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Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Italy: Ortisei, Day 2

The second day we took a bus to Passo Sella to ride the Forcella del Sassolungo gondola (~2180m - ~2680m), nicknamed the "Coffin Lift", as it fits only two people standing, for the novelty of it.

After riding down, we started on the Sassolungo Circuit trail which goes around the base of the Sassolungo Group. Rather than walking the whole circuit as in our original plan, we walked a part of it to catch the Ciampinoi Lift (~2248m - ~1566m) down to Selva di Val Gardena towards the upper end of the valley.

The village of Selva di Val Gardena didn't seem nearly as busy as Ortisei. We walked across town to catch the Dantercepies gondola (~1646m - ~2291m) up to the Cir Peak in the Puez Group (east of Odle/Geisler), right across from the walls of the Sella Group. We had a very short walk before going back down in the gondola.

Selva di Val Gardena is just a short bus ride home to Ortisei. I feel like I'm being spoiled by lifting up and down. We're so used to slowly trudging up and down mountains.

The coffin lift will take us up to the center right notch of the Sassolungo Group. There is a mountain hut / restaurant up there.
We Ride the Coffin Lift Forcella Sassolungo from Passo Sella to Toni Demetz Hut - Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

We Ride the Coffin Lift Forcella Sassolungo from Passo Sella to Toni Demetz Hut - Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

Standing in the "Coffin Lift" and watching the hikers (ascending) and cyclists below was fun for sure.
We Ride the Coffin Lift Forcella Sassolungo from Passo Sella to Toni Demetz Hut - Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

We Ride the Coffin Lift Forcella Sassolungo from Passo Sella to Toni Demetz Hut - Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

We Ride the Coffin Lift Forcella Sassolungo from Passo Sella to Toni Demetz Hut - Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

Hikers - We Ride the Coffin Lift Forcella Sassolungo from Passo Sella to Toni Demetz Hut - Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

At the top, we found a spot on a bench near where the hikers finished their ascent. Not to mention the view of the circling paragliders.
We Ride the Coffin Lift Forcella Sassolungo from Passo Sella to Toni Demetz Hut - Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

Paragliders - We Ride the Coffin Lift Forcella Sassolungo from Passo Sella to Toni Demetz Hut - Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

Then we set out to Ciampinoi, first passing under the Coffin Lift.
From Passo Sella to Ciampinoi to Dantercëpies - Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

From Passo Sella to Ciampinoi to Dantercëpies - Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

Then some stunning views of the Majestic Marmolada Group and the Marmolada Glacier.
Northern face of the Majestic Marmolada Group and the Marmolada Glacier - From Passo Sella to Ciampinoi to Dantercëpies - Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

This Chair Lift Also Moves Bikes
This Chair Lift Also Moves Bikes. - From Passo Sella to Ciampinoi to Dantercëpies - Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

Our Lunch Spot in an Alpine Meadow at the Rifugio Emilio Comici (Emilio-Comici-Hütte) Facing the Sella Group. It's a popular spot to take a break.
Our Lunch Spot in an Alpine Meadow at the Rifugio Emilio Comici (Emilio-Comici-Hütte) Faces the Sella Group - From Passo Sella to Ciampinoi to Dantercëpies - Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

Our Lunch Spot in an Alpine Meadow at the Rifugio Emilio Comici (Emilio-Comici-Hütte) Faces the Sella Group - From Passo Sella to Ciampinoi to Dantercëpies - Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

Onward and upward to the Ciampinoi Lift which took us down to Selva di Val Gardena Village.
From Passo Sella to Ciampinoi to Dantercëpies - Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

From Passo Sella to Ciampinoi to Dantercëpies - Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

From Passo Sella to Ciampinoi to Dantercëpies - Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

Dantercepies Lift in Selva di Val Gardena Village.
Dantercepies Lift in Selva di Val Gardena Village - From Passo Sella to Ciampinoi to Dantercëpies - Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

Nice set of MTB tracks at the top of the Dantercëpies Lift.
MTB Tracks - From Passo Sella to Ciampinoi to Dantercëpies - Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

From Passo Sella to Ciampinoi to Dantercëpies - Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

And it's a fun and relaxing lift ride back down to Selva di Val Gardena and the bus home.
From Passo Sella to Ciampinoi to Dantercëpies - Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy

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