Luca Fois is ready to write a new page in the history of mountaineering in the Dolomites. At the age of 40, after a long career in the Special Forces, decided to take on a unique challenge: to climb all the 86 peaks over 3000 meters in the Dolomites in a single season, in a single documented progression, what he calls a “one push”.

A feat never recorded before. Yes, some mountaineers have already completed the list of the 86 peaks, but they did so over many years. The first one to do this was Beppe Ziggiotto, who took over a decade to conclude all the climbs. Today, Ziggiotto is providing invaluable support to Luca, sharing with him technical pointers and first-hand knowledge on the routes, demonstrating how much the mountains can unite even among different generatios and approaches. 

However, Fois will make the first attempt fully traced and destined to official registration as a record, meeting the criteria of documentation and continuity required by the Guinness World Records.

From the line of fire to the ridgelines

Luca’s story is that of someone who chose to change his life. After 20 years in the Armed Forces, he left his uniform to look for a new balance. He found in the mountains not only a new challenge, but also a place for profound transformation.

Walking, climbing, adapting, surviving: these are the skills acquired in the field and that today pour into a completely different but equally demanding and al-ecompassing project. A new way of getting back into the games at the age of 40, proving that it is never too late to start again.

An expedition that is also community

Fois will climb the 86 peaks with a small rotating team of former comrades, mountaineers and friedns, people who have experienced, like him, a change and want to contribute to something collective.

The goal is to stand as altitude, as far as possible, concatenating the peaks in succession and adapting flexibly to conditions, sleeping in shelters, bivouacs or even outdoors, always with full respect for the mountain and its rhytms. 

It is a sporting challenge, of course, but also an experience of community, solidarity and friendship. “86 Dolomites” is also a way to demonstrate that asking for help is not a failure, but a strenght. And the response will come, if one exposes oneself sincerely: from the civilian community, from the military one, from the endurance world, from lifelong friends and the new ones.

A record that leaves a trace

Each climb will be documented with technical data: GPS tracks, photographs, elevation gain, climbed routes, times, environmental conditions, huts and bivouacs used. All these data will be collected in a comprehensive digital logbook designed to become a shared asset. At the end of the project, the whole documentation will be given to the National Alpine Association, which has recognized the importance of the project. The goal is to make this collection available to those who wish to climb the 86 peaks, with a unified, accurate and up-to-date vision.

To date, in fact, there are no homogeneous and coordinated reviews on all the peaks over 3000 metres tackled in a single season by a single person; the data are often fragmented, coming from different istitutions or authors, with standards which are not always comparable. 

“86 Dolomites” aims to fill this void and offer a solid, useful and verified reference for future generations of mountaineers, instructors, military personnel and enthusiasts. 

A signal for those who think they can’t make it

“86 Dolomites” is also meant to be a message for those who feel stuck in a life they no longer feel is theirs. Fois says it clearly: “Sometimes a concrete project is enough to trigger change. The support will come, if you have the courage to set out. I see it every day in this project: people who help me, who recognize themselves, who believe in a second chance.” 

It won’t just be a record.

It will be a new chance.

For those who will climb, and for those who will watch. 

Luca Fois

@the_quiet_italian