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The next two days, I hiked in the Gherdenacia Massiv. This mountain range is quite different from the Sela Massiv. It consists of a vast plateau of bleached-bone-colored rocks stretching from one side to the other with peaks surrounding the plateau like a crown. Piza de Poez is the highest mountain of the plateau, located pretty much in the center.
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Landscape on Passo Gardena, where I started one of my hikes.
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In walking up to a higher elevation, I first passed alpine meadows with firs.
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Only the low growing mountain firs can survive in an elevation of about 6000 ft. I love the smell and the sturdiness of these special trees.
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In order to reach the high plateau, the path leads through interesting rock formations.
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For hours, I walked on the high plateau without meeting any other hikers. I loved the solitude without feeling alone.
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This interesting mountain reaching up from the plateau had a shape of a volcano. However, the shape of the mountain was created by millions of years of erosion. During my hikes, I often tried to capture my experiences in a haiku. This is one of them:
Millions of years
In the fields of flowing stones
Wind against my face
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I did not pass any creeks or waterfalls on the Gherdenacia Massiv, but saw every so often short, colorful alpine flowers growing between the flat rocks. This intensive blue flower is called a gentian.
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Especially in the lower areas near the lift, one can find benches. This bench was especially inviting, being in company with a very humorous and friendly forest being.
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The nicest “Wurzelsepp” (root Sepp) I have met so far
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Path to the Gardenacia cabin
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On both of my plateau hikes, I walked through this valley down to the village of Colfosco. Although I could not see them, I heard the sharp warning sounds of marmots, sometimes, a flock of jackdaws.
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crossed the sky.
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A little chapel dedicated to Mary
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View to the Sela Mountains
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Church of Colfosco with the Sela Massiv in the background
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It snowed when we left Colfosco and fields of white spoke of heavy snowfall during the night. We were really lucky that the cold weather did not arrive earlier.
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