — day 1 Auronzo Loop

It’s vacation time again — hurray! — and I’m back in the Dolomites with Alta Quota Adventures.  We’re doing essentially the same trip as last year, riding most if not all of the classic Dolomites climbs and staying in my favorite towns Cortina d’Ampezzo and Bormio. This year we have a bigger crew — 10 people — which should mean a lot more fun!

OK, so we have just arrived in beautiful Cortina and it’s time to go for a ride.  Our warmup ride is the Auronzo loop.  It starts with a gentle descent down valley, and then heads back up and over the Passo Tre Croci.  There is an option to add on the old road to San Stefano di Cadore and back over Passo San Antonio.  About half our group does the long route and half does the short route.

Descending down the valley is a breeze.  Our paceline makes quick work of all the towns and stops to enjoy the view of a beautiful church and take our first group photo.

From left to right, we have Craig (behind), Sue, Lisa, Dennis, Ernesto, Rudy, Jessica, and Dave.  Ajax is driving the van and I’m taking the photo.

Here is a closer view of the church with Ernesto’s big grin.

A few miles later we ride past the beautiful Lago di Pieve di Cadore.

Soon, half of the group splits off to do the long loop.  The rest of us continue through Auronzo, which is a beautiful little town, and then up the valley to Passo Tre Croci.  Passo Tre Croci has a gorgeous approach up a shallow valley of meadows and trees.

The gentle grade lulls us into complacency until the 12% grade hits us in the face like a 2×4.  Here’s a photo of my wife Lisa on the steep grade.  Little does she know, this will continue a long way.  Passo Tre Croci is beautiful but it can be miserable.  The grades are steep and there are few turns.  Without switchbacks and intermediate goals, it is tough!

If you go all the way up the Tre Croci, you might as well add on a short 3-mile out-and-back to see Lago di Misurina.  Lago di Misurina is one of the most beautiful sights in the Dolomites.  You normally only see it when you go up the Tre Cime di Lavaredo.  We’re not doing Tre Cime today, but I love this view and wanted to see it.

Along the way, we see a bunch of of cows grazing on the alpine meadow.  The peaks in the background are the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, one of the most famous views in the Dolomites and a truly fearsome road to climb.  On the left is the hotel along the shores of the lake.

And finally, here is the lake view we have been anticipating.  The yellow hotel sits right on the shores of the lake.  The mountains behind the lake and the hotel are actually a few km away, across the valley.  It’s a beautiful place and Lisa is overjoyed at a successful day on the bike.

From here, we still have to climb a bit to get to the top of Passo Tre Croci, but after that it is a zoom to get back to Cortina.  The descent is quite steep and very fast.

Once in town, there is much to see, but we decide to relax with a beer at Hacker-Pschorr, an authentic German bierstube.

Cortina and the Dolomites have many sights to see and great roads to enjoy.  I’ll be blogging about the rest of the trip as time allows.  I’m already 3 days late!

If you’d like to see photos from the long ride, please click here to see my blog from last year.  The abandoned old road is pretty cool!  And you can click here to explore Cortina.

Oh yeah, those important statistics… the short loop was 60 miles and about 5000 feet of climbing including our side trip to Lago di Misurina and a few times looping back to be sociable.  The long loop is about 80 miles and 7000 feet of climbing.