A winter hike to the Fanes mountain hut
We have already been in this mountain hut in summer, during a long and tiring trek, for a quick lunch break. At that time reaching this valley costed a lot of effort, and from here we resumed the path to continue our route on Alta Via 1, on foot, with heavy backpacks on our shoulders, under the summer sun.
In winter, reaching Rifugio Fanes was a completely different experience, and definitely more fun. You can reach Rifugio Pederü by car, from San Vigilio di Marebbe, along a beautiful panoramic road that crosses the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park, among the steep walls of very high peaks and thick conifer forests. In winter, it takes about half an hour to drive along the road, snow-covered but beaten.
From the Pederü car park, in winter, snowcats take the taxi service to the Fanes hut, through the winding and steep 6 km long road that climbs about 600 metres in altitude. Sporty skiers and snowshoe trekkers go up along the road, but for once, it's worth taking a comfortable ride to the summit!
You can book a taxi for large groups by phone, or call to ask for the predefined times of the day of interest. The price of transport is 12 Euro per person.
In about 20 minutes you can reach the valley where the Fanes hut is located. The panorama is exceptional: the valley is open and sunny, covered by soft snow, crossed by mild streams and surrounded by the crown of snow-capped mountains. You can easily walk in the flat area and enjoy the view. With a steep uphill walk of about 20 minutes you reach the beautiful Passo Limo, a very panoramic plateau. It is difficult to go further without snowshoes on your feet.
Lunch is served at Rifugio Fanes, with excellent and hearty dishes, and before the sun goes down, you get ready for the descent. The boring ones can go down again with the snowcat, some sporty-people on foot, but if you want to add a bit of madness, take a sledge and launch yourself down the valley on the winding and steep hiking trail.
Toboggans can be rented in San Vigilio, and transported with the snowcat to Fanes. The sledges descent is very slow at times, due to the low gradient in some parts of the valley, but in some other parts it is a pure adrenaline rush. You descend at a very high speed, trying to turn around the sharp bends, and perhaps without running over the unfortunate hikers who return on foot on your way. Sledging down, considering on foot and downhill sections, takes between 30 and 40 minutes. Get good boots for braking, waterproof trousers, and a bit of adventure spirit.
This content is NOT SPONSORED, but based on my genuine personal experience. Spontaneous opinions, positive and negative, shareable or not, that I hope will help to live better travel experiences. My advice is a guide to lead you through world explorations, but the real journey, you build it!
