| jax11. 09. 2012 18:53:25 |
So, this season it was somehow fitting to wrap up with an ascent of a slightly higher mountain. So on Sunday and Monday, two Slovenian mountaineers tackled Catinaccio d'Antermoia, a 3004-meter peak in the Dolomites above Val di Fassa. Although we don't have much experience with foreign mountains yet, the choice turned out perfectly.
Anyway, here's how it went: tour start in Val di Fassa at Pera di Fassa settlement, Rualp hamlet, around 1350 meters. We parked here around 2:30 pm on Sunday and started the ascent to the Gardeccia hut. This is perhaps the least pleasant part of the tour. It begins on a fairly steep trail straight from the village, but after less than half an hour of hiking, it joins the asphalted (but closed) road to the hut. Further on, the path follows this road for a while, and signs direct to a parallel gravel path at times. After a bit more than an hour (if memory serves) of walking, we finally reached the plateau at around 1950 meters, where the Gardeccia and Stella Alpina huts stand (and a third, Catinaccio, which is closed). You can get here by bus from the valley, and chairlifts can shorten the way, of course for a fee. Anyway, we were finally in the high mountains, the scenery got nicer and progress more enjoyable. Another 45 minutes of hiking led us to two more huts, Vajolet and Preuss, below the walls of Catinaccio, Vajolet Towers, and also - already - our target Catinaccio d'Antermoia. The first day still had an hour of walking from these two huts up the valley to the Principe saddle between Catinaccio d'Antermoia and Valbona peaks (at 2600 meters), where the Rifugio Passo Principe hut lies, where we stayed overnight. It's a very small hut, almost built into the wall on a ledge. Otherwise very nicely equipped, staff very friendly, we enjoyed a tasty and plentiful dinner and some German beer. Not cheap, but expected. After dinner, hung out a bit in the dining room with other guests, at 10 pm night silence starts (not quite like on Kredarica...).
Next day, after breakfast and decent coffee, we went for the summit of Catinaccio d'Antermoia. We ascended via the west via ferrata and reached it in 55 minutes. The route is nothing special, about the level of the Slovenian one on Mangart, maybe a slightly harder spot, but really nothing to fear. Protection status ok, a couple pegs pulled out, but none in critical spots. Summit has extensive views, air wasn't clear enough for Ortler, but visible to Marmolada. And to the other side to the cirque and Antermoia lake, where we descended. This descent - via the east via ferrata - is a bit trickier, as the terrain is quite rubble-filled and loaded in many places, but doable (and us Slovenians are all used to that...). Path otherwise well protected, cables a bit looser (Italian style) than on the west via ferrata, but once I got used to it, I even liked it. Trickiest is the lower part, mostly steep scree, protected sporadically, but requires ultra caution. Finally reached the screes of Antermoia cirque. From there straight to its flat bottom, then to the nice little lake. Hut nearby too (yeah, they abound), stopped for snack and a few pics, then quickly (ca. 2 hours) descended the remaining 1300 vertical meters through marmot kingdom, then nice Val de Udai valley all the way to Pera. Returned there just after 2 pm. Tours and mountain joys now over, just nice 250 km (about 3.5 hours) to Nova Gorica await, companion another two hours to the Styrian end...
The tour is very nice and recommended, nice loop through mountains we rarely visit. Paths good and always well marked, upper part well protected and not too hard. Plenty of huts too (though location-wise the highest - Passo Principe - is perhaps best). Mountains gorgeous, walls vertical, environment super tidy. And of course - conquer a three-thousander in great position with fine views and get lots of ideas for more tours. Especially, descending from San Pellegrino pass on return, sight of Civetta made it clear we gotta go there ASAP. Not this year probably, but it'll come.
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