GO TO THE MOUNTAINS, MY WAY LONG LIVE THE SLOW TRAVEL
shelters
Kugy Citing the teacher, "you can not really claim to know a mountain if thou hast ever slept on."
marry in all this theory, which has the honor to summarize different aspects of the way: first of all, slow. When you get up at dawn, you ride a couple of hours of busy streets or highways, walking with difficulty for five or six hours, maybe you fall in line, to make a miserable day off and then back to work 's Next day, we do not really a good service.
Slowness is relative of awareness and gives the privilege of knowledge: if you go too fast, it captures the risk of exploit and take advantage of the world that cross, returning home more bewildered than before. I know, we are all more or less hectic times of prisoners and pressing commitments, I first, and then far be it from me the arrogance of hope rhythms and ways of life hardly practicable; good Kugy was a wealthy heiress, who could afford the luxury not to work and hire a handful of villagers to act as his porters and a guide for any up and down the mountain range in the habit of exploring sting. Those who must work to maintain and maybe even take family is better than it put his mind at rest: days and days of alpine crossings sleeping under the stars are a luxury that can not afford, if not in the shriveled peridium holiday, in which, perhaps, legitimately expects some more comfort.
But there is no room in the city for twenty thesis and absolute white of snow, steep paths and challenges of stubborn frost, along paths that disappear, swallowed up by snow, and you need to find trusting only yourself and your ability to read and translate signals imperceptible. In the city there is no need to predict the evolution of time, in the mountains is a necessity. You do not have to worry about how many resources you have left and how many hours of light continue to recover the good way, lost to work around a canyon with snow gear. There's adventure, city, or how to really compete with themselves, with hunger, cold and fatigue. For this go to the mountains and can sleep up there to immerse themselves in a dimension of simplicity, in the daily life there expropriation.
summary: slow, knowledge, essential. We all right, so why not try? Why not treat yourself every now and then a brief period of a couple of days of crossing routes, with an overnight stop in a shelter? We will again look at life in his eyes, refocusing the right targets.
But now, notice pistolotti of the sociology of the mountain and return to fly low.
sleep at high altitude has only advantages and few drawbacks: they break trips, and so it may take time to savor the slower tracks as they deserve, you can watch spectacular sunrises and sunsets, and enjoy the starry skies free of light pollution; you have the opportunity to share with strangers simple pleasures like a hot soup or a cold beer, and perhaps unexpected encounters that will remain etched in time, then one experiences that do not wash, for once, it's not the end of the world and that it is important to know how much more direct and get to know their strength and determination. But
snoring and sleep in dorm night we've got them a few inches from your ears, no possibility to isolate. You can sleep little and badly, though dead tired, but once is not appropriate to make a play, given that it is rewarded by many other satisfactions. For many, the lack of privacy is a concern, but it is very easy to make friends, or just share experiences and information.
It 's true, there are hardships, but the balance is largely positive.
So let's start!
shelters, both private and CAI are usually open from late June to late September. In the Dolomites and in nearby Slovenia many shelters are open even in the winter and this is due to the great culture of hiking in these areas all year.
How can I find? Guide to print, web and word of mouth: you are spoiled for choice. After choosing a destination and then the shelter that could accommodate, it is difficult to obtain the phone number and check the situation: the refuge is open? There are no beds available? what is the status of snow and the trails? Usually the managers are trained and can provide all the necessary information.
What to expect from a shelter? Well, here it opens up a world: the three areas I know best are the region, Slovenia and the Dolomites. I regret to say, but at home the shelters offer less favorable conditions: they are strictly closed except in summer, apart from exceptions that can be counted on the fingers of one hand, the hospitality is often lacking. I happened to get soaking wet after a full day of walking in the rain and the manager of a refuge, for decency I will not mention, has refused to light the fire for drying clothes and limbs, with the excuse that he did not want " waste "wood. I wonder what to sip fuel, since it could not be used for anything other than a fire in a horrendous day of bad weather with a temperature of 5 degrees. Another bad experience has made a wonderful trip to a pasture managed in a kind of nightmare, because of the deplorable rudeness and arrogance by an evil manager.
There are many exceptions, of course, where the managers are competent, efficient and make you feel at home. Of all the courses I will mention, where I arrived one evening a few years ago under the Flood: the dining room a bright fire was burning and the operator, while recovering from a fever and a fall resulting in a sprained knee, however, turned the tables presenting to all guests and asking for news of the excursions planned for the next day.
