| August 2012 |
| Mount Rocciamelone 3538 meters or 11607 feet. Like Gran Paradiso...we didn't intend to climb this mountain, but we did! It would not be summer if we didn't do an Alp Trek, however it is becoming more challenging to find routes where we have not been before and where we can do a loop and come back to the car - but I found one near Valle di Viu, on the French border in NW Italy. 6-8 Agosto 2012 |
| Day 1 Departing from Lago Malcialussia 1815 meters - on our way to Rifugio Tazzetti at 2642 meters. Ugh we needed to go up over 800 meters and the weather was crap, rainy and cold. Thankfully said crap weather was short lived. 6 Agosto 2012 |
| Day 1 Arriving to Rifugio Tazzetti 2642 meters. This is a Club Alpino Italiano rifugio and the Chiari club which run this rifugio switch weekly the members who run it, which I think is great because you get fresh, energized hosts vs. crotchety old mountain goats. We were lucky because we were the only guests besides Carlo and his family and a few friends who were spending their vacation running the rifugio for a week. Sign us up! See that lake...that is where we started our hike - it keeps getting smaller and smaller... 6 agosto 2012 |
Above: Hanging out at Rif.
Tizzetti playing Kings in a
Corner and Zonk waiting for
dinner.
Tizzetti playing Kings in a
Corner and Zonk waiting for
dinner.
Day 2
Sunrise over Valle di Viu Leaving
for our ascent to Rocciamelone ~
we had talked to Carlo, guy at Rif.
Tazzetti, and he said he didn't
think we needed
ramponi/crampons to cross the
glacier - we didn't bring ours
because the lady at the other
rifugio said we wouldn't need them
- extra weight - ugh. But the day
we came up there was a storm and
so lots of new ice and snow had
come, which meant we should
have ramponi...
7 agosto 2012
VIDEO
Sunrise over Valle di Viu Leaving
for our ascent to Rocciamelone ~
we had talked to Carlo, guy at Rif.
Tazzetti, and he said he didn't
think we needed
ramponi/crampons to cross the
glacier - we didn't bring ours
because the lady at the other
rifugio said we wouldn't need them
- extra weight - ugh. But the day
we came up there was a storm and
so lots of new ice and snow had
come, which meant we should
have ramponi...
7 agosto 2012
VIDEO
Day 2
At rifugi, I love getting up at sunrise, even though I slept like crap, you
would think you would sleep like a dead person after the long treks,
but no, at high altitudes no one sleeps well - anyway I wake up early
hoping to get a close up with a ram
(it did happen once, so I just keep/
hoping).
Above: waking up and gearing up
Departing Rifugio Tazzetti
VIDEO
At rifugi, I love getting up at sunrise, even though I slept like crap, you
would think you would sleep like a dead person after the long treks,
but no, at high altitudes no one sleeps well - anyway I wake up early
hoping to get a close up with a ram
(it did happen once, so I just keep/
hoping).
Above: waking up and gearing up
Departing Rifugio Tazzetti
VIDEO
Above, the long ascent before crossing the glacier - they
told us there were no crevices. Only one photo while on
the ice and this video below. We needed to stay hands
free in case we had to try and grab on to something. Also,
there were NO markers to cross the ice - we lost an hour
just scouting around trying to
see where the trail ended
and try to see, way off on the
other side, where the trail
picked up. No luck, just cross
and search for piles of rocks
(trail markers)..
VIDEO
told us there were no crevices. Only one photo while on
the ice and this video below. We needed to stay hands
free in case we had to try and grab on to something. Also,
there were NO markers to cross the ice - we lost an hour
just scouting around trying to
see where the trail ended
and try to see, way off on the
other side, where the trail
picked up. No luck, just cross
and search for piles of rocks
(trail markers)..
VIDEO
Left: Reaching the PEAK of Monte
Rocciamelone!!! 3538 meters! Oh
mamma the last 300 meters were
tough - altitude - trudge, trudge,
pant, suck wind, shuffle, and scary -
actually there were a lot of scary
moments. Just teetering on narrow
ridges with huge drop offs on either
side, me thinking, 'What am I
doing?' I am now convinced that
Zaven was a Tibetan mountain goat
in his past life.
