Follow the Scree

Though this walk was more or less flat most of the way, it was still very long. I was always lagging behind the others, because I was the one with the camera. Around each bend or behind each boulder I found a new perspective on this fantastic landscape. The plan was for the three of us to walk the length of the Tre Cime past the rifugio. At the halfway point we would split. Marion and Vladimir would hike around the far side and I would return the way we came. The reason for that was that I have a fear of heights in exposed areas, and the far side had a number of exposed areas. I was happy with this plan, because I could take my time and make detours to take the photos I wanted. I could even take the time to change to a zoom lens. Behold the giants of the earth.

This was a beautiful green plateau with two monuments and in the morning it was a beautiful contrast to the blue hue of the mountains in the distance.

Tre Cime was also a battleground during World War I, and here are some gravestones of soldiers who never came home.

I’m feeling on top of the world.

In this rocky landscape tiny flowers still found purchase and provided a dash of color among the rocks.

We would climb up there next.

We approached Rifugio Lavaredo.

This was our view as we sat outside to have something to drink.

There had been heavy snows that season, and you can see the high wall of snow along the path.

Upward, and we left the rifugio behind.

Another beautiful Alpine wildflower in the rocks.  My only regret was that I never saw an Edelweiss in the wild. They cultivate them and in stores you can see them growing in pots, but it’s not the same thing.

One view of Tre Cime.