Stage 1: From Rifugio Damiano Chiesa to Mori
From the summit of Monte Altissimo to the village of Mori there are a good 39 km! A long stage for sure, but one that is almost all downhill, never steep or difficult. If you set off with this in mind, your legs and mind will have no trouble in embarking on the journey.
Along the way, you may see, in flight or at rest, one of the most iconic lepidopterans of the Alpine pastures: Parnassius apollo, a large white butterfly speckled with black and red. Monte Baldo, a precious and rare world home to several endemic botanical species, is the ideal habitat for this butterfly.
Just before Polsa, you will encounter an example of an artificial impluvium, one of the few still observable in its entirety. If you've not come across this term before, it is a large, square stone-paved surface, oblique and suitable for collecting water, filtering it and conveying it to large reservoirs further downstream. This piece of human ingenuity was devised during the Great War to avoid waiting for slow and limited supplies, which would only last for a few days.
After gentle undulations and expansive views, the last remaining section passes through a number of small hamlets before arriving effortlessly at the village of Mori. Visit the various small squares to refill your water bottle with fresh water from the fountains, or choose a bar for a well-deserved refreshment - perhaps a sandwich with local cold cuts and cheese.