Up at 06:45 hrs to pack and in an attempt to be back on the road by 07:30. As breakfast wouldn’t start until 08:00, but with the first rifugio only be +/- 1.5 hrs from start of today’s trek (and because we were still digesting yesterday’s large dinner), we set off at 07:45 hrs.
Starting the day with the best intentions, the mountains decided to give it their all, with a rather steep ascent for the two hours, inclusive of final vertiginous 150m climb up our first proper Via Ferata to a plateau. Following a quick tea stop at Rifugio F. Cavazza al Pisciadu, and having somehow managed to negotiate our way up a 2nd Via Ferrata to a saddle at even higher altitude, we thought we had finally “knocked the bastard off”, only to be presented by another uphill scramble before reaching our lunch stop at Refugio Boe 4 hrs into our journey at 11:50 hrs.
After lunch, there would be another 45 minute hike to the cable car, which we’d sort of decided to exploit as the guide book mentioned a 1:2 gradient scree slope descending for some 700 m to Passo Pordoi. Now, always having been a big fan of this mode of transportation, and being rather fed up having to fight our way through the throngs of day trippers with dogs (and no backpacks), I had my mind firmly fixed on the finish line, which was visible after leaving our lunch stop.
On the way to the cable station Quentin decided to bag an extra peak, which had caught his eye. Having my goal firmly in sight, I kindly declined to join him in this little detour and agreed to meet him at the lift. Only 20 minutes after my arrival there I was joined by a rather more sweaty Q; couldn’t have been a very big hill then….
Time to buy our tickets for the lift down. One only please! Having had a quick peek over the side, Quentin decided it didn’t look too steep after all, so an Ibex-like descent was called for.
Having taken the lift down, I had the opportunity to book our hotel for the night. I did not really expect to see Q for at least another half hour, but thought it would be the wifely thing to do by waiting for him at the foot of the hill. However, within 10 minutes, an exceedingly disheveled and smelly person stood before me. The stupid grin on his face said it all – that was fun!!!
Showered, changed and after completing the rest of our post hike discipline we are now in rest mode, ready for our evening meal: Hunger!!!
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