Refuge de Goriz to Pineta

19 August 2022

I set off early to get the benefits of the early sunshine on the mountains.

Being surrounded by such high mountains is quite something - intimidating and humbling.

Todays walk involved navigating scrambling along a traverse high above the river valley, down towards a large tree and then up the other side of a neighbouring valley. It was a long, slow climb to a ridge where I met two Spanish guys about to start a hairy trek off to the left.

Ten began the long hard descent over boulders and tree roots towards Pineta. This took me ages and was a real strain to the knees. I followed a German couple down for moral support stopping as we went for food boosts.

The refuge at Pineta was full and there was no camping allowed along the river valley. I tried a the wonderfully situated hotel in the valley and that was full too. Eventually I decided to go with the German couple further along the route for the next day. We found an unmanned refuge and I camped near by.

An incredibly tiring day ending with a peaceful beautiful place to sleep far away from people.