Tag: trekking

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Family trek to Lago d’ Arpy, Morgex, AO

We finally arrived at Lago d'Arpy. Photo: The-Ski-Guru. Family trek to Lago d' Arpy, Morgex, AO.

Family trek to Lago d’ Arpy, Morgex, AO

Sentiero to Lago d’Arpy, Morgex, AO (Aosta Valley) – Family trek to Lago d’ Arpy, Morgex, AO.

Summer in the Italian Alps.

We came to take a five-weeks long holiday at our home in Morgex, called Il Cuore della Valdigne. This is a great spot for hundreds or thousands of trekking paths. Italian called them sentieros.

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Going up towards Lago d'Arpy you have great views of the Catena di Monte Bianco. Photo: The-Ski-Guru. Family trek to Lago d' Arpy, Morgex, AO.
Going up towards Lago d’Arpy you have great views of the Catena di Monte Bianco. Photo: The-Ski-Guru. Family trek to Lago d’ Arpy, Morgex, AO.
The most renown place in the Morgex area I would say is Lago d’ Arpy. Arpy is a great spot in winter for its cross country trails and snow-shoeing paths. In summer it is the place to go out for treks, mountain biking and swimming in the freezing lake. The lake is further up the road from the Ostello di Arpy. The Ostello is a rustic lodge that has a cafeteria/restaurant and some rooms. It also offers rental for cross country skiing and snow shoes.
We went up the road until passing the hotel La Genzianella and we parked next to some public restrooms. There it was the start of the sentiero 15, at 1,954 m, that takes one hour and five minutes to reach the lake. The sentiero is pretty simple categorised as T: turista. It has a bit of a climb, but nothing major (140m) and an average gradient of 3%.

Sentieros‘ classifications in Italy.

Sentieros are classified, at least in Italy, in T as Turista, E, Escursionistico and EE Escursinisti esperti (expert). Then there you have the alpinist classifications, EEA is for expert with via ferrata o attrezzata, EEA-F (ferrata facile); EEA-PD (ferrata Poco dificile), EEA-D (ferrata difficile) and EAI (excursionism in snow).
While you walk through the sentiero, you have amazing views of the Macizo di Monte Bianco. Usually this path is very busy with families and dogs, but we managed to go pretty late, and it was pretty quiet.
The sentiero 15 takes you from Colle de San Carlo to Lago d'Arpy, and if you continue, to Lago di Pietra Rosa. Family trek to Lago d' Arpy, Morgex, AO.
The sentiero 15 takes you from Colle de San Carlo to Lago d’Arpy, and if you continue, to Lago di Pietra Rosa. Family trek to Lago d’ Arpy, Morgex, AO.
 

Another option for reaching Lago d’ Arpy

You can do a bit of a more challenging walk with more climb if you stop at the Ostello d’Arpy. That is a sentiero classified E: Excursionista. To be honest I was not sure where to start, so we kept on going up the road as there was a sign to Lago d’Arpy. And then we’ve stopped before what it looks to go to the Colle San Carlo and down towards La Thuile.
The path to Lago d'Arpy, sentiero 15. Family trek to Lago d' Arpy, Morgex, AO.
The path to Lago d’Arpy, sentiero 15. Family trek to Lago d’ Arpy, Morgex, AO.
When we arrived, our dog ran straight into the freezing lake. The views were magnificent. It was a tad cold as it was windy, and up at 2,066 m you had not much to guard you.
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Cortina Dolomiti Ultra Trekking

Passeggiata ex- convento. Credits Cortina Marketing. Cortina Dolomiti Ultra Trekking.

Cortina Dolomiti Ultra Trekking

If you like trekking in the mountains, you would love to do this ultra-trekking. The Cortina Dolomiti Ultra Trekking. What does it entail?
All in all, 132 km and more than 6,700 vertical drop. The Cortina Dolomiti Ultra Trekking is a trek of 7 days/6 nights. You stay in mountain lodges and traditional malga mountain huts. This is a great way to see the Dolomites and taste their amazing local produce.
Lago Misurina. Credits: Pietro Albarelli. Cortina Dolomiti Ultra Trekking.
Lago Misurina. Credits: Pietro Albarelli. Cortina Dolomiti Ultra Trekking.

This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.

Cortina Marketing and the Guide Alpine Cortina have put this trekking together. The Tourism Board of Cortina d’Ampezzo also participated. This project enjoys the patronage of the UNESCO Dolomites Foundation.
The idea of this trek is to find some hidden locations around Cortina. You will experience the Dolomites, going from hut to hut, amongst forests, rivers and lakes. You will be able to see malga mountain huts, and traditional Ladin villages. And the peaks! Peaks here are amazing! The Enrosadira is an effect that make you see the mountains with pink hues in the alpenglow. This is due to the large quantities of calcium and magnesium carbonates in the Dolomites.
Rifugio Città di Carpi. Credits: Pietro Albarelli. Cortina Dolomiti Ultra Trekking.
Rifugio Città di Carpi. Credits: Pietro Albarelli. Cortina Dolomiti Ultra Trekking.
You can see the details of this ultra trekking with a 3d map at the official website of Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Stage 1 – From Cortina d’Ampezzo to Rifugio Son Forca

Starting point: Piazza Angelo Dibona, at the foot of the Cortina bell tower. Follow Via del Castello (which starts at the end of the pedestrian road). Go on till you reach the intersection with the road leading to the hamlet Cadin on the left of the state road. After crossing the state road, go uphill towards Cadin. Pass the Village’s church and reach the end of the village of Cadin di Sopra. There take the CAI track number 410, which leads to Lago Ghedina.
You need to have refreshments/water with you, as there will be nowhere to get anything for about 3 or 4 hours.
Lago Ghedina. Credits: PIetro Albarelli. Cortina Marketing. Cortina Dolomiti Ultra Trekking.
Lago Ghedina. Credits: PIetro Albarelli. Cortina Marketing. Cortina Dolomiti Ultra Trekking.
Take track number 409 till you reach Posporcora Pass. Then go downhill on track number 408. Keep on until you reach the intersection with track number 417 to Pian da Ra Spines. You have to go on until San’t Uberto car park. From there you take the path leading to the cycle path that brings you to Rifugio Ospitale. This was a welcoming venue that once hosted the pilgrims on the way to Santiago di Compostela.
Then continue for about 7 km, with a total ascent of 700 m, on track n° 203, along the Padeon valley. Spend the night at the mountain lodge Rifugio Son Forca, on mount Cristallo.

Stage 2 – From Rifugio Son Forca to Rifugio Città di Carpi

The second day starts at the mountain lodge Rifugio Son Forca: follow track  203 to the Tre Croci Pass. Cross the state road on the pass and follow track 215. Keep on going until you reach the beautiful Lake Sorapis and the Rifugio Vandelli. Here there is an exposed road on places, so be careful. Once there you can either spend the night at Rifugio Vandelli or carry on. You can go towards Federavecchia on track 217, through the enchanting Somadida forest. Once in Federavechia, cross the road and take track 120. This will bring you to the Rifugio Città di Capri, where you can stay overnight.

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