Tre Cime di Lavaredo

Finally, it was time to drive up to the parking lot of the hut at Rifugio Auronzo Oid and make the hike. We wanted to be in position to photograph the Tre Cime (Three Peaks) at sunset, 6:15pm. A wide, relatively flat trail connects Rifugio Auronzo with Rifugio Lavaredo, the first half of the way up.

These are from the parking lot…

Starting the hike…

We passed by a small church…

…World War 1 monuments…

…and mountain ponies…

Although the remaining 1.5 miles from Rifugio Lavaredo to the base of the Tre Cime was a moderate climb, it was almost impossible for me. My current severe-astmatic-like conditions have been getting worse since the beginning of the year, and the doctors have yet to fully diagnose and treat it. Jayne and Paolo were very concerned for me. Yet, somehow, perhaps through the memory of a friend, I made it to the top.

This is Jayne and Paolo…

The mountain hut at Rifugio Langalm is in the distance…

Finally, it was show time: sunset!. The air was cold so we had our hats and gloves on. It was dead calm, thankfully. This only added to the sense of tranquility, and the sense of personal insignificance against the backdrop of the Three Peaks.

On the way down the mountain in complete darkness, we stopped for dinner at the Rifugio Rudi Hutte.

Enjoy life!