From Foppolo to the Rifugio and Passo di Dordona

A loop hike today with friends from Thursday, very interesting and not too challenging. The view from the Bocchetta dei Lupi over the Porcile lakes and the Tartano valley is spectacular. Recommended.

After @Berghem Forever wrote to me: "I'm pleased to see you've finally overcome your prejudices about Foppolo!!!" I wanted to surprise her and dear @Gianluca (free soul) by giving Foppolo a repeat within a week. Naturally, I didn't repeat the same hike, but I decided to take a wonderful second loop that this area offers. Starting from the same parking lot, you take a route that climbs the mountains to the northwest. The direction is toward Monte Cadelle and the Porcile Pass. I should point out that Monte Cadelle was part of this hike, but despite the beautiful day, there was a really strong and annoying wind at the top. To be honest, at this time of year it's only annoying for people like me, who are always wet from exertion. I had foolishly forgotten a neck brace and arrived at the Porcile Pass with the onset of a neck ache, which forced me to give up on this famous peak, even though I had come quite close. I've been there in the past and had the opportunity to admire the famous three-faced Archangel Gabriel, offering views of three of the valleys (Brembana, Tartano, and Madre) that were affected by the 1987 flood. At the end of the hike, I have to be honest, I was glad I didn't climb it, as this hike involves two beautiful, steep and tiring climbs, and at my age, not every day is the same. Last week, I felt like a lion and had to slow down to enjoy the scenery, but this time I felt more fatigued than usual. This was also helped by the fact that we start right away on a beautiful vertical trail, with no chance to warm up the diesel in me. I instead descended to the Porcile lakes, which I find truly breathtakingly beautiful. In the second lake, some people were bathing. A long, boring climb to the Bocchetta dei Lupi awaited me, or I probably would have done the same idyllic madness. Beyond the pass, you descend to the Dordona refuge, where from then on the hike was a copy and paste of last week's. The hike, I mean, regarding lunch, is entirely new and always very much appreciated. Having also heard the opinion of @Roberto who did it last week, I'd like to offer some advice to anyone who wants to go. If you're interested in the Dordona refuge, copy my direction of travel due to the necessity of things and the timetables you have to respect. You can add the summit of Cadelle, or if that already seems too much, skip the descent to the lakes and see them from the high, panoramic path. If you're not interested in lunch, do it in reverse, because the steepest sections would be done downhill, making the whole thing much less tiring. After all, everything is subjective...

inspired by @Davide Algeri 🦁🐆🐘🦏🐃 .....nice hike