Stage 2 - Rifugio Biella to Malga Fanes Grande

Tuesday 6^th September 2016

16.5kms, 730m height gain, 870m height loss, 7hrs walking

 

While our overall walk was planned to take the 10 days which is suggested for the AV1, our stage ends did not correspond exactly with those suggested in the guide. With so many rifugios to choose from it is easy to tailor the walk to suit yourselves. In our case the differing stage ends were out of necessity. Gill had generously offered to book the accommodation and she found many of the stage end rifugios booked out.

We started the day on a jeep track which descended to Rif Pederu where we had morning tea of Apple Strudel and coffee. Then continued up a 500m climb of a combination of track and path to Rif Lavarella for vegetable soup for Lunch then continued on to Malga Fanes Grande where we spent the night. Once again cold water flannel baths! But also the best night’s sleep of the whole walk.

The AV1 trail marker

Stage 1 - Lago di Braies to Rifugio Biella

Monday 5^th September 2016

6.5kms, 1,060 height gain, 260m height loss, 3hrs walking

 

We left Dobbiaco Youth Hostel and caught the bus to Lago di Braies (the start point of the AV1) arriving at 10am. Gill and Nic were walking the first 7 days with us and we waited for them to arrive on the bus at 12.30pm. The first ascent was a short 3 hour walk and we arrived at Rifugio Biella in time for weissbier before dinner. Only cold showers so I had a flannel bath while Andy braved the cold water.

Dobbiaco Youth Hostel

AV1 Overview

The Alta Via 1 (AV1) is not to be under estimated. At first glance it seemed to be an easier walk than the Walkers Haute Route but in reality it was just as challenging and equally as satisfying. The footing is rocky and it was necessary to concentrate continually. The Dolomites completely dominate the landscape and are constantly with you. In addition the novelty of walking for 9 days from rifugio to rifugio without once entering a town or village made the walk unique for us. We proudly picked up our AV1 badges once we had finished feeling that we well and truly deserved them.

Top 10 Hallstatt

Saturday 03 September 2016

We have now been in Hallstatt long enough to have completed/visited every listed site on the Trip Adviser top 10. We went to the last one – the Five Fingers lookout today. It involved 5 different cable car trips and views from the top of the mountain. We then decided to do a 3 hr walk through the limestone caste topography at the top. It was very interesting to begin with but eventually became the most boring walk we have done on this holiday. Returned to Hallstatt by 2pm and rewarded ourselves with Apple Strudel!

We are heading to Dobbiaco tomorrow to start the AV1 (Alta Via 1) which we expect will take us 10 days to walk. So no more blogs for another 12 days or so.

 

Visit to a Salt Mine

Friday 02 September 2016

We had a quiet morning with a visit to the museum to learn about the very long history of salt mining in the district followed by an extended visit to the salt mine in the afternoon. We were lucky enough to be here on Friday when the prehistoric salt mine tour to the archaeological diggings is available. It ran for an extended 4 hours and went to places the normal tourist tours don’t go. Some rock salt samples may have also made their way into our pack.

 

Teletubbies hit the mine

Walking in Hallstatt

Thursday 01 September 2016

Today was the second slightly overcast day of the holiday. We had planned to catch the cable car to the top of the mountain but with the mountain covered in cloud we had to change our plans. We followed a tourist nature walk up the valley to Waldbackstrub Falls. We had planned to return down the other side of the stream to Hallstatt until we saw a walk going up the mountain to the salt mine with a sign saying for experienced walkers only. The walk was amazing and went up a steep staircase hugging the side of the mountain. Nowhere near as sketchy as some of the C-Z. Got to the salt mine and walked back into Hallstatt coming home via the Catholic Church ossuary. We arrived home just before the heavens opened. Walked for about 6hrs total.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hallstatt - Rest Day

Wednesday 31 August 2016

Hard to believe but this really was a rest day. We have a gorgeous apartment on the lake shore and we spent the morning having coffee in the garden, washing and catching up on the blog. In the afternoon we went for a ferry trip on Lake Hallstatt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Alastair

 

 

 

 

Our Apartment - Downstairs