Two days in the Alps with Francesco Tomè: adventure, unexpected events, and a new friendship
On Tuesday, July 8th at 3:30 AM, with my eyes still half-closed, I loaded my car with a tent, sleeping bag, food, spare clothes, trail running poles, and everything needed to spend two days in the Alps with Francesco Tomè. Ortles Run chose to support Francesco and his "Endless Peaks" project because it perfectly represents our brand's values: exploring new places, living authentic adventures, and always being outdoors. If you would like to learn more about Francesco's project, you can read the dedicated article here.
I arrived in Fondo, in Trentino-Alto Adige, at 6:15 in the morning. Francesco was running slightly late, so I took the opportunity to organize the car, my backpack, and my bags. Shortly after, I saw him arrive along with Emmanuel, a friend who would be providing logistical support with the van. After a quick in-person introduction—we had only spoken on the phone and via WhatsApp—we were immediately ready to go.
After a night of rain, white shoes and light-colored socks were not the best choice 😂
The first day involved a 37 km stage with 2100 meters of elevation gain. We started running along dirt roads and forest trails, relatively easy terrain, even if the distance remained demanding. Francesco was on his nineteenth day of running; we calculated that he had already covered about 800 km since starting in Vrata. We talked a lot: the day was made up of discoveries, the exchange of experiences, and visions. It is interesting to note how Francesco's youthful, high-energy mindset blended easily with my more mature one; our meeting happened naturally thanks to our shared passions for running, the mountains, and adventure.
View from Malga Lauregno
The only real obstacle of the day arrived just 4 km from the finish. The trail indicated by the GPS literally disappeared. There were no signs or markers, only dense woods with tall grass, fallen trees, and vague traces of an old, abandoned path. We tried turning back, but it was no use. We therefore plunged down through the woods, uncertain and a bit angry about the surreal situation. After some complicated minutes, we finally found a well-maintained path that led us toward the finish. A minor misadventure that fortunately ended well. The Strava track for the day is available here.
On the second day, we woke up early. We had 47 km ahead with 3200 meters of elevation gain and two passes over 2500 meters. It had snowed above 2800 meters the previous night, and temperatures at the start were quite low (about 7 degrees). At first, we struggled to warm up, but then the sun came out and everything improved quickly. Climbing toward Passo Palù, we enjoyed an extraordinary panorama with distant glaciers: we easily recognized Cima d’Asta, the Rava Group, and Cima Sette Selle. The fatigue of the climb gave way to the joy and beauty of the surroundings.
Passo Palù: you can still see a few remnants of snow from the previous night on the ground
We descended quickly to Rabbi Fonti, where Emmanuel was waiting for us with a ready and well-deserved lunch. The break was short, because another demanding climb toward Passo Cèrcen at 2600 meters awaited us. It was right there that we experienced the highlight of our day: the view was spectacular, and both Francesco's and my spirits were at their peak.
As often happens, the difficulty arrived just when we felt we were finished. Once again, the GPS made us walk back and forth for a few extra kilometers, and the fatigue began to set in. We finally reached Pejo, where Emmanuel was waiting for us with the van. It was at that moment that the exhaustion hit us all at once, but it was a tiredness that gave way to the satisfaction of the beautiful experience we had shared.
The Strava track for the day is available here.
After these two days together, having covered 84 km and climbed 5200 meters, I feel that a new friendship was born. If he happens to pass through Florence, I know Francesco will always be welcome, just as Ortles Run and I personally will always be ready to support him in his future adventures. Because that is the beauty of sharing the struggle and emotions of the mountains: every adventure creates authentic, unforgettable bonds.
