From 17c0f82f52b5de171108d64decb94afe2915fad8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Sebastiano Tronto Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2026 18:30:15 +0200 Subject: Civetta tour pages --- src/av2/singlepage/av2.noheadermd | 1515 ------------------------------------- 1 file changed, 1515 deletions(-) delete mode 100644 src/av2/singlepage/av2.noheadermd (limited to 'src/av2/singlepage/av2.noheadermd') diff --git a/src/av2/singlepage/av2.noheadermd b/src/av2/singlepage/av2.noheadermd deleted file mode 100644 index 3384a68..0000000 --- a/src/av2/singlepage/av2.noheadermd +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1515 +0,0 @@ -# Alta Via 2 - -![A picture of me walking on the Farangole trail](../img/25-1033-farangole.jpg) - -[Alta Via 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alta_Via_2) is high mountain -route in the [Dolomites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolomites). It goes -from [Brixen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brixen), in South Tyrol, to -[Feltre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feltre), the city where I was born. -With its 180km of lenght and around 10000 meters of altitude gain, it -requires multiple days to complete, with most guides suggesting a 12- -or 13-day itinerary. - -In August 2025, my father and I completed this route, walking for -9 consecutive days. In these pages I am going to tell you about -this adventure, and share some of the pictures that we took. -If you are interested in hiking similar routes, you may find -some useful information here, but I am not aiming at writing a -technical description of the hike. - -* [Preparation](../preparation) -* [Day 1 - The Odles in the rain](../day1) -* [Day 2 - Trail 666](../day2) -* [Day 3 - A knee-breaking descent](../day3) -* [Day 4 - The forest and the pastures](../day4) -* [Day 5 - Entering the Pala group](../day5) -* [Day 6 - The Farangole trail](../day6) -* [Day 7 - The longest day](../day7) -* [Day 8 - The Troi dei Caserin](../day8) -* [Day 9 - Cutting it short](../day9) -* [After the hike](../after) - -You can view these pages at -[https://sebastiano.tronto.net/av2](https://sebastiano.tronto.net/av2). - -
- -# Day 1 - The Odles in the rain - -

August 20, 2025

- - -
- -## The road to Kreutztal - -Our first day starts quite early, as we wake up at 5:15. My uncle is -giving us a car ride to Kreutztal, which will take a little more than -3 hours. We leave at 5:55. - -We drive up the Cordevole valley, a road that reminds me of the -many hikes I used to do in the Dolomites, usually starting from the -[Falzarego pass](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falzarego_Pass), -hiking around the [Tofane](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tofane), -the [Cinque Torri](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinque_Torri), -[Averau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Averau) and others. -But we are not going there this time. - -The road itself is quite scenic. Sorry, I did not -take any pictures pictures. Going North, we drive -through popular touristic destinations like Arabba and -[Corvara](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corvara%2C_South_Tyrol). -But these small towns leave a weird impression on me, as they are made -up mostly of hotels and a few restaurants and bars - all closed because -it is too early for turists to wake up. Are these places just holiday -resorts now? - -Just before we reach Kreutztal, our starting point, it starts raining. - -
- -## The hike begins - -![My dad and I, ready to start hiking](../img/20-0924-kreutztal.jpg) - -

My dad and I, ready to start hiking.

- -By the time we reach Kreutztal (2000 meters on sea level), park the car -and put on our rain clothes, it is already 9:30. And this is going to -be one of the longest days, at least according to our estimates. - -The [Plosehütte](https://www.plosehuette.com/en/) (2447m) is not -far, and we reach it pretty quickly. Unfortunately, it is closed for -renovations, and we can't even get close enough to take a picture of -our first checkpoint. - -At least the view from up there is... something. - -![The Odles, surrounded by clouds](../img/20-1033-odles-clouds.jpg) - -

The Odles -surrounded by clouds.

- -The clouds came and went, but this is pretty much the clearest the -skies have been the whole morning. Besides the cold and the rain being -unpleasant, the low visibility gave us some technical difficulties: -right after passing by the hut, we found ourselves on a grassy slope and -we lost the track. In normal conditions we would have been able to look -out for the next trail marking, but with this thick fog we were forced -to double check our GPS and our maps. - -## Down through the forest, then up again - -Luckily, it did not take us long to find the right way, and we kept -descending in a [larch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larch) forest. - -![Trail in the forest](../img/20-1150-forest.jpg) - -

A trail in a forest between Plosehütte and -Schlüterhütte - Rifugio Genova.

- -The descent is pleasant. We even manage to catch some break from the -heavy rain, and take a few more pictures of the Odles. - -![Another picture of the Odles](../img/20-1211-odles.jpg) - -We reach the Rodella Pass (1867m) at around 13:00, -and from there we walk up to [Schlüterhutte - Rifugio -Genova](https://www.schlueterhuette.com/en/) (2297m). I did not take -many notes of this part of the journey, there was too much rain for me -to take out my journal and write. - -As the trail is crossed by a stream of water, we have to pass a short -challenging section, where we are forced to climb on the wet rock. -The climb itself is not hard, but the trail is not clearly marked at -that point, which left us wondering if we were doing the right thing. - -We are then blocked by a more difficult trail feature: cows. - -![Cows blocking the road](../img/20-1324-cows.jpg) - -

Cows are blocking the road. Yes, that little gap is -the only way forward.

