Length: 10.24 mi
Elev. gain: 1893 ft
Time: 5:18:33
The hike:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/dantercepies-forcella-cir-rifugio-puez-vallunga-ef7be8c
Right after I finished Via Ferrata Tridentina, it started raining again and it was getting heavier. I waited for it to let out a bit before I headed to my next hike. I was supposed to put the gondola station on Google Map for directions but I mistakenly entered the trailhead instead and followed the long winding road to somewhere much further and had to drive back once I arrived and realized my mistake.
At the gondola station, it took me a while to figure out where to park. There was a car park nearby. But it was a paid car park with posted time limit (not enough time for the hike). The gondola station also had a paid underground parking. I didn’t mind paying for parking. But there was no attendant and I always had a hard time figuring out how to use those paying machines all in Italian. So I always avoided them unless there were attendants. I drove around and amazingly found FREE parking (at least I thought it was free and I didn’t get any ticket when I went back to my car after the hike) right next to the station!!!
I took the gondola and again enjoyed the view on the ride up.
I started hiking as soon as I got off the gondola.
The view was just heavenly.
I couldn’t get enough of this view and was sad to leave it behind as I had a very long hike ahead of me.
After the relative short uphill climb, the trail leveled out for the most part and continued for miles.
Occasionally there was a short ascent here and there but nothing too strenuous.
During the hike, the rain was on and off, sometimes also with wind.
Then at around mile 6, the trail started descending into the valley. Fortunately it wasn’t as steep as the trails I hiked in the last few days.
Once I reached the valley floor, the last mile or so was flat, through a park and a small town. It was quite enjoyable.
