Samaire Armstrongfake

Chacotrek: from Alpe di Siusi Val di Fassa and

(val)

August 24 - after waiting a rainy Saturday last Sunday, the weather is splendid. We depart from and arrive in Bolzano Val di Fassa: Pera take the shuttle from the shelter Gardeccia x (1950slm), 5 €. And 'Sunday is August, we are the best known and celebrated in the Dolomites, therefore the main road that goes to the shelters and Vajolet Preuss (2243slm) is a kind of procession, but the landscape is ; so charming that it exceeds the discomfort. During the night it snowed in the mountains, the air is crystal clear. (Pictured Rosengarten Antermoia )

Once the two shelters we leave the main path and go up into the throat of Gartl, left, down the steep path 542nd, which will take us to the beautiful and famous valley below the towers of the Gartl Vajolet .

Classified "for experts" on the climb rocks is facilitated by a series of metal cables until just before the refuge King Albert I, I think most useful for the large amount of people who attend these places. Walk on the white rock is dazzling and beautiful, but that's part of my "sore dolomite.

From King Albert (2621slm) an easy path leads to small refuge Santner (2741slm) under the western wall of rugged mountains. The refuge has been recently renovated and the exterior wood is still unclear, it still worked from the weather. It has only 8 beds and we would gladly stayed here, but obviously we have not found a place called yesterday, so we'll just stop for lunch. Near the hut there is a panoramic point, overlooking the meadows below, which always manages to excite me stay there because we lay down in the feet is impressive for the attraction of the void.

We take some 'photos to Latemar, Horn Black Horn White, Bolzano, and in Sciliar distant groups and Adamello-Ortles Cevedale. Then it's time to get down to the same route, to the shelters and Vajolet Preuss.
Recall the easy path from south to north, 584, which leads to step Prince (2600slm) and the refuge of the same name, where we found a place for the night. At this time of the afternoon the people down and the magical landscape is only our own, the few that are up to sleep.

The last time I moved here in 2005, the small shelter was for sale. Now he has taken a mountain guide, Sergio, who has completely rebuilt (300 helicopter trips ...) and runs it with his son Daniel. Sergio sits a bit 'at the table with us, tells us, chatting as well happen in small huts, and Franza I asked if we are sisters (the second day), then plays with the dog that wins Chaco with his intelligence and his devotion. Baptize our trekking chacotrek "in his honor. Meanwhile, we keep an eye on the evolution of the sunset is from enrosadira evening and at the appropriate time comes to taking photos. Finally white grappa "correct" one teaspoon taken from a jar in which they are infused gentian root for me is inaccessible, how bitter is pure poison. Others appreciate it very much.

August 25 - Edo abandons us, we remain two of us "sisters" Spatuzza (those who request it again? Better say yes right away?). We are directed to the refuge Bolzano and we have two options to get there: one goes down a lot, going from shelter Bergamo (one of those old, still manufactured in 800), 1900, and then tap fee back from the "hole in the bear" to the path Tires that goes from the plateau towards Schlern, the other goes down only until about 2330, is a piece at a height and then back up a steep scree slope to the pitch Molignon (2600slm) falls refuge Alpe di Tires and from there continues as before. I would be more for the first option, more varied though longer and with more altitude, but the weather likely to damage thunderstorms in the afternoon so it is prudent to do the more direct. And so we start down the path 554, still in the shadow of the mountain, and of course we'll make the climb tremendissima under the blazing sun. Nothing difficult, but the scree means a half step up and step down and when you finally see the sign of the fork seems to be a mirage. From
, after a short distance at high altitude, we see the red roof of the refuge Alpe di Tires (2440slm) under the teeth Terrarossa, where we arrived shortly after. Small lunch break and then move to the west, along the path 4, direct Schlern plateau, the mountain witch, our mountain.

The earth here is red, the grass is green despite the advanced season, the landscape becomes more and more Irish, with cows and horses grazing, and the bells that play up there and the large shelter that looks like a castle. The trail is easy, drops, salt, risk goes up again, very gently as the clouds go around there and never find out, unfortunately, fantastic profile Dolomite.

arrive early to Schlernhaus (2450slm), CAI, built in 1885, very large, quite crowded. We eat at the dawn of the 18: it seems to be a picnic ... with soup. Wait until sunset to lift the cloud, but its gray belly up to the last draw a clear line and we preclude the view of the peaks.

August 26 - the morning is a marvel of clarity, but now we know the old story: we must take advantage of the first hour because then it clouds over everything, so after breakfast we go to upstream Pez (2563slm), the highest point Schlern, about 20 minutes from the refuge, and we are a bit 'to enjoy the 360 \u200b\u200bdegrees as the clouds arrive.

And finally back down to the Alpe di Siusi, first by the "path of the tourists' 1, then 5, then 10 to Compaccio, from alpine Saltner with refreshments and then lost in 1000 in photos in green meadows and undulating and the Alpe Baitina postcard.

The arrival in the "civilization" is shocking After this immersion into the beauty: hotels, facilities, shops, crowds, I dare not think what is in the winter if it is already ... now we want to avoid the mountains. From Compaccio instead take the new gondola, built in theory could be closed to traffic for the road (but only from 9 to 17 and with exemptions for residents of the hotel), which takes us up in Siusi Edo where we are to take. And the chacotrek is over.

