Everywhere: Articles: Walk on sheeps: their journey through a glacier.

A special appointment takes place twice a year in the very north of Italy: it is called "transumanza". A long amazing way for herds!

Are you looking at me?! by Alice Dalla Stella

At the end of the long travel, sheeps are send into fences where each owner go to pic-up its animals. The coloured stripes on the sheeps' back allowed the right recognition!

"Transumanza" in Val Senales, in the north of Italy at the boundary with Austria, is a special appointment from centuries and it is the highest transhumance of Europe reaching quote 2857 m.
From the XVI century exixts a contract called "Pasture Contract" between farmers living in Val Senales (Italy) and farmers living in Vent (Ötztal, Austria). According to it "Italian sheeps" have the right to reach the pastures in Vent during the Summer. Even after the Second World War the contract is still honoured.
So, twice a year, in June and then in September, local shepherds carry the herds from Italian pasture to the Asutrian ones. What is amazing is the road they take among a glacier with not less then 3000 sheeps.

This is not a tourist event at all, the little town (Maso Corto) at the end of the valley waits the coming back of their animals as a very special local feast. Everybody who happened to be there is welcome, with very good beer and appetizing food. Everything homemade! The atmosphere is simply great!

I knew about this tradition from some years and last September fellt the desire to follow the sheeps journey waiting them at the mountain pass when they appear out of the glacier. I missed it! I do not live near that region and even leaving from home at night I only met the herds at half of they "coming down" travel.
Anyway, it was a strong event: about 3000 sheeps coloured with blue, red, green stripes to distinguish their owner. Little lamb running, big sheeps just eating grass, a few tourists trying to get some shots, shepherds and sheep dogs.
And then, after a little rest, the last route to reach the fences and eventually the feast!
And so...go down everybody, go down running as crazy people following cantering animals in a total mess.
I was in the middle of them, trying to take some pictures and enjoying those moments of an adventure.

The day was perfect: wonderful light, sunny, the valley is a little jewel for those who loves mountain. And to have a good end: drinking and eating with the locals!