HOLIDAY IN THE ALPS - PART 2

I've been very busy lately and didn't have a chance to update!
Anyway, this is the 2nd part of my holiday's posting. It includes animals and hiking pictures.
As a first warming-up hike, I chose to go to Rifugio Bignami, approx. 1h30min walk from the higher damm at Campo Moro. Right at the start I spotted this wild mountain goat with her kid!

The path follows the side of the damm and gets steep only for the last 15min.

It isn't dangerous and you can get nice views of the artificial lake.

Here is a view of the path with the Alpine hut in the distance. Not too far!

Rifugio Bignami is actually quite big once you get closer!

I think it can accomodate up to 60 people sleeping there. It is at 2400mt and it is a good starting point for harder walks.

Welcomed by a friendly donkey... and by a curious calf. How cute!

There were also two noisy dogs up there.

Laundry hanging to dry...


This picture is hilarious! I called it "The Patriot", haha!

Well, with these amazing views at least I have a reason to feel patriotic ;)

If the weather is a bit uncertain, it is better not to go for long hikes. The weather at high altitude can change for the worse in a matter of minutes and you can find yourself in serious trouble. The mountains are a safe place, but there are rules that must be respected.

This is a view of Pizzo Scalino (3323mt) from Rifugio Cristina. This hut is located at 2287mt on the green pastures of Alpe Prabello. It takes about 1h30 min to reach this point and it is an ideal place for a family pic-nic.

Refilling my bottle!

Someone else is thirsty! This is Arctic, a beautiful and friendly husky.

Alpe Prabello is home to many animals. Prabello literally means "beautiful meadow".

Proud mummy...

Super soft baby!

This pig fell asleep in the sun! On my way back I saw it again and he got a bit sun-burnt!!!

These goats belong to a big herd. Unfortunately they were too many and their owner had to cull some... if you read my previous post you can see a delicious plate of goat stew... well... this may sound cruel, but I later found out that the stewed goat belonged to this herd... I feel a bit sorry...

This is the path to the Campagneda Pass. I followed it to reach the Cornetto of Pizzo Scalino, basically "a little horn" at the base of the mountain's pyramid. It takes about 3 hours from rifugio Cristina to the Pizzo Scalino summit. A bit too scary for me... the Cornetto would do!

You see what I mean? How do you climb that black wall?!

And it looks easy, but the more you climb up the further the summit goes!

You can get great views from up there...

As I said before, the weather can change very quicly when you are high up. I had to turn back because of these menacing clouds. I made it home just in time! The clouds can come down and make visibility very low. Also, you can easily get struck by lightning!