The photos are here: http://www.milaklee.altervista.org/08agosto-chacotrek% 20in% 20dolomiti /

Gay Cruising Columbia Sc

Vioz Cevedale

(val)

The project is on the verge of unconsciousness, but with two strong and are willing to try, because I also brought me ...
August 7, Thursday - it starts at Verbania on late: we meet at the square of the cable car Pejo with Roby, who is from Trieste. At 23 we gather, looking for a place to camp with us Doblò, Roby tendon with one of those who jump into the air and mountains, comfortable only if you are carrying in the car. During the night, violent rain, thunder and lightning.
August 8, Friday - in the morning the weather is very uncertain time and promises as we already know forecasts. The goal is to Vioz Mantova hut and tomorrow, with beautiful weather (always what they say the weather) the intention is to make the crossing to the Casati, from Cevedale.
Take the cable car to the Cembri Doss, € 9 one way, then starts the ascent on paths 138 and then 105, before the green but soon on the rocks. There are about 1200 meters and we have heavy backpacks for the material (rope, ice axes, crampons, harness, etc.) plus the need for the night in the refuge. The pace is slow, every time we stop, my 2 mates are not set to share (you should arrive in 3535).

hound the storms around us, but fortunately thunders No one sees lightning, seems to go around but we do not take a drop. On the other hand just set foot in the shelter all hell breaks loose: blizzard, ice and wind.
The refuge is new and beautiful, give us the room, "St. Matthew", 7 beds, large windows on the storm and the snow that accumulates.

August 9, Saturday - at 5:30 in the morning after a night of wind and lack of sleep (for their headaches, for me the anxiety of the trip), we are ready for breakfast, but the situation outside is bad, it's all white and the glass started from the steps of the refuge ... The clouds hide even the top 100 feet above us, the cold little hope on the immediate dissolution of the ice. Wait a bit 'but the sky is not free and not make the crossing in the fog we please, so around 8 o'clock we put on our crampons to get down!
Later we meet at least 200 people who are going to Vioz, after all the nice weather damage ... If someone has risen to Vioz Saturday, August 9 and saw a blonde coming down I was mad black.

At least it's free to get into the cable car: hurry to go to break and there are even a ticket.
refer the plans, we change the slope, go up to Cevedale from the Santa Caterina: In the evening we are in the car park of the Hotel Forni with our usual camp and a dinner of ham and melon. It 's so clear and serene that we can see some falling star.

August 10, Sunday - in the morning when I leave the van there are two marmots huge 2 meters from me, and blissful quiet. The weather is finally beautiful. We expect 1100 meters of ascent. Go through the valley Cedec , beautiful, green, surrounded by glaciers before us stands the Great Pyramid of Zebrù behind have the Forni glacier on the right of the peaks Palon de la Mare and Cevedale.

meet other marmots, some hawks, I see with great emotion even an ermine. Paw without fear, then leaps towards me initially via fast, chest white, rest of body brown, size of squirrel, I do not imagine so small. Rest incredulos so unfortunately I can not photograph it.
arrive at a well, and water supply. Then we pass the Pizzini hut (2700 m) but without stopping. We eat very well, under the steep climb of 500 meters that separates us from Casati (3269 m). Up to this point there's also a shuttle jeep We depart from the oven, but luckily this morning it rose very little. I did not think to ask the fare.

The last climb is short (about an hour) but very intense ... Finally we arrive on the square of the refuge Casati, the landscape is completely different from the green valley from which we come and the last 500 meters of stones: in front of us now there is a large glacier which descends gently to the left toward money, and always rises gently to the right, toward the Cevedale. In front of us, practically flat, outcrop of rocks: it is the rope of 3 guns , about 30 minutes from the refuge. We decide to visit us, we bind ourselves (it's still a glacier crevasses) and go. Roby refreshes us on the path to the terms of the climb with crampons: rope downstream, upstream ice ax, and the technique to stop with the ice ax in case of. We recommend that immediately lift their feet so they do not curb our crampons into the ice making reverse head downstream. Alertness is essential. We do the usual photo of the cannon of World War I, then returns.

August 11, Monday - this time the forecasts are wrong in our favor: they gave bad in the morning, really it is a beautiful day without a cloud and no wind, ideal to go on top. The night was good, we are now all ambientatissimi, the difference in height is low (500 m), the length of the path is short (2 hours). They left us a thermos for breakfast, a tea lousy, two biscuits and a little 'bread-butter-jam: refugees are not seen before 7 am and we start exactly at 7. Ahead of us there are only a rope and a 4 by 3. We bind ourselves, we crampons, Bep ago pace, slow and steady, I in half, Roby back, stick in one hand and ax in the other.

The climb is long comfortable, gentle, scenic setting. There is an almost flat stretch before the final ramp, there with a comeback over 3 little ahead of us that are slightly slower. We enter the shadow of the mountain and begin the climb steeper and narrow with some zig-zag leading to the saddle between the top Zufall and Cevedale . There, expect that the 4 in front of us turn back then face the crest, short but very suggestive, leading to the summit: a few stones and free from snow, incredible, no cross. Are exactly 9.

We are at 3769 m, the view is indescribable and moving, you recognize the shapes of the distant Dolomites , lost in the mist, you see the entire trip that we had to do, Vioz from here, we recognize the Brenta, Presanella, Adamello , as far as the group of Bernina (we were down there 10 days ago ...), and then the Pasquale mountain right below us, the climb made by Casati, the two smaller peaks Cevedale (Zufall and Cevedale II) ... We do a lot 'of photos, ate some' bread-sausage-cheese-chocolate chatting with the 3 we had passed, arrived in the meantime, we look through the binoculars, but ultimately you have to come down on the glacier beneath us like so many ants in a row are going up several teams.

brief stop at Casati to remake the backpacks and dry the rope, then drop down to the Hotel Forni, endless ... You take the machines, unfortunately the weather turns for the worse and this time it will be for several days, so you return home. But before the long journey because we allow ourselves a small hotel after 2 nights in a van and 2 in the 3000 m refuge beyond what we dream is really a hot shower.

photos are here: http://www.bepvalestate2006.altervista.org/08-08-08-Vioz% 20e% 20Cevedale/index.html