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| The Grand Adventure! |
Finally, I was able to access pictures from Maya, Dave and I's epic adventure to Monte Emilius (and Dave and I's adventure to Punta Rossa coming later) which occured earlier this summer! We had heard, via Attilio, that there is this really awesome via ferrata that takes you along the ridge from Becca di Nona to the top of Monte Emilius, rather than taking the more populated trail on the other side of the mountain. Having already done a couple smaller via ferrata paths we were immidiately intrigued, especially since this one was supposed to be longer!
Since we were working with a limited time schedule we decided to leave after the evening milking and dinner, eventually departing around 9:30 PM for Rifugio Arbole approximately two hours up and over the Arpisson Valley. It was a beautiful, chilly night - the path partially lit up by the stars. If I remember correctly we didn't even need to use our lights until we headed up Col Garin (the top of the Arpisson Valley) and then down to Rifugio Arbole.
We arrived at Arbole around 11:30 and were early to rise the next day as we had a couple hour hike to the beginning of the ridge. On our way we encountered several stambecchi (mountain goats) strolling over the ridge one by one; a beautiful site to be seen! We could also see what resembled a tiny foot bridge connecting two tall peaks on the ridge we assumed we would be climbing, both exciting us and making us a little nervous for the unknown!
There was no mistaking the beginning of the via ferrata for a couple reasons: one, two people in front of us decked out in all your lastest climbing gear (making us feel rather ill equiped) and two, the immediate ascent up one gnarly looking ridge! We were immediately a bit indtimidated both by our predecessors and the mountain. But upon agreeing that if any of us felt uncomfortable at any point we would turn around and head back, we began the five and a half hour climb to the top of Monte Emilius for one epic 360 degree view of Italy, Switzerland and France!!
Here a few pictures of our trek, shot by David and Maya!
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| At the top of Aprisson Valley: really windy and quite chilly! |
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| Heading out the next morning, outside of Rifugio Arbole |
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| Big boulders; heading to the ridge. |
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| Foot bridge from afar! | | | | | | | | | | |
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| I spy Stambecchi! |
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| GOATS! |
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| Start of the via ferrata, oh my! |
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| Mom, close your eyes! |
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| We reached the bridge, now what!? |
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| Rule number one: don't look down! |
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| Dave getting his climb on! |
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| Punta Garin, Gran Paradiso in the background. |
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| Switzerland, Matterhorn Mountain |
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| France, Mont Blanc |
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| One of the coolest hikes ever! |
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