- -After overcoming this zoological obstacle, we reached the -Schlüterhütte - Rifugio Genova at 16:00 and we stop for a slice of -[*Apfelstrudel*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_strudel). - -![Rifugio Genova in the fog](../img/20-1603-schluterhutte.jpg) - -

Rifugio Genova - Schlüterhütte in the fog.

- -
- -## The long descent to the village - -At 6 hours and 30 minutes of hiking, this would have been a good first -day. But unfortunately we cannot stop here. At 16:30 we begin the long -descent towards Lungiarü (1398m). - -![Me pointing down towards the fog](../img/20-1703-descent.jpg) - -

Down there, that's where we have to go. Do you see -it? Me neither.

- -We walk for two hours in the rain and the fog before reaching the -village. Two hours may not sound like much, but it felt like an eternity. - -Just before the village, we pass by a place called -[*Val di Morins*](https://www.alta-badia.org/en/highlights/sights/val-di-morins-mill-valley/), -which means "Mill Valley" in Ladin. - -![A watermill](../img/20-1816-mill.jpg) -

-A watermill. In this area it was common to build half-pipes -with larch trunks to lead the water to the mill. -

- -The village of Lungiarü, in [Val -Badia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val_Badia), is quite nice, but we -have no energy left for sightseeing. All we can do before falling asleep -is a shower, dinner, and trying to dry our clothes for the next day. - -
- -# Day 2 - Trail 666 - -

August 21, 2025

- - -
- -## The beginning of a long day - -According to our plan, this second day is going to be the toughest. -Our planned route consists of more than 1700m of altitude gain, which -would already be quite a long hike for a single day, leave alone for one -out of 9 consecutive days of walking. Moreover, the weather forecasts -for the day are not good - there is a chance of thunderstorms in the -afternoon. - -Luckily we find someone willing to give us a car ride from our B&B to -the edge of the village, saving us about one hour of walk. We start -walking at around 8:30. - -The first part of the trail is not very steep, and the weather is -not too bad either. We even manage to see some mountains! - -![Some mountains](../img/21-0900-up.jpg) - -

The Puez-Odle group.

- -In about an hour we reach *malga Antersasc* (2084m on sea -level). Around this small abandoned building we see a few -[chamois](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamois) and some very fat -[marmots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmot) - seriously, those -things were huge! Unfortunately all the pictures I took were terrible, -you need some pretty good camera to catch them from a distance. - -![Me looking a tree](../img/21-0923-tree.jpg) - -

-Sorry for the lack of marmot pictures. Here -is a shot of myself staring at a tree growing on top of a rock instead. -

- -After a short break, we get back on the trail and start walking towards -the [Puez hut](https://www.rifugiopuez.it/en/). We could already tell -from the map that the trail up to *forcella Puez* (2500m), before the -hut, was going to be very steep. However, we found it to be very well -maintained, which made it easier than we expected. - -![The trail to forcella Puez](../img/21-1103-forcella-puez.jpg) - -

-The trail up to forcella Puez is reinforced with some trunks that -turn it almost into a staircase.

- -Unfortunately, as we walked up, the weather got much worse. -We were forced to wear all our rain clothes again, including gloves. - -We reach the Puez hut (2447m) at 11:20, earlier than planned. We take -some time to rest and try to dry up from the rain; I change my socks -and t-shirt, which definitely helps. - -## The forgotten Forcellas - -(*Forcella* is an Italian term that denotes a tight mountain pass, usually -only reachable via a steep trail. I will sometimes use the Italian word -because I don't know an exact equivalent in English. For proper nouns I -may also use the equivalent word in the local language: *Furcella* or -*Jeuf* in [Ladin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladin_language), -*Joch* in German, *Foržela* in -[Venetian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venetian_language).) - -We start walking again around 12:00, and it is immediately clear that we -have made a small miscalculation in planning the route. We thought -that the trail to [Gardena Pass](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardena_Pass) -would be straight downhill, but actually we'll have to climb up and then -down a couple of tight passes: *Furcella de Ciampei* (2366m) and *Jeuf de -Crespëina* (2528m). This is easily going to cancel out the time we gained -in the morning. Fortunately, this part of the trail is quite pleasant to -walk, if at times steep; the weather is also not too bad, as we only have -to bear some light rain. - -![Part of the road to Gardena Pass](../img/21-1347-puez-to-gardena.jpg) - -As we are about to reach Gardena Pass (2136m), a strong storm begins. -I speed up to take shelter in a hut down at the pass, leaving my dad -a few minutes behind. I reach the pass at 14:35. - -## One hell of a trail - -The outlook for the last part of the day is bleak, to say the least. -Thunderstorms are forecast until late in the evening. There is likely -going to be a small windows of good weatehr between 16:00 and 17:00, but -it is not going to last long enough to reach the Pisciadù hut, where we -are going to sleep. We have to choose between leaving immediately under -the heavy rain hoping it stops while we are on the way, or waiting for -the first wave of the storm to pass but risking it starting again -before we reach our destination. - -We choose the former, because it was our best chance to arrive at the -hut before it gets dark. Moreover, despite the forecast of thunder and -lightning, so far it is just raining heavily, which although unpleasant -is not dangerous. - -We leave the pass at around 15:00, under the storm. The ascent is not -steep at first. Luckily, as predicted, after about one hour the rain -stops. - -![A view of the Odles from the Gardena Pass -side](../img/21-1559-gardena.jpg) - -

Our last view of Gardena Pass and the Odle group, -on the way up to the Pisciadù hut.

