Photo: Sunset Civetta

Sun, Sep 6 Today’s route is only 6.3 miles (9km) but 3000 feet of elevation gain to R. Tissi, our rifugio on the mountain top. We didn’t realize there was a chairlift here, so on impulse the next morning, we took it up. It saved us about 1,000 feet of elevation. Unbelievable views of the Pelmo opposite and all around. There were quite a few people as many take the chairlift up to have lunch at R. Coldai and see Lake Coldai. Along the way, we saw evidence of old cables that must have been used to bring up supplies. We stopped for a bit at R. Coldai, where we saw the German couple (it was their last day). A short uphill hike brought us to Lake Coldai. From the lake, we trekked consistently uphill, sometimes steeply on our approach to R. Tissi, which is high up on a mountain! The way to Tissi was gorgeous, along the famous Civetta – a long cliff face. It would be our view from the terrace of the rifugio. Finally, we reached Tissi after a steep push and gratefully had a wonderful lunch on the balcony! I had a traditional dish of gnocchi in butter with cheese! Darryl and Richard were here, so a bit of a reunion! In a small bunk room – tight but nice. No showers as they have a water issue here. No big deal. The drama here was a helicopter rescue that we witnessed. Apparently, two climbers took a wrong route and got stuck. Luckily they were able to contact rescue, and we watched as the helicopter went vertically up the Civetta and then land on a small heli-pad outside the rifugio. Amazing. We had a great dinner with a nice red wine from the area: Lagrain.