Day 24: Alleghe to Rifugio Tissi – 10km

Left after confirming my next 4 accommodations. Finally made a decidion to stay in the mountains as long as I can and possibly skip Belluno.

Left Alleghe and discovered more devastating images of the rock- and mudslides that had happened in October 2018. This explained the area I had been hiking through yesterday and the piles of sandbags outside my last hotel, ready – just in case. It’s already September.

It also clearly shows how much the mountains are changing constantly. From the creation of the lake in Alleghe to the massive rockslides.

Took 2 cable cars up to the top “Col dei Baldi” not just to save myself climbing up for a long time but also to take the more scenic walk all around the Civetta to the Rifugio Tissi, my overnight location.

Very popular trail, lots of people around, making their way up.

There were still a few steep climbs and then I passed the Rifugio Coldai and then Lago di Coldai.

Had a short break at the lake and watched the tiny fish soaking in the sunshine.

Then I continued, getting closer to the Civetta, through rocky slopes, deep drops, and every corner I turned another relevation of awe inspiring views.

Coming across another corner I could see the Rifugio Tissi sitting on a cliff opposite the valley.

A memorial of a mountain climber who lost his life on the mountain.

The echoes coming back to you from the rockface of the Civetta are eerie, the mountain is talking.

It also has a heart, a heart shaped piece of ice, last bit of the glacier.

And there is a lady in the mountain, can you spot her?

The Rifugio Tissi is build high up on a steep hill across the Civetta so any rockslides can’t reach the Rifugio. When I was sitting high above the building I could hear rocks falling but couldn’t spot them.

Dinner was awesome, very busy place. I overheard some Munich to Venice hikers, can you believe it? They had gotten stuck in the rain as well and had to take a 3 hour bus ride, so I guess I did well by waiting out the weather in La Villa. They had been hiking with a few other people that got stuck in the mountains as they decided to add a second night because there was lots and lots of snow coming down.

I am wondering if I am becoming anti social? I am quite happy to be with myself, hike my own pace, stop when I want to, sit and wonder,……. Missing my social network at home a bit.

The hosts were super friendly and accommodating, speaking English was not a problem at all.

The “Lager” (not a beer) was really basic, it was freezing cold. It took me more than 2 hours to get slightly warmed up wearing my wollen leggings, a fleece jacket, my wollen scarf as a hat, tucked into my sleeping bag and blanket over top. Couldn’t have been much warmer than outside. Their were 3 more people in the 16 bed Lager. I knew I was going to sleep in the Lager but didn’t expect it quite as basic. Would do it again I guess as the location is truly amazing. Would try to get a “room” though.

The washroom facilities were very basic too, a crouching toilet where every time you flushed the water would run over, only a tiny drizzle of water coming out of the tab. I decided to forfeit a shower as there was no privacy, and there was only 1 toilet, 1 shower, 1 sink for everybody in the building.

Watching the light disappear on the Civetta was amazing though and it seemed it became alive even more.

At 2:00am in the morning an alarm went off and a young couple left, probably to go mountain climbing. I wondered all of next day where they might have gone.