- -But then we reach the infamous trail 666. - -![The beginning of trail 666](../img/21-1600-666.jpg) - -

-The beginning of trail 666. This is not a nickname, it is -the actual number that the -Italian Alpine Club gave to this trail. -

- -Actually, this is the easiest of two -possible ways to the Pisciadù, the other being the [Ferrata -Tridentina](https://www.alta-badia.org/en/leisure-activities/climbing-and-mountaineering/brigata-tridentina-route/). -The booklet I am following describes it as "[...] reserved for -well-equipped experts. Don't do it with heavy backpacks; don't do it if -the weather is not good." We get at 0 out 3, the thought of taking the -[via ferrata](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_ferrata) does not not -even cross our minds. - -So trail 666 it is. This trail is also known as *Setus trail*, or somewhat -improperly *Setus via ferrata*. It is extremely steep and it is more a -climb than a walk, but it is not a via ferrata. Most maps describe it -as *sentiero attrezzato* (equipped trail), as it does have some fixed -steel rope and handles where climbers can hang a safety rope. - -We have some simple ropes equipped with a -[Carabiner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carabiner), and we decide to -use them. In the following days we would talk with other people who -took the same route, and some of them would claim that a rope is not -necessary on this trail. I don't care, I was relieved to have my trusty -rope, especially considering the bad weather and how tired I was after -more than 8 hours of hiking (plus the 9 hours of the previous day). And -a safety rope is certainly of no use if kept in the backpack. - -![Trail 666](../img/21-1654-trail666.jpg) - -

Trail 666 is really steep.

- -Overall, the steel rope and the handles are of great help, and although -a couple of times I was unsure where to put my feet and I almost slept, -I would not consider this trail dangerous, if one is properly equipped. - -The reason I found this trail hard was its *length*. I seriously had some -difficulties caused by how tired I was and how sore my muscles were, -after two full days of hike. Sometimes I could not complete a step or -an arm movement on the first try because I just did not have the enough -strength to push or pull up. And the trail just kept going! - -But at 17:30, exhausted but satisfied, we finally reach the top of this -climb. The Pisciadù hut (2587m) is just around the corner. - -![My dad at the end of trail 666](../img/21-1734-pisciadu.jpg) - -

My dad at the end of trail 666.

- -We, our clothes and our boots are still wet from all the rain we caught -earlier in the day. Let's hope everything dries up during the night. - -
- -# Day 3 - A knee-breaking descent - -

August 22, 2025

- - -
- -## The lunar path to Rifugio Boè - -Our clothes are still wet by the time we wake up. The summer nights -in the Alps are just too humid. But at least we can finally see some -sun. The weather is going to be much better for the next few days. - -![View from the Pisciadù hut](../img/22-0702-pisciadu.jpg) - -

A beatiful view from the Pisciadù hut at dawn.

- -The beds in the hut were comfortable and we slept well. After a comical -incident with my dad's boots - he put on someone else's pair, not knowing -that I had brought his into our room, and spent a good 15 minutes -searching for them - we are ready to leave the hut at 8:20. - -![The Pisciadù the lake and Piz Pisciadù](../img/22-0756-pisciadu-lake.jpg) - -

The Pisciadù lake and Piz Pisciadù (peak Pisciadù).

- -The day starts with a short but somewhat steep section of the trail. -There are some steel ropes and we use our simple harness once again, -although this time we felt we could have done without. - -At 9:45 we reach what is likely the highest point of our route, -an anonymous plateau at 2960 meters on sea level. There are higher -points on some variations of the route, for example *Punta Penia* in the -[Marmolada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmolada) massif, but in that -section we are going to take a lower trail, which is the more classical -one according to my guide book. - -At this point, we are completely immersed in a sea of fog. It is quite -cold, probably only a couple of degrees above 0°C, and there is some -unpleasantly cold breeze. - -![My dad resting on a rock](../img/22-0946-fog.jpg) - -

My dad resting on a rock, trying to keep warm.

- -The fog comes and goes, letting us see the beautiful panorama for a few -brief moments. - -![Panorama](../img/22-1006-panorama.jpg) - -As we walk down from the plateau, my left knee starts hurting. It is -not unbearable, and it only hurts when I walk downhill. But it does -not bode well for the rest of the day: our next stop is 900m below us, -so we are going to walk downhill for most of the day. - -At 10:30 we are on top of the *Antersass* (2906m), a minor peak next to -the more prominent [Piz Boè](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piz_Bo%C3%A8) -(3152m). We could have walked around the Antersass, but the trail to -climb up to the top and then down is actually easier. Going to the top -of Piz Boè would have been an interesting detour, but not quite feasible -for our 9-day plan. - -We reach [Rifugio Boè](https://www.rifugioboe.it), a recently renovated -hut at 2873m, before 11:00. - -
- -![Piz Boè](../img/22-1145-piz-boe.jpg) - -

A view of Piz Boè (peak Boè) from Rifugio Boè (Boè -hut). The hut on the top of Piz Boè is, perhaps confusingly, called Capanna Piz Fassa. -

- -We have now left Sout Tyrol. The rest of the Alta Via 2 route roughly -follows the border between the provinces of Trento and Belluno. - -We leave the hut at 11:20. The fog has returned, but it is not as cold -as before. - -The trail to *Foržela Pordoi* (2848m) is mostly flat, and very crowded, -because of a cable car that makes it accessible even to families with -kids. I am not sure I like this kind of over-turism in places that -would otherwise be hard to reach. - -## A painful descent - -As we reach the foržela, the view opens up on a more diverse landscape -of grass, rock and forests. After a very short break, we start walking -down to the Pordoi Pass. - -The descent is on a long and steep -[scree](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scree). I have never liked walking -down this kind of trail, but now that my knee is screaming for mercy I am -really hating it. I would have rather walked it up twice than down once. - -![The steep descent to the Pordoi Pass](../img/22-1236-pordoi-descent.jpg) - -

The steep descent to the Pordoi Pass.

