The normal AV1(N) schedule for Day 1 involves walking from Brixen to Rifugio Plose, which is a big day of 11.6km and 1,890m of ascent. It is possible to shorten this by taking the 321 bus from Brixen to the bottom of the Plose cable car, or even to take the cable car up to Plose top station. At present the Plose Rifugio is undergoing refurbishment, and it is not possible to stay there. Our original schedule was to walk to Rifugio Plose, take the cable car/bus back down to Brixen, and to go back up to Rifugio Plose the following day. This was less than ideal.

The group opted to take the bus/cable car up to Plose top station, and then to do a circular walk via Ochsenalm before returning to Brixen by cable car/bus.