Alta Via 1 - Day 7 - Rifugio Carestiato to Rifugio Pian de Fontana - A tough but amazing days hike

Stage7 Rifugio Carestiato to Rifugio Pian de Fontana

Rifugio Carestiato to Rifugio Pian de Fontana, given as 18.9km, 8 hours 10 mins, 1010m ascent, 1180m descent by bookatrekking.com. So we were prepared for a long day of walking.

In our guide book, this is 2 stages, but we were walking it in one day. Due to a shortage of accommodation, other hikers were walking even further than us to Rifugio Bianchet (a further 2 hours 15 minutes) We were pleased to hear later that they had made it, as we were concerned it was too far.

It was very misty when we left at 7.30am with our packed lunch. We arrived at 8.15am at Passo Duran, then followed the road, before turning left up a steep wooded slope. The white scree path then crosses the slopes of Tamer Mountain.

We reached the junction to rifugio Pramperet, 726m ascent, 5.5 hours, 8.8 miles at 1am. We debated taking a small detour to the refuge for food, but decided not to. In hindsight this was definitely the best move, as it was a very long day. Luckily, we had enough food with us too. At this time, I was thinking we should have left at 6.30am, as the others who were heading to Rifugio Bianchet had done.

Continuing, it was a very steep climb to the top of the col with cloud blowing around. At the top of the ridge, go left. It is badly signed, we met a couple of people who had turned right, with a precarious trip to try to re-gain the path. After 9 hours 15 minutes of walking, we could see our refuge far below us. In places it is a difficult walk down, with some very steep slopes, chains having been provided. The walk took us 10 hours, due to the difficulty of some of the terrain, and elevation.

Refuge Pian de Fontana is a collection of nicely converted shepherds' huts, now made into accommodation. We enjoyed this stay, again with a delicious filling dinner eaten with more new friends. Our dormitory slept 10 downstairs and another 6 or 8 upstairs. There were 2 free cold showers, toilets and wash basins. The views down to the valley and over the surrounding mountains were sublime. All food and drink seem to arrive on a pulley system, which we had not actually seen in action before. We were fortunate to get a bed here, as I don’t think I could have continued to Rifugio Bianchet. But, on arrival we did find a few empty beds, possibly as this is the end of the walk, and people had dropped out along the way.

Distance 13 miles (20.9km)

Duration of Walk 10 Hours 5 minutes including breaks

Total ascent 4030 feet (1228m)

Total descent 5016 feet (1529m)

Pace 46 min a mile