1 files changed, 208 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/src/av2/day6/da6.m4 b/src/av2/day6/da6.m4
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9ec5bc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/av2/day6/da6.m4
@@ -0,0 +1,208 @@
+m4_navtable(← Day 5,../day5,Alta Via 2,../,Day 7 →,../day7)
+
+# Day 6 - The Farangole trail
+
+m4_caption({{{{{August 25, 2025}}}}})
+
+## Route of the day
+
+<details>
+<summary><strong>Click to see map</strong></summary>
+<img src="../img/25-0000-map.png">
+</details>
+
+*Download the [gpx file](../gpx/av2-day6.gpx) or see the route on
+[outdooractive.com](https://www.outdooractive.com/en/route/hiking-trail/province-of-belluno/-2025-alta-via-2-day-6/325542632/?share=%7E3zdmb4fp%244ossqbdc)*
+
+## The starry night
+
+During the night I woke up and managed to catch a glimpse of a wonderful
+starry night, the likes of which I have never seen before.
+
+If you live in a place with a lot of light pollution, like every medium
+to large city nowadays, seeing *a few* stars may already be an unusual
+experience.  At the moment I live in a fairly small city, and we literally
+never see stars over here. We are lucky if we see Venus once in a while.
+
+But I grew up in a small village in a sparsely populated area, I *was*
+used to seeing skies full of stars at night. But this time, at 2500
+metres above sea level, in the middle of literally nowhere, the sky was
+soething else.
+
+I did not manage to take a good picture, sorry. I did not feel like going
+out in the freezing cold.
+
+## The Farangole pass
+
+At Rifugio Mulaz, the sun rises at 6:40 and sets at around 7:05.
+In the morning. Luckily for you, I got up early enough to catch
+the sunset.
+
+![The morning sunset](../img/25-0707-sunset.jpg)
+
+m4_caption({{{{{
+Rifugio Mulaz is closely surrounded by high mountains.  This is the only
+spot where you could see something in the distance.  The sun rises from
+the peaks on the left of this picture, only to hide away behind those
+on the right shortly afterwards.
+}}}}})
+
+It's a beautiful day, if only a bit cold. This time we get up earlier than
+usual and we are ready to leave at 7:15. The main challenge of the day
+is going to be the *passo delle Farangole* (2932 meters on sea level),
+a high mountain pass not far from the hut. Our guide book even suggests
+a possible alternative route for less confident hikers, but we believed
+it to be within our capabilities.
+
+After steep, but short, climb to *Forcella Margherita* (2655m) we reach a
+section of the trail that would not be particularly challenging, it was
+not for the fact that the track is not well marked.
+
+![The trail after Forcella Margherita](../img/25-0740-after-forcella-margherita.jpg)
+
+m4_caption({{{{{
+The trail after Forcella Margherita, right before the Farangole pass.
+}}}}})
+
+In fact, the traces of the hikers who missed the path are *more* visible
+than the actual trail, likely because said hikers made them more clear
+by backtracking their steps when they realized they were out of the
+trail. We do the same a couple of times.
+
+We soon reach the start of the equipped trail that leads to the pass,
+but I am not convinced and I decide to try climbing up the scree next
+it. This was probably a mistake, so we soon turn left and attach our
+trusty ropes to the steel supports.
+
+![Me, climbing up to the Farangole pass](../img/25-0830-up-to-farangole-pass.jpg)
+
+m4_caption(Climbing up to the Farangole pass.)
+
+The track is very steep, and at times
+[exposed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exposure_%28heights%29), but the
+steel ropes and the other supporting material is in a good state.
+Overall, this famous Farangole pass is easier than we expected.
+
+![My dad climbing down from the Farangole pass](../img/25-0851-down-from-farangole.jpg)
+
+m4_caption({{{{{
+And down we go. The steel ladder looks like it ends in the void,
+but actually there is an extra steel beam protruding from the
+rock, and after that there only a 60cm drop.
+}}}}})
+
+After clearing the pass at around 9:00, we feel satisfied and proud of
+ourselves. My knee does not even hurt anymore.
+
+Little did we now that the truly difficult part is the Farangole *trail*,
+which we'll have to go through later this morning.  But for now, in our
+blisfful ignorance, we enjoy the beautiful weather and we take plenty
+of pictures as we walk down from the pass.
