THE 2022 BAND OF CLIMBERS SEASON OF ESCAPES BEGAN IN JUNE, WITH THE FIRST OF 2 ESCAPES TAKING PLACE IN THE STUNNING ITALIAN DOLOMITES THIS YEAR. A GROUP OF 15 GUESTS FROM THE US, AUSTRALIA, EUROPE AND THE UK JOINED US AT HOTEL MELODIA DEL BOSCO FOR A WEEK OF INCREDIBLE RIDING IN VARIABLE MOUNTAIN CONDITIONS.

Day 1 is all about spinning the legs after a day of travel. First up, a light pasta at Hotel Melodia, before we build the bikes, and head out for the first ride in the Dolomites. A short, 'easy ride' up to the quiet village of San Viglio, north of Alta Badia on the main valley road saw us ride 46km, and climb 688m of elevation.

Day 2 is the first full day of riding on each Escape. After a carb packed breakfast at the hotel, we began riding at 9am in glorious sunshine. First up, a steady ride down through the valley into Corvara, before we headed over the stunning Passo Gardena, and down the valley towards Klausen Chiusa. After a lunch stop, we faced a constant 25km ascent, over 1500m of elevation in temperatures reaching 39c.