Day 5 - Entering the Pala group

August 24, 2025

Route of the day

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Download the gpx file or see the route on outdooractive.com

Back on track

This photo is the same at the last one of the previous day, but it is one of my best shots. It is also quite fascinating how the light at dawn mixes up all the colors compared to previous day's picture.

After a long sleep, we are ready to leave Flora Alpina at 8:20. Our first checkpoint is the San Pellegrino Pass, (1918 meters on sea level) which is unfortunately a bit farther away than it would have been if we slept in Fuciade.

It takes us about one hour to reach the pass. On the way we saw a cow breastfeeding her calf, which was cute. We cross the main road on the pass, and from here we have to walk up on grassy slopes and ski paths. The signs point to a path that is not the one we planned, but the two tracks join shortly afterwards. The ski paths are extremely steep, but wide, so we can easily zig-zag all the way up.

At 10:30 we reach the Pale di Gargol (2218m), a plane that I am not sure why deserves a name. Perhaps the name refers to the whole area which I guess could be described as a rocky meadow.

The Pale di Gargol. The term "pala" means "shovel" in Italian, but according to the Italian Wikipedia page about the Pale di San Martino mountains, in the local language it once denoted a grassy slope at the feet of a mountain range.

Once again, the landscape has changed to show us something completely different from that we have seen so far. The constant shifting from rocks, to forest, to grass, to yet other types of rock and any combination of those features is in my opinion one of the most fascinating aspects of Alta Via 2.

Walking down to Passo Valles. In the background, the Pale di San Martino.

The trail continues almost flat in this unusual scenery until we descend to Passo Valles (2032m) at around 11:50. We are now entering the fascinating section of the Pale di San Martino, also known in English as the Pala group, of which the Mulaz and the Focobón group are the northernmost peaks.

But first we need a break. We stop at a bar on the pass for a coffee and a slice of strüdel.

Veneggia, Venegiotta and Pass dei Fochet

We leave the pass at 12:20, and in half an hour we reach Forcella Veneggia (2217m). The view opens up to the wild valley in the south.

The view from Forcella Veneggia.

So far, the day has not been particularly challenging. Later on we’ll have to pass some difficult sections, but for now we continue on some easy, if narrow, trails.

Despite the beauty of the place, we don’t meet many other hikers. In fact, I think we saw more marmots than people in this part of the route.

At around 14:00 we reach Passo Venegiotta (2300m), and about 30 minutes later Passo dei Fochet (2291m). The weather has been good today so far, but here a strong cold wind starts blowing, and we can feel a few drops of rain.

Through the rocks, to Rifugio Mulaz

The landscape changes once again. We are now walking on rocks and gravel.

We walk down a scree to around 2175m, before starting to climb up again. It’s cold and cloudy, and this part of the trail is a fair bit more difficult than the previous. Nothing particularly hard or dangerous, but we have to pay more attention to where we put our feet.

The trail abruptly becomes extremely steep, and very demanding on my muscles, which so far had been enjoying a more relaxing day.

Some steel ropes help make the climb to Rifugio Mulaz less dangerous.

We reach Rifugio Mulaz (2570m) at 16:40, after a little more than 8 hours from when we left Flora Alpina. Somehow, despite the long walk between them, both these places are in the territory of Falcade.

Reaching Rifugio Mulaz

From this hut, the only landscape you can see, in any direction, is naked rock. There is a tiny window from where you can see a valley, but the sight is cut out and the only visible thing is more rocks. Definitely fascinating, although I personally prefer more varied landscapes.

I’ll add a picture on the next day’s page, the early morning light was much better.

Oh and by the way, up here every resource is very scarce. There is no drinkable tap water, and showers cost 8€ for 5 minutes. But I really need one today.