In Slovenia, the music is different: the shelters are a constant of the mountains across the border are essential but there is always the need, many are also open during the winter, most often in the peridium holidays and weekends, and the hospitality is always pleasant. Finally, and it does not hurt, even in the face of essential services, prices are considerably reduced. But the Slovenians are big walkers, so you'll always find them quite crowded and the risk in high season, is not to find vacancies. Always better to ask in advance, almost all part of the reserve beds for reservations, otherwise we have the principle "first come, first served".
The Dolomites are a separate chapter, including with regard to the shelters, many may confuse 3-star hotel with the comfort level that have, in spite of essentiality. The beauty of the mountains means that they are always located in scenic places and very impressive. As just one example, the refuge Alimonta Brenta Dolomites offers hot showers and great facilities, dormitories with "real" quilts and even bedrooms for two people, a room is always on the living room and kitchen hand. It is not the only one that offers many delights, the average level is still very high and prices are appropriate: a half-board is about 40 € (2009), hot shower separately. However, it is not much, if you think about the privilege of sleeping on the most beautiful mountains the world. Dolomite, very popular even in winter, many refugees who manage to solve the problem of supply of running water, lie even in the cold months, on the occasion of Christmas and other times when the influx of tourists, so you can enjoy the luxury of a ski mountaineering expedition or snowshoeing in the middle of February.
And now, what you put in your backpack if you plan to stay in the refuge? Of course, all that you have already planned for a day trip. For the rest, only a few ideas on the essential, considering that it is not my advice, but sharing personal experiences.
bag sheet you can not do without: do not sleep on the bare mattress on the respect for others and for obvious reasons of hygiene.
Then headlamp: the vast majority of refugees is dark at night, or because the generators are turned off, or because they are powered by solar panels and energy must be balanced. You can also use a common cell battery (which is charged!), But the advantage of hands-free move is indisputable.
to sleep, each can be adjusted according to the habits and the season: I use the clean shirt and confidential excursion the next day, only if the weather is inclement, a pair of pants suits, lightweight and compact. Usually you do not suffer from the cold: the shelters are equipped with enough blankets.
Almost all shelters, dormitories in which it is forbidden to wear the boots, slippers offer various styles and materials, of course, is used by all walkers. If you want all your costs, take the lighter and less bulky that you have, but remember that high altitude is cold even in summer and, in general, a change of warm clothing and dry should not be missed.
As for the cleaning staff would not normally expect to be able to do some kind of toilet, a mini toothbrush, a comb and a small microfiber towel, maybe not to take it below soaked, are sufficient. Where possible, a hot shower after a hard day's walk you transmit to the world and then with me in a bathrobe microfiber very small and weighs a few ounces. But I feel good even without the wash and the thing I have never created any problems. Many shelters do not have running water and cleaning staff in that case was postponed until a later date. In that case renounce all without major worries, except to brush my teeth. Maybe two inches of water in the bottle.
What else? I usually bring with me a book, for the long evening hours before bedtime. Most think it is a useless burden and probably right, but is my little obsession, and since the backpack I carry it alone ....!
Also essential is not any, apart from specific drugs, if ever you need it, or some other special need: food and beverages can be found on site, where you will find a lot more, but it is not wrong to have with him some energy bar snack or some other space-saving for emergencies.
a chapter of the many camps are found at high altitude, which I unfortunately with limited experience, but all extraordinary, as an unforgettable night of August at the bivouac Stuparich. The premises are absolutely essential: a few cot with no mattress and bedding, lack of light and of course water, except for rare exceptions (I mean water) and sometimes there are heaters, but you are totally alone under the stars, and is a unique experience that everyone deserves at least once in their lifetime. Of course you have to be completely self-contained water and food, should provide a sleeping bag suitable for the season (at night in the mountains it's cold even in summer), but it is difficult to get equipped. Only increases the weight of the backpack, but even in this case, the balance is positive: you can enjoy the luxury of absolute solitude and the privilege of the most authentic essence. Although the camps are all registered runners and several websites, and use it can be a good choice, as well as a necessity.
The general care of the essential problems and do not be useless in the mountains are absolutely necessary for good shoes, a head on her shoulders and a light heart.
of everything else you will realize they can give no regrets.
www.rifugi-bivacchi.com