- -We reach the [Pordoi Pass](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pordoi_Pass) -at 13:30. I need a long break before continuing, so we decide to lay -down next to a tiny church just after the pass. Luckily the weather -is nice - or not terrible, at least - and we can enjoy a nice view of -the surroundings. - -![View from the Pordoi Pass](../img/22-1358-pordoi-pass.jpg) - -

-The Sella group -from the Pordoi Pass.

- -![View towards Canazei](../img/22-1431-canazei.jpg) - -

The view in the direction of Cianacei.

- -
- -## Her majesty, the Marmolada - -At 14:10, after about 40 minutes of relax, we are ready to get up. - -We walk up an easy trail among ski paths. Here too there are plenty of -turists, and I can't blame them for choosing to walk in such a beautiful -place. This is a very common touristic destination both in the Summer -and in the Winter. - -We walk past a strange place called [Rifugio -Fredarola](https://www.fredarola.it/) (2370m), which looks more like -a night club you could find the center of Milan rather than a mountain -hut. They are even playing some electronic lounge music. It's hard to -describe, but it feels oddly out of place here. But maybe for people -coming from a big city this is just what they expect to find here; -I guess it is a matter of points of view. - -We continue on a wide, mostly flat trail. For now my knee is is doing -fine, but I am a bit scared for the descent that awaits us later today. -And finally we have a good view on the Marmolada, the Queen of the -Dolomites. - -![Me in front of the Marmolada](../img/22-1510-marmolada.jpg) - -

-The Marmolada, -the highest mountain in the -Dolomites, and its glacier. At the feet of the massif you can -see the Fedaia -lake, around which there are a couple of huts, including the one -where we are staying tonight. In the distance you can see the Pelmo and the Civetta. -

- -We stop at [Rifugio Viel Dal Pan](https://www.rifugiovieldalpan.com/) -(2432m) for a short break at 15:30. From there, the steep descent towards -the Fedaia Pass (2054m) begins. My knee forces me to walk slowly, so by -the time we reach the pass it is already 17:30. - -The day is almost concluded, but we have to walk to the opposite side of -the lake to [Rifugio Fedaia](https://www.rifugiofedaia.com/). The closer -[Rifugio Castiglioni](https://www.rifugiomarmolada.it/), where we stop -for a beer, was fully booked when we planned our trip. - -![Fedaia lake](../img/22-1730-fedaia.jpg) - -We walk fast on the old road next to the lake, chatting with a local -resident who helps us keep up the pace. We arrive at our hotel at 18:05, -after almost 10 hours of hike (including breaks), and we are very happy -to find a comfortable room with private bathroom waiting for us. - -This day was longer than we planned, partly because of my knee. But the -scenery was beautiful. - -
- -# Day 4 - The forest and the pastures - -

August 23, 2025

- - -
- -## To Malga Ciapèla and Forca Rossa - -Our fourth day starts at 8:20, with a steep descent on a ski path. -My knee stil hurts, and this points I am afraid I may have to -deal with it for the rest of the trip. - -At 9:30 we pass Malga Ciapela (1450 meters on sea level) and we start -walking up again. Soon we find an enigmatic sign which is apparently -trying to communicate that going left or right leads to the same places. - -![The confusing sign](../img/23-1012-sign.jpg) - -

The confusing sign.

- -We spend like 5 minutes figuring this out, and we choose to go left. - -The path is not steep and walking in the forest is enojyable. Since we -are at a lower altitude than we have been for most of the other days, -it is also much warmer than what we got used to. - -![A view from the trail in the forest](../img/23-1115-view.jpg) - -

-A view from the forest, on the way up from Malga Ciapèla to Forca Rossa. -

- -The forest soon leaves space to grassy slopes and naked rock. The way -up is still pleasant, and we have met almost no other hiker so far - -in stark contrast with the previous day. - -![Grassy slops up to Forca Rossa](../img/23-1220-forca-rossa.jpg) - -

-The lower clay-red peak on the center-left of the picture is Forca Rossa, -where we are headed. "Rossa" in Italian means "red" - it's nice when things -are what their name says they are, isn't it? -

- -We arrive at *Forca Rossa* (2500m) at 13:05. Only in the last few minutes -my knee gave me some problems, but it is not so bad that it makes me -want to stop. - -Here at the top of this trail there are all the hikers that we did not -meet on the way up; they probably came from the other side. There must -be some kind of force field blocking tourists from entering the province -of Belluno. - -![View from Forca Rossa to the Belluno side](../img/23-1325-forca-rossa-bl.jpg) - -

View from Forca Rossa to the Belluno side.

- -![My dad and I chilling](../img/23-1333-chilling.jpg) - -

My dad and I chilling - quite literally, because of the wind.

- -![View from Forca Rossa to the Trentino side](../img/23-1338-forca-rossa-tn.jpg) - -

View from Forca Rossa to the Trentino side.

