Italy - Day 1: Lago di Braies to Rifugio Biella

Lago di Braies / Pragser Wildsee

The Alta Via 1, as it's name suggests, if you happen to speak Italian, the High Route 1, is just one of many Alta Via's. Apparently!

But it's the only one where you, and I mean I, can avoid the ultra high - hanging from a wire - need a helmet and harness - want to go home - wire paths - farrata. They are not for me.

Same lake

We started at Lago de Brais, allegedly one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. And being honest - the 'allegedly' is not really required. It is truly beautiful. But very accessible (buses and big hotels) so don't expect solitude, peace or quiet.


However, despite the other people, scummy tourists, it is a sight worth seeing. The walk starts flatly around the side of the lake: I can't walk any other way. We attracted odd looks being the only people carrying big rucksacks. So we looked odd back? But since we had just started and didn't smell we couldn't pull off the really odd look.

At this point walking was easy and wow - looking around it was pretty pretty.

I mean wow. Look at that land slide.

Kids, who wants them...

Flat just doesn't have the staying power and didn't last long. Just longer than the first toilet stop. Then it gave up, to the up, as up can be. In fact up that pile of recent land slide at the far end of lake. Looking at it, a rock slide that will eventually fill the lake and remove the mountain. So if you want to see this stuff you have to hurry.

Only in a few hundred million years or so left.

The Dolomites are falling down, but have been doing so for a long time: no need to rush just yet. 

Look no-one

The way up was hard - only rock on rock - hot and of course sweaty. But the views all around should have been reward enough for the effort.

Unfortunately, when you walk up, you see your feet, the bum in front of you or the sweat dripping into your eyes. The views - not so much. But we stop (no choice) and admire at regular intervals.

Rivers of stone

Once the path left the lake and started up the crowds simply vanished. So we were alone(ish). Not totally. Just pleasantly. As we climbed higher we caught site of a large group in front of us.

Eventually, we heard cheering and clapping. When we got there another, less impressive, land slide had taken out part of the path so the group had been cheering cheating death as each member didn't die as they crosses the missing path.
.

We crossed. And didn't die either. We rounded the corner to find 'the group' sprawled around and over the path. Koreans. We all exchanged hellos and a lady jumped up and offered us Korean sweets. Free sweets, of course. Thank you.

Then, after we had taken the bribe,

"Can we interview you?"

The director was not a lady used to taking no for an answer. Very nice, very polite just didn't leave you space.

We'd been paid so there wasn't much room for a choice.

Our 15 minutes

The interview, on camera was painless and the questions all trip related. We finished and set off, onward and upward: proud of our performance.

The younger male members of the group overtook us (carrying the camera gear - bastards) and then proceeded to film the ascent of the group and of course us. A little later as we were having lunch and they passed us, waves - greetings and smilings -  and then of course we caught them having lunch a bit later. 

Magnificent

Our first interview, apparently, hadn't been the sucess that we had thought. Just not good enough. Amateurs.

We had looked at the questioner and not the camera. Rank amateurs! So much for careers in the media.

So we did it again. They were filming for a Korean TV show called "Mountain" but in Korean. Which is broadcast every Sunday morning in Korean, or possible every forth Sunday; but definitely broadcast at some point. And we will star. Albeit briefly. [Add-on-dum: We now have a copy of the show: never thought I would watch a Korean TV show multiple times. Apart from "No More Show" which is good for learning about the Korean culture. You Tube it.]

The TV show was spotted by Mr. Woo who we had met in Spain last year and he sent us a copy. A small world - and a nice guy.

Food and a bed

Eventually, we reached the first high pass with a view of our destination. The TV guys had a drone too. I have to say wonderful views, but annoying - really annoying. But in the end probably worth it.

We had arrived earlier than expected. Or at least early - we are too disorganised to have a proper ETA (that's Estimated Time of Arrival according to our GPS and Thunderbirds). So went for a walk. To a lake. It was further than we had anticipated so by the time it came into we - we looked - turned and walked back. Never actually getting anywhere close to the lake.

View from the patio

The pass actually had a climbable mountain attached to it. And in true adventurers' style, with fresh legs  and an incurable curiosity for things new and beautiful: we didn't go up it. But got a good view anyway.

Sweeping vista type of thing.

Lots of rocks anyway.

The un-climbed mountain

Now looking back we should have climbed it. But looking up, at the time, we decided not too.Views from up high are often overrated. We choose to believe this anyway.