Our last walk in the Dolomites

Our final walking day dawned cool and overcast.  We decided that we would join the guided walk to the Pinnacles.  Unfortunately I left my camera behind, so the photos attached are courtesy of the other girls.

Robbie decided to take advantage of the opportunity for a painting lesson with the resident artist.  She headed up to Utia la Brancia for a day of art.

Our bus trip took us to the Campolongo Pass - 1875m - and from there we set off on a steep climb up to the Pinnacles.  This was by far the most challenging day for me as we reached a height of 2238m before beginning our descent.

As we climbed, the weather began to close in and by the time we had reached our lunch stop at Lake Boe, we were shrouded in cloud.

Fortunately the weather held out and we began our very steep descent back to Corvara.  Initially the route took us on a maintenance road, but after some time, we parted company with the others in the group - four firemen and some couples from the UK - as they headed back down into the village and we took a different route that would take us directly back to the pensione.  The final part of the descent was on a steep ski run - beautifully grassed and soft - and by the golf course.

The numbers in our pensione are slowly dwindling as the season is about to close.  Many of the chairlifts and cable cars will stop running tomorrow.  We all sat at one table for dinner tonight.  Caroline, the Manager of the pensione sat with us and explained some of the workings of the organisation.

Colette's have a handshake agreement with the landlord to lease the pensione for each of the seasons. At the end of each season the staff scrub the place from top to toe and return home.  Generally they sign up for a summer and winter season, though many of them have done many more that that.