Dolomites 2005 A personal diary ....

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Day 5: Sunday 4 September

Around the Passo Sella

I awoke after a reasonable night’s sleep and to blue skies yet again.  I hadn’t picked the most comfortable of beds as the mattress had a distinct hollow on one side that I kept slipping into.

We had a good breakfast with very strong coffee.  After some discussion over breakfast, we all decided to take the gondola up to the Forcia del Sassolunga. The gondolas had an energetic method of getting on board.  Two spots to stand on and as the attendant chased the gondola, he opened the door before first one then the other passenger chased it and jumped on after which he locked the door.  It was a similar exercise to disembark.

We got out and had a walk around.  There were a lot of climbers in the area preparing for their ascents.  We took a lot of photos as there were great views.  Ian and Gordon decided to walk down the valley to the Rifugio Vicenza and then take route 526 back round to the Passo Sella.  After taking a few more photos, the rest took the gondola back down.

We had a quick refreshment break back at the rifugio, after which all but Willie decided to take a walk down to Canazei.  We had a very good walk across the meadows, taking time to photograph some obliging marmots and the surrounding scenery, before eventually arriving at Lupo Bianco.  This had been the planned start of tomorrow’s walk, but as we got lower it was evident that the paths on the map for the ascent seemed to all be forest and the chair lift wasn’t on.

While having a beer, we discovered that a bus went up to Passo Pordoi from the hotel at 10.05.  This seemed a better option than walking up the road.

We continued down the track to Canazei.  As we got into the town we came across a very interesting house with lots of carvings and unusual gate posts, at which we took some photos.  We had also become aware of a lot of people in traditional folk dress.  It seemed that there was some kind of festival taking place in the town.

We walked through the main street and eventually stopped off at the “Esso Bar” for a drink and something to eat.  There was still no sign of any parade starting, so we set off to walk to Compitella to get the cable car back up.  On our way, Gordon contacted us by phone to say that he and Ian were also in Canazei.

We eventually all met up at the cable car station. Allan had in the meantime found a bank with a cash dispenser.  It was a very quick ascent by the cable car - 1000m in about 4 minutes!  We then walked up to the summit of Col Rodella (2484m), to the spot where Diane and Miriam had emerged after their Via Ferrata climb the year before.

We had great views from there and could see virtually the whole of the previous day’s route as well as a lot of tomorrow’s.  Again a lot of photos were taken. There was a discussion that if we got the bus tomorrow, we should have time to get the cable car up to Sass Pordoi.  There’s a rifugio at the summit and, as we were deciding to have a drink, Willie also turned up.  We eventually headed back to the Rifugio Passo Sella,  where we arranged our showers in relays. (Sit outside and pass on the key!)

Jim found out that there was a bus stop outside and it would be possible to get a bus from there to Passo Pordoi, which would save the walk down to Lupo Bianco.  There wasn’t much of a discussion before agreeing to take that option.

We were sitting outside having a pre-dinner drink, when the thunder and lightning started.  When the rain came on, we all quickly headed inside to the bar.  We again had a good meal and enjoyable evening rounded off with a round of Apple Grappa.

Bob MacDonald