The Three Peaks
Three - Two - One
The magic peaks
When you think of the Dolomites in South Tyrol, we dare to say that you always think a little bit about the majestic Three Peaks too. They have always fascinated people because of their size, their unmistakable shape and their incredible beauty.
We too are fascinated by the Three Peaks every day again and again. One of the reasons is that the pioneering work, which laid the foundation for the holiday region 3 Zinnen Dolomites to become a premiere mountaineering destination, continues to shape the quality of sport available here. Because of that we would like to bring you a little bit closer to this story.
Did you know, for example, that the Three Peaks are located on the border between the two provinces of Bolzano and Belluno? The famous north face of the Three Peaks belongs to South Tyrol. The southern side, on the other hand, is on the Belluno side (Veneto). Thus the border passes over the unmistakable peaks.
The Three Peaks are located in the Three Peaks Nature Park and are considered the most remarkable monument of the holiday region 3 Zinnen Dolomites. Since 2009 the mountain massif is part of the UNESCO World Heritage and is therefore officially considered one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. The impressive natural scenery and the rich history turn the holiday region into one of the most touching alpine experience for those with a heart that beats for the mountains. But who were the pioneers who had the courage to climb the imposing peaks for the first time?
The two mountain guides were supposed to accompany the Viennese to the Cima Grande. Grohmann was particularly enthusiastic about the peaks because of "the audacity of their architecture". In 1869 the time had finally arrived: in less than 3 hours, the three mountaineers climbed the 2,999m high Cima Grande along today’s normal route.
But the three men did not remain the only climbers of Cima Grande. 5 years later, in 1874, the 21-year-old Anna Ploner followed in their footsteps. Together with the mountain guides Michel Innerkofler and Luigi Orsolina, she managed to climb the Cima Grande successfully and thus secured the title of "First female climber of Cima Grande".
The Cima occidentale, 2,973 m high, was considered more difficult to climb. However, Michel Innerkofler and Georg Ploner managed to climb it in 1879. The Cima Piccola (2,857 m), considered impossible to climb, was reached for the first time in 1881 by the brothers Michel and Hans Innerkofler in less than two hours across the southwest side.
In the following years, the Three Peaks became a destination for many hiking and climbing enthusiasts. Until then, however, no one had ever managed to climb the Cima Grande through the steep north face. Only in 1933 the mountaineer Emilio Comici, together with the brothers Giovanni and Angelo Dimai, succeeded.