1

You will not be able to hike at >3000m in PNGP in March without serious gear and experience. I have hiked there in June and July, and there's a lot of snow above about 2700m even then. In fact, some of the trails we were on are apparently impassable before late June.

You might be able to do some lower altitude hiking, and Aosta would be a good place to stay (there are some things to do even if the weather is terrible). There would still be a fair bit of snow around, though. The obvious question would be whether you ski, which would be much better for the time of year.

2

March is pretty much a no no for hiking in Aosta, for the gran paradiso you could x-country ski or snow shoe. Dolomites pretty much the same, there will be some winter walking available but not that much. Cinque Terre could be ok but depneds on the weather if it is sunny it will be great but rain and mist will make it pretty misreable. I personally would head south and walk along the Amalfi coast, there are some great hikes there, and a great time of year to do it.

3

Thanks for the replies.

I've looked at the Amalfi coast- looks like a better option- I see the area of Sorrento/Poitano is good for Hiking and there are hostels where I can meet people as well as bars/places to eat. I might still go up to Aosta, just to for a couple of days just to be in the mountains- i just want to get somewhere with good views of the alps that's easy to get to by train and has hotels/bars restaurants etc.
Thanks again

4

This winter is rather cold and snowy so far and the end of March will probably still be skiing season even at lower altitudes. If you are not into ski mountaineering or snowshoes hiking anywhere in the Alps is out of question - if you want to go there just for scenery cable cars are running and can take you in Pila right from Aosta, for example, or from Breuil-Cervinia in sight of Matterhorn, or from Courmayeur to Rifugio Torino in Mont Blanc area..

As for early spring hiking, Isola d'Elba is rather popular.

5

Hi there,

hiking in the Dolomites in wintertime? Well, I do agree with what’s been said here so far as much as I do disagree. There is definitely hiking in the Dolomites in winter. But caution: you MUST know where to go, how to act out there and how to prepare yourself gear-wise: warm, durable and weatherproof cloths as well as the most important piece of equipment, the AS&RG. It consists of an electronic transceiver that either sends or receives a signal (if you’re holidaying here: it’s got to be one that operates on 457 Hz!!!!), a shovel and probes. And the knowledge how to operate this gear – which truly isn’t that hard at all.

For a couple of years now locals have started spending lots of time in the Dolomites in lieu of skiing on the ski-slopes. Most people use touring-skies, but snow-shoe hiking is very popular too. Have a look at some of my picture on

https://plus.google.com/photos/111064870418881641859/albums?banner=pwa

then take a look at the winter photos of Col di Bosc & Val di Travenanzes Nov. 2012 as well as Lavarella Spitze Nov. 2011, the later being 3055m high. All of these photos were taken in winter-conditions. Mind you: there is no hiking without skies or snow-shoes, no chance. And: depending on what time in March you’ll be here in the Dolomites (or in other mountainous areas), the sun will be rather strong in March already adding a very risky element to your hikes: avalanches start to get off on the exposed sides of the mountains (mainly southerly sides), so we locals try to be back in the valley before or just after lunch. Too risky.

In any case, wherever you want to go in wintertime: do not go alone. And use a guide, it’s worth your while: you get to see the best of it (whatever is possible then) and you do get home well. If you need information about hiking in the Dolomites visit my website

http://www.hiking-in-the-dolomites.it

or just let me know, I’m happy to help if I can.

Gerd