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Category: Italy

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Published on 2 Comments on Marmolada and Kaiserjägersteig

We took the train to Bolzano and stayed in a very nice youth hostel close to the train station. The next morning we take the bus from Bolzano to Canazei. From there we walk up to the Contrin Hut.

We arrive at the Contrin Hut quite early. So we have a soup and decide to walk up to the Passo Ombretta. There we see a bivouac, we open the door and find someone sleeping :O

We enjoy the weather and walk back down to the hut where we have a huge dinner. The weather forecast was really good for the next day, so we decided to do the Marmolada summit the next morning. The Marmolada is with 3343m the highest mountain of the Dolomites. We get up at around 5:40 am the next morning and walk in the direction of Passo Ombretta. After around one hour we stop and have some breakfast. We walk up a way with many many pebbles. Then we arrive at the beginning of the via ferrata. The via ferrata is not so difficult, but you can feel that the air is a bit thinner. The view from above 3000m is fantastic! The weather is great and we can really enjoy the tour. We know that many people will take the railway from the other side and come up later. But we are the first today! We walk along the glacier and can see the hut at the Punta Penia! Great! We have some food and drink and talk to the owner of the hut and sit in the sunshine. And we use the toilet - very funny 😛

Because there might be a thunderstorm later in the afternoon we decide to go town soon. We take back the way via the via ferrata and meet many people - people who are very exhausted and without a via ferrata set.

After around 10 hours we are back at the Contrin Hut and enjoy another huge dinner!

The next morning we walk up to the Nicolo Hut and go to the beginning of the very difficult Kaiserjägersteig. At the beginning we meet a crazy man who has done around 50 via ferratas already. He starts in front of us, but is quite exhausted after a few minutes. So we go in front and reach the summit after around one hour. A great and difficult via ferrata with a great view down! At the summit we meet the man again - who starts to dance at the summit. He tells us that this is his via ferrata dance - he does it everytime after a finished one. On our way down we can hear thunder, so we hurry up. Just in time we reach the Contrin Hut, where we sit down, have something to drink and watch the weather.

The weather is changing now - clouds and rain. So we stay one more night at the hut and decide to go back to the valley the next morning.

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Published on Leave a comment on Surrounding the Rosengarten

End of june 2008 we decided to visit the Rosengarten. Form Germany, we take the train to Bolzano. After a few minutes walking we arrive at the bus station. We take the bus going to Vigo di Fassa and get off at station Karerpass. Our first destination is the Paolina Hut (2125m).

After a short break we continue walking to Rifugio Fronza (Koelner Hut) (2337m). There we take a longer break eating a cheese and bread. Our plan is to pass the Tschager Joch and then to go further to Rifugio Vaiolet.

However, due to lots of snow in the above areas we change our plans. We head back to Rifugio Fronza and walk to Rifugio Roda di Vael (Rotwandhütte) (2283m). On that way we pass the eagle monument which remembers Theodor Christomanos.

Arriving at Rifugio Roda di Vael it turns out that this hut is currently closed due to renovation (an hour ago we met a man who told us that he is just coming from Rifugio Roda di Vael - probably for him it was just a minor detail that the hut is currently closed....). This is the moment we learned to always call a hut before we go for it... - at least in Italy. We decided to proceed to Rifugio Ciampedie which was approximatly 90 minutes away. On our way we see some quite interesting rock walls.

Quite exhausted, we finally arrive at this really nice hut. The next morning the weather is as good as it can be. Our todays goal is Rifugio Antermoia (2498m). We plan to go to Rifugio Gardecia and then take the Scalette via ferrata to Passo delle Scalette, 2348m. From there we want further proceed to Rifugio Antermoia. The first part of the way from Rifugio Ciampedie to Rifugio Gardecia is a 30 minutes walk. We follow the signs. The road turns into a small path which leads us through wood and rock up the hill.

After maybe an hour the wood disappeared. We reach the beginning of the Scalette via ferrata. In front of us lies a more or less steep path through the rocks. To the left and to the right we see large walls of stone. Technically, the via ferrata is quite easy - but still exhausting since it is going upstairs all the time. Only the last part is secured by a steel rope.

After an hour we arrive at Passo delle Scalette, 2348m. We continue walking on a plateau for some time until it becomes steeper again. Arriving at the top, we can already see Rifugio Antermoia. To the left we see the Antermoia Lake.

After approximately 5 hours, 750m up and 250m down we finally arrive at Rifugio Antermoia. We are so hungry that we almost can't wait for dinner. Finally, we both have two different meals 😀 The beds in Rifugio Antermoia are quite nice since they have three levels... we sleep like being dead.

Since we really liked Rifugio iCampedie we plan to go back there the next morning. We plan to pass the Grassleitenpass, the Grassleitenpasshütte (2601m), Rifugio Vajolet (2243m) and Rifugio Gardecia heading back to Rifugio Ciampedie.

First, we pass Lake Antermoia. Until we reach a sign which is still surrounded by snow. Passing along we leave another plateau beyond us. Finally we arrive at the Grassleitenpass from where we can already see the Grassleitenpasshütte.

From up here we follow the signs back to Rifugio Ciampedie. There we again had a beautiful evening and a great lunch 🙂

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