Puez
Puez Hutte
From
Selva (1569 m) take the cable-car Dantercèpies which leads up
to the Grodnerjoch area (2300 m). Follow along through meadows
to foot of the Pizzes da Cir cliffs, going past the now deserted
timber Rifugio Clark, and soon rise up to path No. 2. It's a steep
pull up over rocky bounders to the Cirjoch (2469 m) a remarkable
forest of limestone spires (campanile) - the relief on everybody's
face when they reach here is the same in any language! After easy
descent over a dry crushed stone track in the Chedùltal the path
rises to the Crespèinajoch (2528 m) and from here moves up pass
the tiny Lago di Crespeina,and on to the Ciampacjoch (2366 m).
Continue to go on the western edge of the Gherdenacia, whereby
rises path No. 4 from Colfosco and those from Gherdenacia. It
then takes one hour from the Ciampacjoch to RIFUGIO PUEZ (2475m)
- CAI Alto Adige section; 70 places; open 5/6 to 30/9; tel. 0471/85059.
- access to Vallunga down path 1 (very steep, requires care).
The
isolated situation of the refuge explains the inflated prices
charged for food and drinks: but the views make up it all worthwhile.
This is the heart of the extraordinary Puez group, a vast limestone
upland wilderness scattered with snow patches, a desolate and
primitive landscape whose ancient origins are revealed in its
many fossil remains. Gradients are gentle, but because significant
landmarks are few and far between, waymarking should be watched
for carefully in poor visibility. From there proceed on way No.
4 downhill to the long Vallunga valley below - takes approximately
three hours - and back to Selva, passing the tiny Sylvester chapel.