General Description
As you can see in the data above, there are 2 options for this day. One is shorter and allow us to sleep in the hut Puezhuette. The other one is longer and ends in Grodner Joch where there are expensive sleeping options (an hotel and a private hut).
The downside of stopping in the Puezhuette is that it makes tomorrow’s hike longer. We didn’t need to choose because when we got to the Puezhuette it was PACKED (seriously, we didn’t see any other hut so full), so we just kept going.
The day starts with 2 mountain passes, we climb the first one via a zigzag gravel path (2 steps forward, one step backward). Right after this comes the second mountain path, the climb to this one is done with iron cables and iron rungs, it makes for a really fun climb, even if a little scary at times. Some people might freak out a little here (but it’s really not bad!). There are a few people that do this climb with a harness and an helmet, but it is not necessary.
When you reach the pass (called Nives-Scharte) stop for a moment to appreciate the view of the Massif. From this point we continue in a descent toward Puezhuette, the first stopping option of this day.
Sleeping, first option: Puezhuette hut of the Italian Alpine Club, a super touristic hut, make a reservation more than 2 days in advance. FYI, the Italians have holidays in August, so you will see many Italians hiking in this part of the trail, doing day-hikes or other short hikes.
Phone number: +39 0471795365
From the Puezhuette we keep walking in a somewhat flat path until we reach the climb to the Crespeina-Joch mountain pass. After the pass we start a steep descent, pass through another mountain pass and reach the Grodner Joch (Gardena Pass).
Sleeping, option 2: in Grodner Joch you can stay at a hotel called Hotel Cir, it is expensive but very nice hotel, with awesome breakfast.
Phone number: +39 0471 795127
You can also stay at a private hut called Rifugio Frara, as mentioned before, this is a private hut, so it is more expensive (about double the price of club-huts).
Phone nuber: +39 0471 795225
Some of the fellow hikers we hang out with kept going to the Rifugio Pisciadu hut, another one and a half hours of climb from the Grodner Joch. This would make the day a 9 hours net walking day.
