Day 1: From Lago di Braies to Rifugio Scotoni Hütte
2 ago 2015
It’s pouring down, it’s 14 degrees and one of those days you just want to stay in the warmth of the refuge, looking out of the window. All bundled up and worried about the bad weather which could ruin all our plans, we set off.
It’s a real uphill struggle… in all senses!
After spending the night in Braies, we leave the bright blue waters of the lake behind us and head for the Biella Refuge where we come across the first signs of civilisation.
We stop for a coffee, get our first stamp and have a quick chat with other “mountain dwellers” like us. The setting is conducive to meeting people, making friends, gathering and exchanging thoughts and feelings, like in a big family. Mobile phones become a distant memory (and you can’t get a decent signal here anyway) and you rediscover the pleasure of talking.
Lake Braies
Natural Park Fanes-Sennes-Braies
We continue on our way as the weather begins to look up and our worries gradually give way to that enthusiasm and slight recklessness we are known for.
As we cross the stunning Ampezzo Dolomites, we stop at the Sennes Hütte and Rifugio Fodara Vedla before beginning our descent to Pederù. The scenery is picture perfect.
People stare at us as we go by and ask us where we’re going with backpacks that are almost as large as us.
“All the way to Belluno? Are you mad?” Perhaps, a bit…
Croda del Becco
Alpe di Sennes
Alpe di Fanes
The path climbs up towards the Rifugio Fanes, we go past Gran Fanes, our backpacks are starting to get heavy and the night is drawing in, but we’re still a fair distance from our destination.
We don’t say much, we take a look at our watches and pick up the pace.
….and we start an uphill climb that is never-ending, one bend, two bends, even higher… We’re beginning to think it’ll never end… until… “The flag!!! I can see the flag!!!!” Not far to go now and we get to the Rifugio Scotoni.
Exhausted but happy, after ten hours of walking, we finally take off our backpacks and hug each other enthusiastically.
Rifugio Scotoni
A view from Rifugio Scotoni by night
