Day 4: From Rifugio Vazzoler to Rifugio Pian de Fontana
5 ago 2015
The storm of the previous evening has been replaced by a clear blue sky, so we put our backpacks on and set off in the direction of the Rifugio Carestiato. It’s incredible, but it’s as if they don’t weight anything, as if they were part of us.
Rifugio Vazzoler
Towards Rifugio Carestiato
Mountain companion!
Rifugio Carestiato
Now we’re past the Duran Pass, the more demanding part of the Altavia No.1 begins, as we leave behind the well-known paths for more remote routes.
As we go downhill, we begin to feel the heat and we detect the first signs of tiredness.
All around us is silence, so much so that we fall into silence too. We’re not used to total silence like this and it almost hurts our ears. But it is at times like this that we discover that inner part of us which we normally tend to hide.
When we are surrounded by noise, it is impossible to understand our real needs. We are deafened by the things we are convinced we want, the need to act and react, the urge to fill our lives with content, things and sounds. Sometimes we need to stop, because it is in silence that we realise our dreams.
We reach the Rifugio Pramperet where we have booked for the night.
… But Marti decides we need to continue, we need to set off straightaway otherwise we won’t keep up with our schedule!
We start an uphill climb that is tough on our tired legs but when we get to Cima de Zità, we are met by one of the most incredible views along the Altavia and any feeling of tiredness vanishes.
We are speechless: in front of us are the Gruppo della Schiara, Gusela del Vescovà and Burel.
Climb to Cima de Zità
Cima de Zità
Gruppo della Schiara
We are surrounded by chamois that check us out and marmots that scuttle in and out of our feet. Finally we smile again: this is the reward we were looking for.
Now all we’ve got to do is walk down to the final refuge of the day where a lovely hot shower awaits us …
But this dream is not to be, as the manager points to the drinking trough outside as the only source of water… and it’s freezing!!!
Towards Rifugio Pian de Fontana
