Pala d'Altei MTB

Another attempt to reach the summit of Pala d'Altei, a mountain I wake up seeing from my bedroom window every morning but have never reached the top.  The ride began well but halfway through the gravel section I shifted and the chain was stuck between the big cog and the spokes.  I tried pulling it but no go.  Finally I pulled the wheel off (still dangling from the chain), put both feet on the wheel and pulled the chain like tensioning a long bow.  That worked.

Everything still functioned so I pressed on.  At the end of the gravel road I hid my bike in the foliage and started hiking.  This eastern approach is shady and cool, very welcome on this sunny day.   Eventually I reached the hollow that was full of snow back in April.  I headed up the trail to the top of  Pala d'Altei, which was covered with wildflowers and (unfortunately) stinging nettles.  So many stings that the hair on my legs felt like it was hallucinating, very disconcerting.  

The walk back was easy and the descent uneventful.  This type of riding/hiking is pretty habit forming.  I'll try to do it more often.    

Lago di Ravedis

The cross on the mountaintop 

Grizzo and Malnisio

Cross close-up

Rhododendron hunkering down in its cranny

Giais far below

Mostly on the bike, walking toward the end