- -
- -## Walking down green pastures - -There is a great view on both sides of this pass, but the wind is cold -and strong and we are not keen on staying long. After eating a couple -of protein bars and taking many pictures, we start walking down towards -Fuciade at 13:40. - -![The path to Fuciade](../img/23-1420-pastures.jpg) - -

Walking down to Fuciade.

- -The way down is quite relaxing. We walk among green pastures, where -cows and horses grazed freely. That is, until they are less romantically -slaughtered to make [Bresaola](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bresaola). -But until then they can enjoy the green grass. - -At 15:00 we reach Fuciade (1982m), a location where many families with -kids were relaxing after a meal at [the hut](https://www.fuciade.it/en/). -If one wants a more quiet place, a short walk up the trail that we were -descending quickly leads away from the crowd. This place gave a sense -of tranquillity. - -![Me relaxing in Fuciade](../img/23-1512-fuciade.jpg) - -

Me relaxing in Fuciade while I enjoy a glass of -radler -- don't be fooled by the Coca-Cola can.

- -After a short short break, we move to -[Rifugio Flora Alpina](https://floralpina.it) (1800m), that we reach -quickly at around 16:00. The place is surrounded by the forest, -and the only visible peaks are the -[Mulaz](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulaz) and the -[Focobón group](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gruppo_del_Focobon). - -
- -![The Mulaz and the Focobon group](../img/23-1818-focobon.jpg) - -

-A spectacular view of the Mulaz and the Focobón group. As the light -changed and the clouds moved, the colors changed as well. I spent quite -some time just sitting outside the hut, admiring these mountains. -

- -Now, for the first time since we started our journey, we have some time -to relax before dinner. We enjoy a sauna and a hot tub. - -
- -# Day 5 - Entering the Pala group - -

August 24, 2025

- - -
- -## Back on track - -![The Focobon group at dawn](../img/24-0648-focobon.jpg) - -

-This photo is the same at the last one of the previous day, -but it is one of my best shots. It is also quite fascinating how the light -at dawn mixes up all the colors compared to previous day's picture. -

- -After a long sleep, we are ready to leave Flora Alpina at 8:20. Our -first checkpoint is the -[San Pellegrino Pass](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Pellegrino_Pass), -(1918 meters on sea level) which is unfortunately a bit farther away than -it would have been if we slept in Fuciade. - -It takes us about one hour to reach the pass. On the way we saw a cow -breastfeeding her calf, which was cute. We cross the main road on the pass, -and from here we have to walk up on grassy slopes and ski paths. The -signs point to a path that is not the one we planned, but the two tracks -join shortly afterwards. The ski paths are extremely steep, but wide, -so we can easily zig-zag all the way up. - -At 10:30 we reach the *Pale di Gargol* (2218m), a plane that I am not -sure why deserves a name. Perhaps the name refers to the whole area -which I guess could be described as a rocky meadow. - -![The rocky meadow](../img/24-1027-pale-di-gargol.jpg) - -

-The Pale di Gargol. The term "pala" means "shovel" in Italian, -but according to the - -Italian Wikipedia page about the -Pale di San Martino -mountains, in the local language it once denoted a grassy slope at the -feet of a mountain range. -

- -Once again, the landscape has changed to show us something completely -different from that we have seen so far. The constant shifting from rocks, -to forest, to grass, to yet other types of rock and any combination of -those features is in my opinion one of the most fascinating aspects of -Alta Via 2. - -![Walking down to Passo Valles](../img/24-1129-panorama.jpg) - -

Walking down to Passo Valles. -In the background, the Pale di San Martino.

- -The trail continues almost flat in this unusual scenery until we -descend to [Passo Valles](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passo_Valles) (2032m) -at around 11:50. We are now entering the fascinating section of -the *Pale di San Martino*, also known in English as the -[Pala group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pala_group), of which -the Mulaz and the Focobón group are the northernmost peaks. - -But first we need a break. We stop at a bar on the pass for a coffee -and a slice of strüdel. - -
- -## Veneggia, Venegiotta and Pass dei Fochet - -We leave the pass at 12:20, and in half an hour we reach Forcella -Veneggia (2217m). The view opens up to the wild valley in the south. - -![The view from Forcella Veneggia](../img/24-1252-forcella-veneggia.jpg) - -

The view from Forcella Veneggia.

- -So far, the day has not been particularly challenging. Later on -we'll have to pass some difficult sections, but for now we continue -on some easy, if narrow, trails. - -Despite the beauty of the place, we don't meet many other hikers. -In fact, I think we saw more marmots than people in this part of -the route. - -![More mountains](../img/24-1400-venegiotta.jpg) - -At around 14:00 we reach *Passo Venegiotta* (2300m), and about 30 minutes -later *Passo dei Fochet* (2291m). The weather has been good today so far, -but here a strong cold wind starts blowing, and we can feel a few drops -of rain. - -
- -## Through the rocks, to Rifugio Mulaz - -The landscape changes once again. We are now walking on rocks and gravel. - -![Another scree](../img/24-1447-rocks-to-mulaz.jpg) - -We walk down a scree to around 2175m, before starting to climb up again. -It's cold and cloudy, and this part of the trail is a fair bit more -difficult than the previous. Nothing particularly hard or dangerous, -but we have to pay more attention to where we put our feet. - -The trail abruptly becomes extremely steep, and very demanding on my -muscles, which so far had been enjoying a more relaxing day. - -![The climb to Rifugio Mulaz](../img/24-1552-climb-to-mulaz.jpg) - -

