Ashley Burke, Italy AV2

The Italian Dolomites - Alta Via 2

Stage 3


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Map of AV2 Stage 3

Stage 3 - Passo di San Pelegrino to Passo Cereda

30 Jul - 3 Aug 2010

By now we were half way through the AV2 after 6 days of walking, yet we had allowed 14 days in total for the walk. So we realised we were about 2 days ahead of schedule. So we decided to do this stage of the walk over 5 days, and include side trips and detours wherever possible. Thus we made three separate side trips to the summit of Mt Mulaz (2906m) on Day 1, La Fradusta (2939m) on Day 2, and on Day 4 we did an excellent day hike from Rifugio Treviso up a via ferrata to a tiny bivvy hut near the peak of Croda Granda.

This stage of the walk was uninteresting for the first half day, on open ski piste, but then entered spectacular country for the remainder. On the second night we stayed at Rifugio Rosetta which was a very popular, hot and overcrowded hut not far from a cable car station, so a very unpleasant evening was had here in this crowded place and the only place to sleep was on a mattress in the hallway upstairs.

Here is our trip log for these 5 days:

30 Jul 2010	Early bus back to Passo di San Pellegrino from our hotel in Caviola. Fine day but with a little afternoon cloud and sleet. Route to Passo di Valles was uninteresting ski slope. But after Passo di Valles we entered spectacular country. Lunch on a grassy spot near Passo dei Fochet di Focobon. Climbed into rocky country to the stone hut Rifugio Mulaz (2571m). Late that afternoon we climbed Mt Mulaz (2906m).
31 Jul 2010	Beautiful day, steep climb to Passo delle Farangole (2814m), then steep descent into Val Grande. Scenic walking up to Rifugio Rosetta (2581m) where we arrived at midday. Did a long side trip in the afternoon to climb La Fradusta (2939m) which involved crossing a large high plateau of limestone karst country. Spectacular view from La Fradusta partly obscured by cloud. Returned to the hot, stuffy and overcrowded Rifugio Rosetta where a very unpleasant night was had.
1 Aug 2010	Beautiful day, perfect weather. Kept to the AV2 all day, reached Rifugio Pradidali then turned north and entered a high, rocky and lifeless valley. Steep, spectacular and exciting climbing to Passo delle Lede (2695m) and a long descent to the Canali valley and up to Rifugio Treviso. Very pleasant and friendly hut set on a steep hillside in the trees.
2 Aug 2010	A day trip from Rifugio Treviso where we spent 2 nights. Headed up the Via Ferrata Fiamme Gialle which was very exciting without harnesses. Reached the spectacularly located Biv R. Reali (2595m) and then enjoyed spectacular ridge walking southwards to Forcella delle Mughe. Then a long descent back to Rifugio Treviso. Clouds starting to build.
3 Aug 2010	Variable weather, humid morning. Long climb up to Forcella d'Oltro in heavy mist. Traversed southwards in damp weather, which cleared as we approached Passo Cereda. We reached Passo Cereda by about midday and kept going on Stage 4, all the way to Bivacco Feltre (see Stage 4).

Below are the photos from these 5 days.

	Small lakes in the spectacular country before Rifugio Mulaz.
	View from near Mt Mulaz (2906m).
	After dinner in Rifugio Mulaz I went to a nearby ridge to watch the spectacular sunset.
	Evening light on the peaks from near Rifugio Mulaz.








	A ladder on the steep descent off the southeast side of Forcella delle Farangole (2814m). This is the pass right after Rifugio Mulaz, done early in the morning of 31 Jul.
	Some steep sidling in the Val Grande, heading towards Rifugio Rosetta.
	Rifugio Rosetta, well situated but very popular with a cable car nearby.
	Evening views from around Rifugio Rosetta.
	Evening views from around Rifugio Rosetta.
	Evening views from around Rifugio Rosetta.
	Wildflowers on the high rocky ground near Passo delle Lede (2695m).
	Here we are on the Via Ferrata Fiamme Gialle, a side trip from Rifugio Treviso.
	The Via Ferrata Fiamme Gialle was very exciting without harnesses!
	The via ferrata brought us to this tiny bivvy hut "R. Reali".
	There was then some spectacular walking along the ridgetops before descending back to Rifugio Treviso.
	Rifugio Treviso is pleasantly situated on a forested hillside.
	View from Rifugio Treviso on the morning of 3 August. A cloudy, humid and stormy day lies ahead.
	As we descend towards Passo Cereda the clouds part, providing these views of spectacular limestone pinnacles.
	As we descend towards Passo Cereda the clouds part, providing these views of spectacular limestone pinnacles.

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Page created 9 Oct 2010, last updated 9 Oct 2010.


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