R. Alimonta/Bochette Centrali Day 3

We were up at 5:45 and I’m pretty sure I only slept from 3-5:30. Our roommates were nice but noisy and I was on high alert…not sure why, except that I think I was nervous about the route/hike today. We looked out the window to absolute magic. The scale of these mountains is like nothing I’ve ever seen. Sunrise on them was something we will remember forever. We had breakfast, brushed our teeth elbow to elbow with strangers in kind of a hallway area that has 3 sinks. Feels like you’re at camp:/ The German (or Dutch) guy in our room just dropped his pants to change his underwear. I’m definitely never staying in a shared room again. Anyhoo, off we went up a rocky moraine, eventually having to put spikes on so we could climb the glacier to the Via Ferrata Bocchette Centrali. The most beautiful and difficult hike I’ve ever done. The via Ferrata wound through towering mountains, and we clung to the cliff, climbed and descended ladders. And when we weren’t hooked to the cable we were scrambling up and down rocks. It was a full body workout and we are both so thankful our bodies held up.
We stopped at the first Refugio we stayed at on Thursday for lunch-it was nice to see it in the sunshine and see the mountains surrounding it. There was a massive trail race going on so lots of dodging and cheering for runners on our way down. We stopped about an hour and a half down at another Refugio for a water and espresso. Our knees, shoulders, and feet are killing us. We made it to Davide’s car and had hiked 10.75 miles.
At the same hotel we were at Wednesday and so thankful for our private room, private bathroom, clean sheets and no stinky people! Our hotel has a sauna and an indoor pool-we enjoyed both. Walked to dinner after a free drink from our hotel along with violin playing by the manager’s 10 year old daughter!
We need to do laundry, shower, and rest. Tomorrow we go see Stefania and her family!Read more