-Some steel ropes help make the climb to Rifugio Mulaz less dangerous. -

- -We reach Rifugio Mulaz (2570m) at 16:40, after a little more -than 8 hours from when we left Flora Alpina. Somehow, despite the -long walk between them, both these places are in the territory of -[Falcade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcade). - -![Reaching Rifugio Mulaz](../img/24-1638-mulaz.jpg) - -

Reaching Rifugio Mulaz

- -From this hut, the only landscape you can see, in any direction, is naked -rock. There is a tiny window from where you can see a valley, but the -sight is cut out and the only visible thing is more rocks. Definitely -fascinating, although I personally prefer more varied landscapes. - -I'll add a picture on the next day's page, the early morning light -was much better. - -Oh and by the way, up here every resource is very scarce. There is -no drinkable tap water, and showers cost 8€ for 5 minutes. But I -really need one today. - -
- -# Day 6 - The Farangole trail - -

August 25, 2025

- - -
- -## 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 had never seen before. - -If you live in a place with a lot of light pollution, like every medium -to large city in the World, 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, and my phone's camera is probably not -good enough anyway. - -## 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) - -

-Rifugio Mulaz is closely surrounded by high mountains. This is the -only spot where you could see something in the distance. This time -of the year, the sun rises from the peaks on the left of this picture, -only to hide away behind those on the right a few minutes later. -

- -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 deemed -it 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, if -not for the fact that the track is not well marked. - -![The trail after Forcella Margherita](../img/25-0740-after-forcella-margherita.jpg) - -

-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 it looks sketchy, so I decide to try climbing up the scree next to -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) - -

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) - -

-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 is 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 -blissful 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) - -

-The view North, towards the mountains we have just passed. -

- -![A rocky plateau](../img/25-1009-rocky-plateau.jpg) - -

An imposing rocky plateau on the South.

- -![The view to the North-East](../img/25-1019-north-east.jpg) - -

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 today. - -![My dad walking on the Farangole trail](../img/25-1109-dad-farangole.jpg) - -

-My dad walking on a narrow section of the Farangole trail. -

- -![Anoher hiker](../img/25-1141-hiker.jpg) - -

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) - -

-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 you can see at the bottom of this picture. The tiny line -on the hill on the left is the Farangole 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 physically demanding, but it was dangerous and -technically fairly challenging. I am relieved that now I can just -let my legs bring me up, and I reach the hut at 13:05. - -![Rifugio Rosetta](../img/25-1321-rosetta.jpg) - -

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) - -

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) - -

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! - -
- -# Day 7 - The longest day - -

August 26, 2025

- - -
- -## A relaxing stroll in Val Canali - -Last night we had to check our 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 decided to stick -to it. - -We leave the Pradidali at 7:30. - -![Rifugio Pradidali](../img/26-0735-pradidali.jpg) - -

-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) - -

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) - -

-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) - -

-The ruins of malga Pradidali. A "malga" is a building where people -temporarily lived in the Summer while their livestock grazed the high -mountain pastures that surround it. Malga Antersasc, that we passed by on -day one, 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 so far. -

- -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) - -

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) - -

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) - -

The fog on the other side of forcella d'Oltro.

- -![The sunny side where we came from](../img/26-1439-not-fog.jpg) - -

-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. As often happens in these 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 we 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) - -

-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 our steps. -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) - -

Some interesting rock formations close to the trail.

- -![A tree growing on a rock](../img/26-1644-tree.jpg) - -

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) - -

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, and we 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 are green, not white; I think they do the same in Tyrol, but -definitely not in Germany. - -Unfortunately, the weather forecasts for the next day are not as good -as our dinner. - -
- -# Day 8 - The Troi dei Caserin - -

August 27, 2025

- - -
- -## A damp morning - -Today the final part of Alta Via 2 begins. We are entering the *Vette -Feltrine*, a part that is perhaps less well-known by tourists, but no -less beautiful. The trails we'll have to walk are going to be narrow, -often steep. - -The weather forecasts for the day are not great, but we -should reach [Rifugio Boz](https://www.rifugioboz.it/) (1718 meters -on sea level) before it starts raining. For now there is just a thick fog, -and the weather is unpleasantly hot and humid. - -![Rifugio Cereda, with the Pala Group in the background](../img/27-0740-cereda.jpg) - -

Our last sight of Rifugio Cereda and the Pala Group.

- -We leave at 7:45. At first we walk on a secondary paved road, then on -a dirt road. Both my guide booklet and the signs try to make us walk -downhill towards the nearby villages of Matiuz and Padreterno, but there -is a clearly faster road that stays in the forest and leads to the -start of the actual trail. - -![Some signs, none pointing to where we are going](../img/27-0833-sign.jpg) - -

-The top sign is marked as "AV2", for Alta Via 2. There is a gap that -was probably filled by a sign pointing left, which is the way we took. -I suspect someone - perhaps the local forest authorities - removed -the sign because they did not want people to go that way, but I -can't imagine why. Or perhaps the sign simply fell off. -

- -After about one hour of walk in the forest, the actual trail begins. -The humidity is very intense, still unpleasant. Unfortunately this also -means that the pictures of the day are very... foggy. - -![The valley in the fog](../img/27-0945-fog.jpg) - -

The valley behind us, in the fog.

