Fanes Valley

The Fanes Valley is a remote wilderness which is part of the Fanes-Senes-Braies National Park. The environment has changed little here since the end of the ice age.

When we were last here in 2012 we did the same walk on a cold, grey day with snow flurries. We sat and had lunch high up in the valley looking out over a tundra like landscape. We would not have been surprised if a herd of woolly mammoths had appeared and wandered by such was the isolation and the absence of any sign of human activity.

Today, the climb to the pass was the same relentless ascent, this time through deep snow and up steep gradients which opened ever more amazing vistas.

The lunch stop could not have been more different: sat cosily in deep snow in bright sunshine, enjoying sandwiches and hot soup before we retraced our steps back to the bus stop via the same refugio we’d stopped for coffee this morning. Something stronger was required to reward the exertions of today.

Another great evening in the chalet, excellent dinner, free flowing wine and super company which did not deter from our poor performance in the quiz. Let’s just say we didn’t come last.