Gluten tag!

With a few days of R&R before our departure from Zurich, Arlo suggested the island of Lindau on Lake Constance and, well, it was on the way. We rented e-bikes and rode from Germany through Austria and into Switzerland — three countries by bike! Then it was time to cake it easy and we found a sweet cafe to complete our cake walk goals: From apfelstrudel to zwetschgenkuchen (plum cake), we left no crumb behind. Thanks to Arlo, my butter half, for taking all of the best photos and talking me down off many precarious ledges. Thanks to you for reading along!

Sole searching

We added a 13th day to our hiking trip (baker's dozen) when Chris suggested we check out the Cortina waterfalls. Chris then did some sole searching when his boots disintegrated on the trail. We knew the time had come to give the Alps the boot and head to Munich to see the rest of the family. En route, Arlo got word that his application for German citizenship was approved. We enjoyed celebrating with German beer, spaetzle cooking class with Stephi, and other hair necessities.

Hike Day 12: Tre Cime, The Grand Finale

After 12 days on the trail we called it a wrap at the most iconic Dolomite massif, Tre Cime. A fairytale location to end a storybook hike. We took the path slightly less traveled and found a quiet farmhouse for morning cake and coffee with Tre Cime towering overhead. (I regret not lining up three pieces of cake with the peaks.) At the top, cousin Chris met us to make our hike complete. Three's company at Tre Cime. Thanks to the Italians for the tradition of cake for breakfast, for building and maintaining all the chairlifts, for always saying a friendly Bongiorno on the trail, for pizza, and for gelato fun. Legendairy!

Hike Day 11: Rifugio Col de Varda to Rifugio Auronzo

A huge thunderstorm and lightning rattled the hut during the night but in the morning the cook warmed our hearts with cappuccino and hot crepes with jam. The weather prediction for 1.6 inches of rain had us jittery. After spectacular weather for the entire trip we thought our luck had run out. It reminded me of some climbers who stomped into our hut before 9 am and ordered beer then asked the hut manager about the current weather report. The manager shrugged and said, "It's the mountains, only God knows." Nevertheless, we persisted and hit the trail where we found blue skies, a man with the critical job of stocking the hut with beer-necessities via a tow lift, and amoosing cows. We walked past a small lake and hundreds of tiny froglets crossed our path leapfrogging toward the water. It was ribbiting. We were glad we weren't wearing open-toad sandals! The rain and hail struck but by then we were fat and happy eating a light dinner at the hut cafeteria.

Hike Day 10: Rifugio Vandelli to Rifugio Col de Varda

As the dino-snores in our bunk room, we handed out earplugs to our four roommates ensuring they were still our friends in the morning. After breakfast chow we said Ciao and slid our way down the mountain. If you haven't noticed yet, mileage isn't mentioned because it's all about the ups and downs we face each day. On other Alp hikes, the trail signs at least give estimates of how many hours it will take. Here the signs don't even dare to estimate it! A light rain all afternoon didn't phase us because Arlo engineered a way to strap our umbrellas on our packs so we still had both hands for our trusty hiking poles. At the warm and cozy hut we met five others who had also worked with Brittany to plan and book their route so we dubbed ourselves the Brittany Brigade. Two minutes before the group photo was snapped there were seven pieces of tiramisu in front of us. This group really takes the cake!

Hike Day 9: Rifugio Faloria to Rifugio Vandelli/Lake Sorapis

The day's hike started with a traverse and a charade of chamois goats. Then things got tougher when we had to pretend to be mountain goats ourselves and scramble over a steep pass on loose rock. At the top
of the pass, edelweiss and more wildflowers greeted us before we plunged down the mountainside. Our next cliffhanger via ferrata awaited so we couldn't pat ourselves on the back yet (we had to hang on for dear life). Then we faced an even more punishing vertical hike down a rocky trail full of ankle busters and deep knee bends. But in the distance, like a mirage, we saw our next hut and the pale blue glacial waters of Lake Sorapis.

Hike Day 8: Cortina to Rifugio Faloria

Our next hut was at the top of a lift! Unfortunately the lift was closed due to "administrative issues" but they offered us a Jeep ride later in the day. We bumped our way up a 3000 foot gravel road in a 4-wheel-drive adventure. One of the locations for the Sylvester Stallone film "Cliffhanger" was a short hike away and the building that stood in for a Colorado mine truly hangs on the cliff. I am not recommending the film but the location scout deserves an Oscar.