- -
- -## L'Intaiàda - -The trail becomes steep, and then extremely steep. We walk along -a vertical wall of granite, where a narrow passage is carved out. -Indeed, this part of the trail is called *L'Intaiàda*, which -can be roughly translated as *The Carved-Out*. - -![L'Intaiàda](../img/27-1022-intaiada.jpg) - -

Admittedly not the best picture of L'Intaiàda.

- -The trail continues, narrow and exposed, but well equipped with some -sturdy metal ropes where needed. It requires some attention, but I don't -find it scary or particularly difficult; there is always some rock or -support piece I can hang on to rest while I think about the next steps. - -![Another section of L'Intaiàda](../img/27-1107-intaiada-2.jpg) - -

Another section of L'Intaiàda.

- -![The steep trail](../img/27-1145-comedon.jpg) - -The trail continues very steep, and at 12:05 we reach the *Pass del -Comedon* (2130m). - -![View from the pass](../img/27-1209-comedon-2.jpg) - -

View from the pass.

- -
- -## A quick break at Bivacco Feltre - -From the pass we walk down an extremely steep trail, initially very -exposed, then less scary. - -My left knee has been doing well so far, but suddently I feel an acute -sting of pain that almost makes loose my balance. This is not good. It -is also very different from the constant, mild to moderate pain that I -have felt when walking downhill in the past few days. But I push through, -slowly and steadily. - -The fog becomes even thicker, at times we can't see much farther than -20-30 meters. - -![We are close to Bivacco Feltre](../img/27-1254-fog.jpg) - -

We are close to Bivacco Feltre, but we can't see it.

- -For a brief moment I catch a glimpse of *Bivacco Feltre* (1930m), a -[sheet metal shelter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bivouac_shelter) -where hikers can wait for the bad weather to subside, or spend the night -in case of need. - -![Bivacco Feltre](../img/27-1303-bivacco-feltre.jpg) - -

Bivacco Feltre.

- -We reach the bivouac at 13:05, and we decide to take a break. We eat -a protein bar and refill our water bottles. Unfortunately, we can see -literally nothing besides the meadow around us, and the fog. - -![The view from Bivacco Feltre](../img/27-1319-fog-view.jpg) - -

-Our view from Bivacco Feltre. The guide book describes the place -as "pleasant and majestic". I guess I'll have to trust them on this one. -

- -We need some rest, but we don't want to wait for too long. The journey -is still long, and if we don't reach our destination before 17:00 we -will probably be caught by the forecasted thunderstorm. We leave the -bivouac at 13:30. - -## The Troi dei Caserin - -From the shelter we walk down, loosing about 200 or 300 meters of -altitude. We quickly gain them back, as the trail continues upwards. -The fog is still very thick, we can't see further than 10m. - -The trail so far is not particuarly hard, but there are some interesting -passages where we have to cross some waterfalls and some small water -streams. Or maybe I found them interesting only because my bad knee -prevented me from pushing with my left leg and I had to make some complex -alternative manouvers. - -![A waterfall with a small pond](../img/27-1350-waterfall.jpg) - -At 14:50 we reach *Col dei Bech* (1960m), which means *Ibex' hill*. -And in fact, just after Cold dei Bech, in one of the rare moments when -the fog let us see at more than 15 meters, we did see a small family -of chamois. Ok, not quite ibex, but close enough. Judging from the -quantity of warm shit that we saw on the trail, they had probably walked -right ahead of us for a while. - -We continue on this trail that becomes increasingly narrow and exposed, -difficult in some sections. We are on the *Troi dei Caserin* ("the -Caserins' trail"). - -![Troi dei Caserin](../img/27-1545-caserin.jpg) - -There are some steel ropes in the most dangerous parts, but not for -long: soon we reach a grassy section, and the trail becomes ever -more narrow. On our left, the emptiness of a hundred-meters free fall is -hidden by the fog. My aching knee makes everything even more challenging. - -We did not take many pictures of this part of the journey, mainly because -we were focusing on keeping our feet on the ground. Apparently, my dad -and I walked this same trail some 15 years ago, when it was covered in -half a meter of snow. And I say apparently because, even though we both -remember that trip quite well, we have no recollection of taking such a -dangerous path in those conditions. But there is no alternative road, -so we must have done it... somehow. - -At 16:45 we reach *Pass de Mura* (1867m). The view opens up, but we -can't quite see our destination yet. - -![Malga Neva (not where we are going)](../img/27-1644-pass-de-mura.jpg) - -

-You see the tiny building down there? It is not Rifugio -Boz, but Malga Neva. Luckily for us, the Rifugio is closer than that. -

- -We walk down from the pass and we reach [Rifugio -Boz](https://www.rifugioboz.it/) (1718m) at 17:05. Just as we walk -through the door, a strong storm begins. - -
- -## At Rifugio Boz - -We are tired, hungry and our muscles are sore. As we check in, the hut -manager asks us if we are walking the Alta Via. We respond that yes, -we are, and tomorrow we will be going all the way to [Rifugio Dal -Piaz](https://www.rifugiodalpiaz.com), and we'll finally walk down -victorious to Croce d'Aune in the evening. - -"Are you sure about that?" - she says. - -"Why?" - we ask, not sure if she was joking or not. - -"Have you seen the weather forecast?" - -
- -# Day 9 - Cutting it short - -

