When I woke I was certainly not ready for going home, I just wanted the adventure to keep going, however my legs had other ideas as I soon found out. It was a steep morning climb then down to Rifugio Fontana and then I left the hills behind me as I ended the trail in woodland. Rather annoyingly my GoPro decided it didn’t want to work after some time in the woods but my adventure came to an end and I returned to civilisation by bus to Belluno.
It had been a chilly night in the room but I awoke to yet another blue sky and sunshine, a cracking warm day. Breakfast was eaten and I said goodbye to the other guests and left, tshirt and shorts wouldn’t stop me sweating pretty soon as I started heading uphill. I knew it was going to be a pretty long steep climb and so it proved, my legs were really tired this morning. The climb was really hard for me and quite a few false summits before I finally saw the high point, at the same time three Chamois could be seen running not too far from me, my first sighting of any wild animal on the trail apart from cows, sheep and some horses.
The final part of the climb was steep zigzags, I summoned up the energy and made it, the top was quite a thin ridge. I stopped here for a rest and to sit down and take in the views and a drink. I was sitting with my back to the sun although it was quite chilly up here and soon I noticed steam was rising from my sweaty tshirt back, how strange. My climbing still wasn’t finished and a narrow ridge had to be carefully ascended before it levelled out a bit and my legs felt normal again.
Now, looking down the valley I could see the path and it was quite a nice one as it was reasonably gentle for a while. Then, a sign warned me that it was going to be steep down, it wasn’t terribly steep but it went on for ages and I had to be careful with my footing. Around here I saw quite a few Marmots that looked at me curiously then ran away. In the near distance was Rifugio Fontana but it would still take careful footing before I arrived at it.
I went inside for some water, out of the sun and more importantly my last beer on the trail. I drank it pretty quickly as I wanted to get finished. It would be downhill from here, over open ground before entering woodland on nice soft paths and waving goodbye to the Dolomites that had been my companion for eight days. In the woods, the path gently lost height.
From here onwards, I just let my legs do the walking and thought about what a fantastic time I had had on the Alta Via 1 trail and all the highlights as the last remaining miles quickly passed by. Rifugio Bianchet is quickly passed but I had no reason to stop there or to delay my final day any longer, I was in the mood to get finished now and back to civilization.
The woodland path had long gone and it was now a gravel lane, used to supply the Rifugio which meant quick walking. I was however lost in my own thoughts, about the Alta Via 1 but also of reaching the end and then onto Belluno and my hotel for the night and plenty of choices of nearby food plus a nice hot shower without queues of people waiting and of course a room to myself and comfy bed.
Sadly, my walk was now over. The end of the trail is a huge anti climax as it ends at a bus stop, it hardly seems a fitting end after so long on a leg sapping trail. It would be nice to stop at the end, take photos and relax a while but the bus was due and I had no time. I got on the bus with a huge smile, I had finished the Alta Via 1.
Belluno, at the end of the Alta Via 1
The bus takes you into Belluno and most people seem to stay the night in the town, and I would too. After spending eight days on the trail with limited goodies it was nice to walk into a shop and see mountains of chocolates and other items I hadn't seen since I left Cortina to start the AV1. My last night in Italy meant that I had to find myself a pizza and thanks to the wonderful internet, a pizza shop was soon located nearby and a large pizza purchased. There are of course many eating places in the town but this was perfect for me, washed down with my last Italian beers of the trip.
After spending eight days in remote areas, only a few cars and not many people, Belluno felt really strange with all the noise and all the people and cars. Belluno has a good transport system and the bus station was right beside the train station so at least I knew where I was going in the morning. As it happens, I had a late flight the next day and I planned it this way so that I could spend most of the day in Venice before heading to the nearby Airport and back home. I went to sleep that night in Belluno a very happy man but also feeling very lucky that I was able to appreciate some of the most wonderful scenery in Europe.