+
+![North view, towards the pass](../img/25-0910-blue-sky.jpg)
+
+m4_caption({{{{{
+The view North, towards the mountains we have just passed.
+}}}}})
+
+![A rocky plateau](../img/25-1009-rocky-plateau.jpg)
+
+m4_caption({{{{{An imposing rocky plateau on the South.}}}}})
+
+![The view to the North-East](../img/25-1019-north-east.jpg)
+
+m4_caption({{{{{The view to the North-East.}}}}})
+
+## The Farangole trail
+
+As the trail gets tight and very exposed, we realize that maybe
+*this* is the section the guide book was warning us about. We
+proceed carefully, attaching our home-made harness when a steel rope
+is available. Unfortunately, most of the trail is on a narrow ledge
+surrounded by grass and soft soil, where no piece of supporting material
+can be fixed. At least it is not wet.
+
+![My dad walking on the Farangole trail](../img/25-1109-dad-farangole.jpg)
+
+m4_caption({{{{{
+My dad walking on a narrow section of the Farangole trail.
+}}}}})
+
+![Anoher hiker](../img/25-1141-hiker.jpg)
+
+m4_caption({{{{{Another hiker following us on the same trail.}}}}})
+
+Since this trail is challenging and dangerous, we have to keep
+constant focus on our steps and the way ahead of us. We have little
+time to relax and enjoy the beautiful view, and we take much fewer
+pictures than we did earlier.
+
+![View from the Farangole trail](../img/25-1158-view.jpg)
+
+m4_caption({{{{{
+The view from the last part of the Farangole trail, towards
+the East. Soon we'll have to walk down to the dry bed of the
+river at the bottom center of this picture. On the left, you
+can see the tiny line that is the Farangle trail.
+}}}}})
+
+At 12:30 we reach the bottom of *Valgrande* (*Pian dei Cantoni*, 2310m).
+
+## To Rifugio Rosetta and beyond
+
+The way up to Rifugio Rosetta is steep, but short. The previous
+part was not phisically demanding, but it was dangerous and
+technically fairly challenging. I am relieved that now I can just
+let my leg bring me up, and I reach the hut at 13:05.
+
+![Rifugio Rosetta](../img/25-1321-rosetta.jpg)
+
+m4_caption(Rifugio Rosetta)
+
+[Rifugio Rosetta](https://www.rifugiorosetta.it) (2581m) is easily
+reachable with a cable car, and because of this it is very crowded,
+similarly to the area around Piz Boè that we passed through on
+[day 3](../day3).
+
+This is a good time for a break, so we decide to sit down, drink
+a glass of [skiwasser](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skiwasser), and
+eat another slice of strüdel. Yes, we ate a lot of those. The one
+they serve in this hut is particularly good, with plenty of fresh
+fruit and pine nuts.
+
+We get up and leave the hut at 14:05.  The weather gets cold and foggy,
+but luckily for us it won't last long.  Our plan is to walk down until
+*Col de le Fede* (2200m) and then up again to *Pass dei Ball* (2433m).
+
+The way down is slow and tedious, and my knee starts hurting again.
+
+![Down from Rifugio Rosetta](../img/25-1519-down-from-rosetta.jpg)
+
+m4_caption(Walking down from Rifugio Rosetta.)
+
+The way up to the pass is steep, and there is a long section equipped
+with a steel rope. But the equipped part is actually very easy compared
+to other similar trails that we have walked this morning and in the
+previous days.
+
+![My dad walking on the equipped trail](../img/25-1606-rope.jpg)
+
+m4_caption(My dad walking on this equipped section.)
+
+After reaching Pass dei Ball, we walk down slowly to
+[Rifugio Pradidali](https://www.rifugiopradidali.com/eng/Home.html)
+(2278m), which we reach at 17:05.
+
+Later we would discover that there is an alternative route to
+go from Rosetta to Pradidali, which starts by walking up to the
+East and skips both the slow and tedious descent and the
+more steep section before Pass dei Ball. This alternative path was
+probably slightly easier, but it would not have saved us that much
+time and effort.
+
+The Pradidali is a nice hut, but there is no phone signal nor WiFi.
+The showers are still expensive, and when it is my turn the water boiler
+has run out of gas, and I can either wait for it to be replaced or do a
+freezing cold shower. I don't want to wait, so arctic shower here I come!
+
+m4_navtable(← Day 5,../day5,Alta Via 2,../,Day 7 →,../day7)