August 28, 2025

- - -
- -## An inevitable decision - -The last leg of the Alta Via 2 is long, challenging and dangerous. -Most of the trail is on top of a ridge, exposed on both sides, and strong -winds are frequent. - -And in the afternoon of August 28, the last day of our Alta Via 2, there -are going to be strong thunderstorms. The manager at Rifugio Boz told -us "I have walked this trail many times, but with a weather like this, -I would never dare". - -We are prepared and experienced, but we are powerless against the forces -of nature. We give up. On August 28, the last day of our Alta Via 2, -we are not going to Rifugio Dal Piaz, or to Croce d'Aune. We are going -down a safer trail, in the forest of the -[*Val Canzoi*](https://www.dolomitipark.it/en/visiting-the-park/itineraries/on-foot/nature-trails/val-di-canzoi/), -and we are going to conclude our adventure half a day earlier. - -
- -## From Rifugio Boz to Malga Alvis - -![Rifugio Boz with the Sass de Mura on the background](../img/28-0730-boz-sass-de-mura.jpg) - -

Rifugio Boz with the -Sass de Mura -in the background.

- -We leave the hut at 7:35. The are two ways to walk down to Val Canzoi: -either we climb up to *Passo Alvis*, or to *Passo Finestra*. We -choose the former, as the trail that comes down from Passo Alvis -ends close to a bar where we can wait for someone to pick us up. - -![Walking to Passo Alvis](../img/28-0740-walk.jpg) - -

We walk together with other 3 hikers to Passo Alvis. -We are not the only ones who decided to cut the Alta Via short.

- -The weather is not bad for now. There are clouds, but it is not raining. -But the afternoon storm is going to be massive. - -At 7:55 we are up to Passo Alvis (1880 meters on sea level). From there, -we only need to go down another 1000 meters. We can't quite see the -bottom of the valley, but we do see the back of the main mountains that -are also visible from our home. - -![The view from Passo Alvis](../img/28-0755-pizoc.jpg) - -

The view from Passo Alvis. In the back, partly hidden by the -clouds, you can see the -Pizzocco, -the main mountain that rises above our home town. We are coming home!

- -We walk down from the pass. The descent starts steep, but the trail is -not difficult. We see one last family of chamoix, running away from us. - -At 8:40 we reach Malga Alvis (1573m). - -![Malga Alvis](../img/28-0850-malga-alvis.jpg) - -

Malga Alvis.

- -It starts raining. We take shelter inside the malga. The building -is not used for its original purpose anymore, but it is maintained -by the local natural park administration as a bivouac for hikers. -Some 15 years ago, in a cold late April, my dad and I spent the night -here before continuing our hike the following day. - -
- -## Down to the valley, one last time - -Luckily the rain stops soon, and the five of us can continue our march. -The *Lago della Stua* is now visible. - -![Lago della Stua](../img/28-0928-lago-della-stua.jpg) - -

Lago della Stua in Val Canzoi.

- -We keep going down. My knee starts hurting again, but we are almost there. -Overall I enjoyed this last part of the journey. The trail in this -mid-mountain forest is exactly the kind of road that I used to walk a -lot years ago, when I frequently hiked around these mountains. - -Our adventure ends at 10:40, on the dam of the lake. - -![The end](../img/28-1040-end.jpg) - -We reach the nearby bar, we sit down, we drink a -[spritz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spritz_(cocktail)). - -
- -# After the hike - -## Back home - -*August 28, 2025* - -My dad's cousin came to pick us up. As we got into the car, the -storm started. From there, it kept raining the whole afternoon. Not -coninuously, it came and went, but when it was there it was -very strong. The bad weather continued for a couple of days. - -We made a good call ending our trip early. - -
- -## Celebration - -*August 29, 2025* - -Some of the people we met along the way arrived in Feltre on the next -day. Like use, they could not properly finish the Alta Via, as the bad -weather caught them when they arrived at Passo Cereda. - -We decided to meet for a dinner all together at [Birreria -Pedavena](https://www.labirreriapedavena.it/), the largest brewery in -Italy, which is conveniently located between Croce d'Aune and Feltre. In -fact, if you walk Alta Via 2 all the way to Feltre, you pass right in -front of the Birreria. - -![Dinner at Birreria Pedavena](../img/29-pedavena.jpg) - -
- -## Award - -*September 2, 2025* - -Upon completing Alta Via 2, hikers can receive an official pin. It is -awarded by the tourist office in Feltre, where they can also -add their name to the book of "finishers". - -As you know, we did not complete the full Alta Via. But since Feltre is -just around the corner, we thought why not go there and ask? In the end, -the exact route of Alta Via 2 is not set in stone. - -It turns out that, according to the guidelines laid out by the Italian -Alpine Club, reaching Rifugio Boz is enough to officially complete Alta -Via 2 and be called a finisher! - -![The Alta Via 2 pin](../img/99-02-pin.jpg) - -Indeed, they know that the last leg of the hike is often skipped due to -bad weather. Ending the journey at Passo Cereda, however, is not enough. - -So now we also have some official recognition for our effort. Cool! - -
- -## Farewell to the mountains - -*September 3, 2025* - -After the hike I spent a few days at home with my family. But now it is -time to go back to the flat lands, where I have been living for the past -few years. - -My flight back to Amsterdam, as it sometimes does, flew right over the -Dolomites. I was able to recognize not only my home town, but also many of -the mountains and valleys my dad and I walked through just a week earlier. - -![The Dolomites from the plane](../img/99-03-farewell.jpg) -- cgit v1.3