from the itinerary for September 8,2024: Today’s hike will traverse an excellent network of paths on the south face of the Sella Massif. From Penza take the Forcella Pordoi and take in incredible views of theSassolugo, Marmolada, Civetta, Pelli, Antelao and Col di Lana mountains. Then follow a rocky and undulating trail along the Sella’s south face to Rifugio Franz Kostner (8,200) - a great lunch spot. After lunch, hike downhill along Lago Boe and through the woods to Corvara(5,120) where a private transfer to La Villa awaits. There are optional downhill lifts as needed. Join together for a group dinner in La Villa, one of South Tyroll’s delightful mountain villages.
New accomodation: Hotel Christiania.
Expected stats: 8.5 miles, 1,850 elevation gain/3960 loss
Actual stats: between 7.5 and 8 miles. 1600 elevation gain/2425 loss
Weather: mid-70s and rain - thunderstorm advisory (but we made it back before it started)
We checked out of the hotel and traveled about an hour from Cortina along a very windy road to our trail head. We had several cases of queasy stomachs.
There was a very different hike today- up to hill top and back down on gravel ski roads. It was a hike very different from published itinerary because there was a red weather alert for serious thunderstorms and there was no shelter on the original hike. According to the guides, they haven't been able to do the scheduled hike all year.
It wasn't my favorite hike because it reminded me of my training hikes. No romantic woodlined trails with the sound of falling water...There were some pretty views.
We stopped for a break at a refugio where they had a bunny!
We got up to a "Sound of Music" glade
where we did a group shot (with John photo-bomb)
We walked up to lunch at Pralongia Refutio at 2,157 meters. My spaghetti again had quite a bit of olive oil in the bowl which was rather disgusting. I had food envy because everyone else's looked better. We shared desert and tried to answer the age old mystery: Whichi is better on apple strudel - custard or whipped cream.
There were a lot of bike riders out today and there was a church near the refugio - time to pray we don't get run over by the bicyclists?
more nice views on the way down...I had a nice walk down with Tracy (the Vet) and we discussed our experiences in Iceland.
The weather finally came in after we got to hotel and it rained all night.
The hotel was nice and we had a big room. Under the heading of "everything is greener", we heard others got better rooms with better showers, so we ended up with hotel room envy. The hotel had a pool and spa.
We couldn’t figure out how to get that metal shade up. at one point Lisa crawled under (not much of a crawl space there). Finally, Lisa called the front desk and we found the wall switch...
We all met for drinks after our hike/showers. I had an ice cream drink with lemon ice cream called a Dolomites Bramble. I was shocked when the bill came - €18.50! Buni was on the way towards a hangover...
Dinner was ok, I was still order-challenged...
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