Wednesday 26 June 2024 - The Pisciadu Cascades and the Edelweiss Terrace (Europe Day 9)

The weather forecast wasn't brilliant so we scrapped plans to climb Col Di Lana and decided on a low level walk from Corvara instead. At 9:30 we set off on the good track towards Colfosco, passing the campsite on which we have stayed in the past, shortly before the point at which the next picture was taken.

We noticed some ad hoc artwork on a gondola stanchion. 

The Pisciadu Cascades were flowing freely, so freely that the last bit of the path was inaccessible due to the torrent.

We admired what we could see and adjourned to a picnic bench for elevenses before taking path 650 back towards a place called Ron, from which we gained a view of most of the waterfall.

We had tried to ascend to Passo Gardena via path 650 in an upward direction, but the path was closed for repairs.

So we continued to the main road in the vicinity of Ron. This ended the first phase of today's walk - 6.2km with 320 metres ascent, in 2.5 hours. There were nice views across the fields on the way to Ron, with Sassongher in the background.

We sat at a bus stop, wondering what to do next. A bus came. It was free and we didn't even need to show the free passes that we have from Collett's. It took us just a short way, to Mesoles. From here we hiked 1km up the hill to a gondola in which we enjoyed a 400 metre ascent to Jimmy's Hut. That left us an easy walk (on which Sue is pictured below) down to path 8 and the Edelweiss Terrace walk back to Corvara.

Path 8A descends below the gondolas to path 8.

Corvara soon came into view far below. 

Here, I'm looking back towards the Gardena pass.

Across the valley the Sella Group slowly revealed itself,  topped by Piz Boe and its huge block of solar panels. A crocodile of walkers was making its way along the upper snowfield, and numerous others were making the tricky Alta Via 2 ascent up steep rock and snow.

Further down, folk were lounging on sun beds at Utia Forcelas.

Just below the hut there were fine views to Sassongher, but we couldn't spot anyone on the summit - late snow may have made it inaccessible to walkers.

Continuing uneventfully past the Edelweiss Hut, we paused on a bench in bright sunshine to consume the last of our tea and goodies. Nutcrackers were active in the woods.

Then it was down to Colfosco and on to Corvara in light rain!

This second phase of today's outing covered 10.1km, with 236 metres ascent, and it took us 3.5 hours to complete.

Here are a few of my pictures of flowers from today - we had many stops to admire them:

Marsh Orchid

Valerian

Globeflower

Buckler Mustard

Rosy Vanilla Orchid

Bird's-eye Primrose

Kidney Vetch

PS Google seems to have made changes relating to Blogger that makes uploading images different and who knows what other little tricks they've played on those of us who use Blogger. I'm doing my best to overcome them!

Mileage: 0 (Cum: 1018)
Garmin: 16.3km, 556 metres ascent

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Tuesday 25 June 2024 - The Pinnacles (Europe Day 8)

Today we took the #472 bus for a ten minute ride to Cherz, by Passo Campolongo. From there we took a steep track from which the above picture was taken, up to Rifugio Bec De Roces, below which a reservoir for snow production has been built.

Along with seven other Collett's clients, we continued on path 640 past a series of cast iron images of bears carrying out a variety of acts.

Soon we reached an area known as The Pinnacles, very similar to those seen yesterday above Jimmy's Hut. 

Beyond The Pinnacles a lovely contouring path led past marmot holes to a small col.

Before heading down past the Vallon cablecars, Sue and I enjoyed a cup of tea and some goodies beside Lago Boe, far below Piz Boe. Snow finches raided the area for any left overs. Choughs circled overhead. We reminisced over via ferrata routes near here that we'd enjoyed in the past. A girl in a skimpy bikini posed by the water's edge but showed no sign of actually getting wet. 

Beyond Vallon's cablecars and rifugio, we headed down to the excellent Crep de Munt refugio, where all nine of us enjoyed beverages - mainly hot chocolate, and the three girls polished off a lavish lunch of beer and posh salads.

An uneventful descent on paths next to ski pistes, in the good company of an Australian couple - George turned out to have been to Manchester University at the same time as I was at UMIST - brought us back to base in Corvara. Tea on the balcony, until it started to rain.

The walk was only around 6km, with 500 metres ascent, but we had lots of 'flower identification' stops and viewpoint pauses, not to mention the long rifugio stop. So not surprising that we took about 5 hours, finishing before the rain, at 3pm.

Some of the flowers are shown below. These pictures taken with my S23 phone seem to be better than those taken with my Lumix TZ90 camera, so that will now be replaced by a power pack for the phone in what I carry for a day walk.

Aconite leaved buttercup

Spring Gentian

Cinquefoil

Daisy

Yellow Wood Violet 

Bear's Ear Primrose 

Moss Campion 

Mountain Avens

So, now plenty of relaxation time in preparation for tonight's five course meal. Discussion with the other Collett's clients indicates that we all seem to be fed rather well, wherever we are staying...

Mileage: 0 (Cum: 1018)
Garmin: 6.0km, 509 metres ascent

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Monday 24 June 2024 - Puez Odle Circuit (Europe Day 7)

On a sunny morning we waited outside our hotel, Posta Zirm, for the 9:33, 473 bus to Passo Gardena. Sassongher glinted in the sun (above).

Our walk started up the Alta Via 2 route past Jimmy's Hut, beyond which the views opened out.

We passed through an area of pinnacles to reach Forcella de Cir.

Beyond that some snowy traverses led to Forcella de Crespeina.

After elevenses and lunch stops supervised by choughs, we proceeded to Forcella de Ciampei, where we chatted for a while with a couple from Seattle.

Here we decided to short cut the route described by Collett's (route H6), so we headed downhill to the junction with the path to Sassongher. 

Soon we were admiring the views down to Colfosco, and across the valley to the Sella Group. 

Continuing along path 4A, we soon got a view down to Corvara. 

On the way down, I'd remembered from a previous visit that an unusual orchid can be found here. That's Coralroot Orchid, and Sue found some!

Coralroot Orchid

Also from Sue's library today, in order below:

Alpine Snowbells, Alpine Pennycress, Basque Flower, and Bear's Ear Primrose.

The walk was 12.4km, with 546 metres ascent, taking us 5.5 hours. Another lovely day out.

Mileage: 0 (Cum: 1018)
Garmin: 12.4km, 546 metres ascent

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