Читать книгу Through the Italian Alps. The GTA - The Grande Traversata delle Alpi онлайн

35 страница из 48

The majority of CAI rifugi also have basic winter premises, ricovero invernale, intended for emergency use when the hut is closed. These generally have bunk beds – hopefully with blankets – and some sort of cooking/heating facilities. Users need to bring their own food and sleeping bag. Experienced walkers who don’t mind roughing it can therefore embark on the GTA even when the rifugi are closed for business.

The bivacco is a small, unmanned hut that is always open. It has bunk beds, not necessarily blankets or heating, occasionally cooking facilities and usually easy access to water. A handful are encountered during the GTA.

Serious consideration should be given to the camping option. Anyone prepared to carry the extra equipment and weight is guaranteed a magnificent – not to mention cheaper – experience. Alternating wild pitches with hostels and rifugi is the perfect way to tackle the trek and get the most out of it. However, it does entail an extra burden so think carefully before loading up with tent, sleeping bag and cooking equipment. (Note Camping Gaz canisters are forbidden on planes but are widely available in Italy at city sports stores and main resorts.) Numerous stages entail gargantuan climbs to wonderful passes and wild high mountainous zones where it would be great to linger, rather than hurry away on the quest for comfortable accommodation in valley locations. A little advance planning (such as purchasing food in villages – though don’t forget that the shepherds often sell dairy products) can result in memorable alfresco dinners. Several of the resort villages on the GTA route have camping grounds (mentioned in the route description where known). With the exception of the protected parks and reserves, where pitching a tent is strictly forbidden, there are endless possibilities for nights out in spectacular isolated valleys.