We are so proud of Zaven - climbing
a mountain at 14 - wowzers!
VIDEO
Rocciamelone!!! 3538 meters! Oh
mamma the last 300 meters were
tough - altitude - trudge, trudge,
pant, suck wind, shuffle, and scary -
actually there were a lot of scary
moments. Just teetering on narrow
ridges with huge drop offs on either
side, me thinking, 'What am I
doing?' I am now convinced that
Zaven was a Tibetan mountain goat
in his past life.
We are so proud of Zaven - climbing
a mountain at 14 - wowzers!
VIDEO
Left:On the descent from the peak
- this little spot was about 3100
meters and that old dude coming
up (lower right side of the frame)
asked us if we were Alpinisti or
professionals and did we cross
the ice without ramponi? No we
are not professionals, yes we did
cross the ice and no we didn't use
ramponi, then he asks, "Are you
Germans?" No we are Americans,
then he said,"Because the
Germans are crazy and think
everything is easy."
- this little spot was about 3100
meters and that old dude coming
up (lower right side of the frame)
asked us if we were Alpinisti or
professionals and did we cross
the ice without ramponi? No we
are not professionals, yes we did
cross the ice and no we didn't use
ramponi, then he asks, "Are you
Germans?" No we are Americans,
then he said,"Because the
Germans are crazy and think
everything is easy."
| Right & below: Rifugio Ca d'Asti 2854 meters. We had left Tazzetti at 8.00 AM and arrived here at around 2.30 PM, we stopped at the peak and had lunch and enjoyed the amazing views. |
| Above: Our boots airing out and way off in the distance, across Valle di Susa (you go right and you are in France - left Torino) you can see Monviso which we visited last summer. Above right, Joe taking a rest. Zaven read Fear and Loathing in LV and I relaxed and took in this beautiful view. Right: Day 3 Departing Rifugio Ca D'Asti after a rotten night's sleep, we bounced along at around 2500 meters for about 4 hours and then descended back to Lago Malcialussia another 1.5 hours down, down, down. 2 nights in rifugi are really enough, I know I have said it a lot - but dormitory sleeping and squatty potties in addition to the long, long, long, hikes are tough - but WELL worth it. |
Left: The peak between us is
Rocciamelone and just over my
right shoulder is Rifugio Ca D'asti.
Wow.
Finally about 3.5 hours after
leaving Rif. Ca D'Asti the lake
finally comes back into view - we
have completed our loop.
Hallelujah!
Below: The typical beautiful Alpen
views with flowers, butterflies,
stambecchi and marmots.
Rocciamelone and just over my
right shoulder is Rifugio Ca D'asti.
Wow.
Finally about 3.5 hours after
leaving Rif. Ca D'Asti the lake
finally comes back into view - we
have completed our loop.
Hallelujah!
Below: The typical beautiful Alpen
views with flowers, butterflies,
stambecchi and marmots.
The Leonetti Victory Post Trek
Pose back at the car!
Lago Malcialussia, Italia
8 agosto 2012
Pose back at the car!
Lago Malcialussia, Italia
8 agosto 2012
| Calici di Stelle Wine Tasting on the Grande Naviglio in Milano with Avalon We love finding these last minute fun events and it is perfect because Av is staying in Milano and the city is very quiet with so many people on holiday - which makes getting in and out fast and easy. The wine was from Lombardia, mostly Lago di Garda and from Ticino, Switzerland - like Lago di Lugano. We didn't find many we loved but because it was so hot Av and I were only drinking the whites and roses - Joe did try a few reds that we thought were ok. We even found the "Crazy Ice" very unique gelato shop with flavors like Gorgonzola, Fig and Speck...you get the picture. The Gorgonzola, really tasted like Gorgonzola....yummy? Weird? Both? Grande Naviglio, Milano, Italy 9 agosto 2012 |
| Our 2nd Annual pre birthday weekend in Celle Ligure, Liguria, Italia It is crazy hot everywhere, but so nice to be by the sea. Now Summer can officially end. 24-25 agosto 2012 |
