Italy - Day 11: Rifugio Pian de Fontana to Rifugio Bianchet

Morning glory

The day started out well.

We had a short stretch to the next rifugio but didn't want to go further. We were basically finished and now had to fit in with bus schedules. We asked the people at the cottage if there was another track that would deliver us to the same place but with take longer.

Note to self: Never do this again!

There was an alternative, highly recommended: just turn right at so an so. Follow the track - that might be hard, but not impossible. No-one goes that way but its much prettier they said. The grass will be long, and while you may wander from the path its hard to get too lost.

We got to 'so and so'. Said goodbye to our Dutch friends and turned right. And up of course. The short path, and out friends, went straight into the forest. We went back onto the mountain.

The view

The cottage guys were right about everything. It was pretty. It was empty. The track was hard to follow. It was hard to get lost: to up or too down on either side to stray far. And, very unfortunately, the grass was indeed long. And ripe. As soon as we entered the meadow - the pollen started to fly. Huge clouds of the stuff everywhere.

Then we started. Sneezing, eyes watering, noses running. Three out of four of us, hay fever and badly. This high meadow was just in a different time zone to everything else. It was killing us. We should have turned round but we were stupid. We took the anti-allergy tablets that we always carry - but...

We were not happy campers...

Blurry scenery

Just walking was an effort. But it was beautiful, at least that's what Nora said. We only saw vague images through weepy eyes, between sneezes.

Ahchoo

 I think we should - SNEEZE - go this - SNEEZE - way.

Beautiful meadow

Next time we take the short route.

We got to an unmanned cottage, which was pristine. Stone everywhere - you could eat off the floor. We guessed few people ever went their - just locals who knew of its existence. Only a bit off the main drag, but a world away.

The way down from the cottage was really down. The path avoided the cliffs and just about avoided being vertical, most of the time. The rocks were rocky but certainly not solid.

Up close and personal

When we reached the target rifugio. Ellie was dead, the men: walking wounded. The kind lady there provided what medication she had. But Ellie was sick for another couple of days.

Dead

The lesson here, and one we should have known. But one that we will never forget.

"Never take the long cut"