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+m4_navtable(← Day 6,../day6,Alta Via 2,../,Day 8 →,../day8)
+
+# Day 7 - The longest day
+
+m4_caption({{{{{August 26, 2025}}}}})
+
+## Route of the day
+
+<details>
+<summary><strong>Click to see map</strong></summary>
+<img src="../img/26-0000-map.png">
+</details>
+
+*Download the [gpx file](../gpx/av2-day7.gpx) or see the route on
+[outdooractive.com](https://www.outdooractive.com/en/route/hiking-trail/san-martino-di-castrozza-primiero-vanoi/-2025-alta-via-2-day-7/325542923/?share=%7E3zdmdrba%244ossqbdf)*
+
+## A relaxing stroll in Val Canali
+
+Last night we had to check the maps, because we were not sure which route
+we would be going, according to our plan. We did not remember that the
+guide book suggested two possible alternatives to reach the next hut,
+Rifugio Treviso: a higher mountain trail, with some challenging sections,
+and an easier one that starts by walking down the *Val Canali*, a valley
+that leads out of the Pala group and into the *Vette Feltrine* mountain
+range. Our plan was to follow the easier route, and we stick to it.
+
+We leave the Pradidali at 7:30.
+
+![Rifugio Pradidali](../img/26-0735-pradidali.jpg)
+
+m4_caption({{{{{
+Rifugio Pradidali and a mountain behind it, in a beautiful sunny morning.
+Maybe I should have taken notes of the names of the peaks I photographed.
+Oh well, too late now.
+}}}}})
+
+![Val Canali](../img/26-0801-val-canali.jpg)
+
+m4_caption(Val Canali.)
+
+The descent is quite diverse, alternating between rocks, gravel, grass
+and forest.  There are some steel ropes that seem oddly placed in a very
+simple section, but they would probably be useful in a rainy day.
+
+![Walking down](../img/26-0814-walking-down.jpg)
+
+m4_caption({{{{{
+Walking down an easy trail, in a typical Dolomite landscape.
+}}}}})
+
+At 9:50 we reach the ruins of *malga Pradidali* (1428 meters on sea level).
+So far it has been a nice sunny day, and the walk has been easy.  But the
+end of the day will be very different.
+
+![The ruins of malga Pradidali](../img/26-0954-malga-pradidali.jpg)
+
+m4_caption({{{{{
+The ruins of malga Pradidali. A "malga" is a building where people
+temporarily lived in the Summer while their cows grazed the high mountain
+pastures that surround it. Malga Antersasc, that we passed by in
+<a href="../day1">day one</a>, is another example. Many malgas are
+still in use nowadays, and they often sell locally-produced dairy products,
+but unfortunately for us we only found ruins in this trip.
+}}}}})
+
+The trail continues in the forest, and at 10:35 we pass by *malga
+Canali* (1307m).  This one *was* in use, and we could have stopped to
+eat something if we wanted, but we did not.
+
+![The pastures behind malga Canali](../img/26-1040-from-malga-canali.jpg)
+
+m4_caption(The pastures behind malga Canali.)
+
+We now have to walk up to reach Rifugio Treviso (1631m). The trail in
+the forest becomes steep, but it does not last long. We reach the hut
+at 11:40, and it is time for a break.
+
+![From Rifugio Treviso](../img/26-1206-treviso.jpg)
+
+## The return of the clouds
+
+After taking a few pictures and a slice of a typical alpine dessert (I'll
+let you guess which one), we are ready to start walking again at 12:30.
+
+Our next checkpoint is *forcella d'Oltro* (2094m). My knee has been
+good so far, but I still try not to put too much weight on it. The road
+up to the forcella is steep, and we are tired. We have done nothing but
+walking steep trails for more than a week at this point. We walk slowly,
+but steadily.
+
+![Forested mountains to the North-West](../img/26-1354-forested-slopes.jpg)
+
+m4_caption(The forested slopes on the North-West.)
+
+On our way up, we meet a couple walking down from the forcella. They
+tell us that they could see nothing at all on the other side, because
+of the fog and the clouds. We are not sure if we should take them
+literally, because it is such a sunny day on this side, but indeed
+when we reach the tight pass at 14:30 we can see it with out own eyes.
+
+![The fog oon the other side](../img/26-1432-fog.jpg)
+
+m4_caption(The fog on the other side of forcella d'Oltro.)
+
+![The sunny side where we came from](../img/26-1439-not-fog.jpg)
+
+m4_caption({{{{{
+The side where we came from, in contrast, is perfectly sunny.
+}}}}})
+
+We need another short break, but we don't want to stay here for
+too long, because, as often happens in these tight high passes,
+the wind is strong and chilling.
+
+We thought this would be the last place above 2000 meters of the whole
+trip. Or at the very least for the day, considering that all that was
+left was walking down to the
+[Cereda Pass](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cereda_Pass).
+But we were not exactly right.
+
+## Down? Not so fast, cowboy
+
+The descent to the Cereda Pass starts very steep, and quickly loose
+about 200 meters of altitude. But then the trail starts going up again,
+and slowly but surely we walk up, and up, and up. The road is not steep,
+but we are walking on a tight ledge on a grassy slope that requires us
+to focus.
+
+![Me on the tight ledge](../img/26-1603-tight-ledge.jpg)
+
+m4_caption({{{{{
+Me on this tight path that, for whatever reason, is leading back
+up instead of down to Pass Cereda. As you can see, I am not amused.
+}}}}})
+
+Only after we reach the altitude of 2150m do we start going down,
+but this time very slowly. We cannot see very far due to the fog,
+and in any case we would still be hyper-focused on where we step.
+But at least there are some interesting rock formations close to
+us that are worth admiring.
+
+![Some curious rock formations](../img/26-1619-rocks.jpg)
+
+m4_caption(Some interesting rock formations close to the trail.)
+
+![A tree growing on a rock](../img/26-1644-tree.jpg)
+
+m4_caption(A tree growing on top of a naked rock.)
+
+The trail gradually becomes less exposed, but more steep. My knee starts
+hurting once again, but I am not surprised, considering how long we have
+been walking since this morning.
+
+After what feels like an eternity of wandering through the fog,
+we reach the hotel at the Cereda Pass (1361m) at 18:15. After
+almost 11 hours of walk, my feet and my knees are begging for mercy.
+
+![Pastures around the Cereda Pass](../img/26-1758-cereda.jpg)
+
+m4_caption(The pastures around the Cereda Pass.)
+
+We have a private room at [Rifugio Cereda](https://www.rifugiocereda.com/en/),
+where we can have a shower rest well. The food is also amazing: I have
+what is one of the best plates of
+[*käsespätzle*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%A4sesp%C3%A4tzle)
+of my life. By the way, over here the spätzle are prepared with spinach
+and they green not white; I think they do the same in Tyrol, but definitely
+not in Germany.
+
+Unfortunately, the weather forecast for the next day are not as good
+as our dinner.
+
+m4_navtable(← Day 6,../day6,Alta Via 2,../,Day 8 →,../day8)