To Rifugio Lagazuoi

Monday morning it was time to drag our backpacks to the cellar, about 28 people were dumping their backpacks there, putting on their smelling ski boots and trying to get to their skies and most of them at the same time. Our ski guide was a little on the late side and just after 9 am he turned up, our destination was going to be Lagazuoi, one of my favorite places in the Dolomites. We had to do quite a distance in order to get there in time for the last gondola to take us up the mountain for the night. On the way we passed the Santa Croce church, but we did not stop there for a break. Our guide had chosen another baita to stop for lunch, but Olly and I went back up the mountain to hike up the small trail to take some photos of the church. Luckily the clouds drifted away and some bluish skies appeared. The Sasso della Croce, 2999 meters became somewhat visible in the background. From what I remembered the food at the restaurant next to the church was very good, however you need a reservation to get in. Same we did not eat there like last time. After our little stop we skied back to the other baita to have a quick lunch, because the others had almost finished I choose a yammy Strudel alla Mela with vanilla sauce.

La Crusc, Santa Croce

After lunch we hit the slopes again, towards the end of the afternoon we had to take to bus to Falzarego Pass, to catch the gondola op to the rifugio Lagazuoi. This place is at an elevation of nearly 2.800 meters, on a clear day you will have the most spectacular views there. However this was not one of those times. Thick fog covered everything, it was also fairly warm up there, nearly – 8. Previous years it always has been around minus 20 degrees. Dragging up the backpacks on the stairs to the rifugio was somewhat of a task, but we managed. This time the showers very working properly, although you have to be careful because the shower works on coins only and has a limited amount of water.

Not a decent view into the valley

Sleeping arrangements in Lagazuoi for groups is in dormitories, we had a room for 12 divided by 9, which meant that we had a little extra space, and otherwise it would have been cramped. The beds were not the best. Hardly any space between the top bunk and the lower one, but because my back was still killing me I had no option. I did not feel like crawling down in the middle from the top bunk with a serious backache. So it was the lower bunk for me, no sitting up in bed for a couple of nights. Supper was nice, but not as great as last time. The pasta: ravioli with poppy seeds was superb though. Hope I can find that recipe somewhere so I can make some at home. At around 9 pm everybody was pooped and crawling into bed.