Thursday, September 17, 2020

Rifugio Padova hike, Dolomites, Italy

Rifugio Padova hike, Italy


September 17, 2020


"Indeed, one of the highest pleasures is to be more or less unconscious of one's own existence, to be absorbed in interesting sights, sounds, places, and people. Conversely, one of the greatest pains is to be self-conscious, to feel unabsorbed and cut off from the community and the surrounding world."

 ~ Alan Watts


After trying to cross the border from Croatia north into Slovenia and Italy, I was rejected on the first trip, and told to return the next day. I was concerned about having a negative coronavirus test, but the grumpy border guard really wanted to talk about me overstaying in Italy, (with permission of the government) back when I was stuck in Sicily during the pandemic. The next day it was smooth sailing, evidence that the success of getting across a border can depend on who you happen to get that day. 


I worked my way north, not a very long drive actually, and I've arrived today in the eastern side of the Dolomites. My hike today reminded me of why I come here! Even if you're not a hiker, maybe these photos will give you a sense of the appeal of the place.


Please to enjoy, (Why do I phrase it like that?)


Love, Dave



I've never been in this part of the Dolomites before, but it doesn't seem you can make a bad choice.


I'll take that little cabin in the woods, please.


Dramatic!


I had to cross the stream at one point, jumping over stones and trying to keep my feet dry, mostly successfully.


It was quite a lot of climbing from the start of the hike to here, much of it steep.


What might look like snow is actually the scree, it's called, basically the eroded gravel-type rocks from the upper portions spilling down below.


The first three hours of the hike I didn't see a single person. When I got to this rifugio there were two couples that looked to be maybe older than me. I'm amazed sometimes who I see in these places. This is not a simple walk! But I guess it shows that most anyone can do it if they apply themselves and work up to it.


This is taken from inside the rifugio.


I come from California where it may not get one day of rain in an entire summer. This is what happens when it rains regularly! I love that deep green of the grass.


Can't say that I would like to be a cow, but if I had to be one...


This big meadow is getting close to the start of the walk so I'm coming back down.


Agriculture and farming over many hundreds of years, (potentially thousands?) have affected the land quite substantially. I've never understood how here and in Switzerland, for example, raising animals looks like some landscaped garden, while in the US it's more likely to look like some post-apocalyptic nightmare.


I always have so much energy when I start the walks and forget how it feels walking back. By the time I got down to my van today I was pretty well beat!


(The End)