Summer in the Alps - 2005 - Sunday 14 August - A Settsass Circuit

Sunday 14 August - A Settsass Circuit (by Sue) 

Very low cloud remained as we surfaced soon after 7 am. Camp was struck, with wet tents, and we left the site around 8:30. Corvara was the first stop, to look around the village (not a great deal there besides several hotels, a few shops, and a new amphitheatre around a well constructed stage), and to shop for lunch and dinner. 

This gave the cloud a chance to lift and made our intended walk more inviting. The walk (number 19 in Gillian Price's 'Shorter walks in the Dolomites') started at 10:15 from the rifugio just below Passo Valparola (2168 metres), where it was pretty cool and fresh, but not in cloud. The undulating path on limestone through damp meadows with spring gentians and fleabanes traversed the north side of the Settsass Group, bringing us first to some military ruins, with wooden crosses on the crest above. 

There were views down to lower villages, but no distant views due to cloud. At a grassy basin where the sound of cowbells was prominent, a brief stop in sunshine for snacks, before a climb.

As the 2571 metre summit of Setsas was in cloud, a decision was made to continue to the Pralongia refuge (a deviation from Gillian's route), then retracing to continue the circuit. This dog-leg followed another undulating but this time grassy path, above green pastures dotted with wooden huts. We lunched on a bank, where the bilberries had to be picked before sitting down!

Soon afterwards, we visited Rifugio Pralongia, which served good hot chocolate inside and offered an excursion to a small metal cross outside. 

The sky was darkening and they were bringing in the yellow umbrellas. The terrain was one of clay just here, so boots got very claggy. The wind was cool enough for me to wear a cagoule to continue, especially with the threat of rain. We returned over the grassy ridge with numerous ant hills. It was 2½ hours to the end of the walk, over undulating and sometimes rocky terrain, on paths lined with scabious and field gentians.

Field Gentians

Rain started but was never particularly heavy. The lower path option was chosen as it was easier, although slightly longer. No view for a little way, as we were in cloud. We finished at around 5 pm and had just removed our gear and got in the car when there was a heavy shower!

Here's our route - 15 km, 600 metres ascent (click on the image for a better picture)

The rain wasn't over, as we had to contend with a torrential downpour whilst pitching the tents at Camping Dolomiti in Cortina. It continued raining whilst the three of us had dinner of pasta and yoghurts inside a steamy tent, preceded by beer and pringles. Finally, the rain stopped and the hills were crystal clear in the fading light. Bed just after 9 pm. The fires we had seen (similar to 5 November) were burnt and Julia heard fireworks.

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