May 27, 2022 — Stage 4 — Haut Ascu to Tighjettu — 8mi / 4,500'

I enjoyed breakfast a lot, with yogurt and two coffees, and got “leave last, move fast,” as the message for the morning. We motored up to the pass below Monte Cintu in record time, passing many other parties along the way. There was only a tiny bit of snow left up high, and it was soft enough that we didn't need to use the micro-spikes that we'd brought along. 

Once we got to the pass, we left our big packs and just took lunch with us up to the summit of Monte Cintu, easy enough 2nd class but slow going with the group, and then a long, very steep 1000+m descent down to the Tighjettu refuge which took longer than expected. 

Anthony and I reached the refuge at about 6:30pm. Dirk and Pablo had gone ahead and thankfully reserved dinner for all four of us, which we enjoyed quite a lot. Dirk and Pablo said their farewells as they had decided to set off early and fast in the morning. 

The refuge was rustic wood construction, and again, not over-crowded. We slept in rented tents.

Strava GPS: https://www.strava.com/activities/7219498049