Coldest day of the year so far but the sun is spectacular and I couldn't resist. I headed through Pinzano, up the switchbacks to Anduins and then into the gorge of Val Arzene. The road was closed to traffic by a landslide before you reach Pielungo, so I tried scrambling over the debris carrying my bike. An Italian hunter asked if I was trying cyclocross instead of bici di corsa and I laughed and agreed.
I continued to San Francesco where the climb begins. The road emerges from the shady narrow gorge into bright sunlight with roaring white water of Torrente Arzene in the canyon below- wonderful scenery. Higher up you begin a series of switchbacks through snowy beech forest. It finally reaches the sella, flanked by the peaks of Monte Verzegnis and Monte Piombada.
I froze on the descent and only warmed up a little when I reached the rollers near Pinzano. By the time I rode through Lestans I was beat and struggled the rest of the way home. Very glad to have a hot bath and coffee when I got home.
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| Monte Piombada (1744m) |
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| Beautiful ice sculptures along the climb |
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| Close-up of ice fall |
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| Rounded shapes of ice formed around a plant's branches |
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