Forcella di Giais MTB/Hike

A hike I've never climbed, right above our village.  First I MTB'ed to the Gravon, a gravelly stack of switchbacks.  Then I locked the bike to a tree and walked to the trailhead.  Nice and shady up this very steep connector trail.  You emerge into the sun and connect to a sharp ridge ascending from Marsure, Sentiero Costa Longa.  This takes you steeply up through grassy slopes to Forcella di Giais.  No one here but a herd of goats and sheep and some shepherds.

I hiked up to a narrow notch  with 360 degree views but couldn't see the trail down.  So I decided I'd hike over Pala Fontana and then down.  Luckily I saw a sign for Casera di Giais via the easy traverse trail.  This has some beautiful hidden forest patches along the way, quite nice walking.

At the Casera Iturned downhill on the same trail as last week.  Happy to find my knees didn't hurt this time.  Maybe I'm healing.  When you reach the trail for Baitala Polo don't take it, continue on the trail toward Casera Palussa, following the terrain and entering shady woods.  At the casera continue downward through woods until you arrive at the Gravon.  Found my bike and coasted home.  Fun!

Sentiero Costa Longa

East toward Monte di Mezzo

Montereale, Maniago

To the west

Alter at Forcella di Giais

Forcella di Giais with Monte Cavallo Gruppo

Goats and sheep grazing here

View west

East toward Cellina River

Looking back at Gravon

Pala Fontana Summit

To the east

Local trails map

Casera Palussa

The climb