Past and future meet

At the Cava Buscada mountain hut, the distant past of the geological eras that led to its creation, encountered the short-term future in relation to the Dolomites. The UNESCO Dolomites Foundation was only able to stage one of its “Incontri d’alt(r)a quota” (Other High Altitude Encounters) during 2020. This was held on 21 September, and took place in the Val Zemola, in the Friulian Dolomites Natural Park. Despite the limitations imposed by the Covid emergency, a few dozen participants were able to attend. They learnt about the history of the Earth, explored the remains of the marble quarry, active until 1994, and discussed the present and future of the mountain huts.

“No future without the mountain huts”

The president of the UNESCO Dolomites Foundation, Mario Tonina, also came up to the Cava Buscada mountain hut, and affirmed the Foundation’s support for the managers, Roberta and Giampietro Corona, who bought the buildings of the old quarry and transformed them into a centre of hospitality. The premises and neighbouring path through the blocks of marble tell the story of a business that employed many of the inhabitants of Erto. The president asked the managers to continue their valuable work of enhancing and protecting the local area: “Without you, the mountains would have no future.”

The president was accompanied by the Foundation’s vice president, the councillor for the infrastructure and territory of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Graziano Pizzimenti, and the deputy mayor of Erto and Casso, Davide Corona.

Abseiling into the past

The geotrekking group were escorted by two geologists, Riccardo Tomasoni from the MUSE – Trento Science Museum, and Antonio Cossutta, guide for the Friulian Dolomites Natural Park; and by mid-mountain guide, Lucia Montefiori. The video bears witness to an event that marked the end of the 2020 summer season, with recognition of our geological heritage and of the indispensable work carried out by the mountain hut managers, guardians of what have increasingly become our “high altitude cultural defences.”