Camping at 2,700 m

Day 1, Saturday 28 August 2004 we arrive by car from Milan and leave the cars in the large car park at the foot of the mountain hut. On foot we reach the Pizzini hut with a lovely, easy walk with little gradient. We pitch the tents only 30 minutes before sunset, because that is the rule of the nature parks. We prepare dinner with our camping gear and then a nice hot tea and some wine at the hut.

Day 2, Sunday 29 August 2004 The alarm is set for 4:00 and we get up while it is still night, with ice between the outer and inner sheets of the tent. With our head torches we fold and clean everything up. Meanwhile we see the lights of the climbers starting the ascent. We leave our gear at the hut to make the climb. Our group, however, is uneven and the delay turns out to be significant. We arrive below the final climb late and it starts to snow. The group is split: some want to carry on and some don't feel up to it and want to turn back. In the end, a few metres from the Casati hut (3,269 m), the base for the walk on the glacier, everyone turns back to the Pizzini hut. From the latter I look at the beautiful glacier we were supposed to climb with some regret. Perhaps that is why I can't savour the fine platter of cold cuts and the wine at the hut before heading back to Milan.