Rifugio Sennes was our first overnight stay along the AV1, after taking buses from Cortina and…read moremaking the climb up from Lago di Braies. It was an afternoon that started hot & sunny and ended with wind and rain; and those of us who arrived first were able to duck under the canopy on the back deck just as the bigger drops started to fall.
There were cows grazing everywhere - The sound of their collar-bells rang out in all directions. After changing to sandals, dropping off my pack, and grabbing a lager, I sat out on the back deck to enjoy the atmosphere. It was one of the many highlights of my trip.
The rifugio itself was charming, with a good layout and a friendly staff. Compared to rifugios we would visit later, it felt quite spacious. And it was one of two huts on our trip to offer an extensive menu for dinner. (Others were prix fixe-style). My main course of polenta with mushroom sauce was delicious and hearty.
Rifugio Sennes also felt the most 'germanic' of the AV1 huts; it was a mere score of miles from the Austrian border. I noted the staff spoke both German and Italian (in addition to English). There was even a visiting quartet that played a short, wake-up 'oompah' song in the morning (I just missed the photo op). After breakfast I was a little sad to leave. But the next rifugio was beckoning.
Rifugio Summary:
- Setting: Sheltered behind a ridge and overlooking high meadow; surrounded by cows and long-distance views
- Rooms/dorms: Good size; very clean
- Food: Excellent
- Potable water: Yes
- Wi-fi: weak
