Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Bomb Dump Loop

Rode to the post office to pick up my new MTB stem.  On the way home I took the old concrete road which Italian tanks used to travel, past the bomb dump, to the range at il Magredi.  The concrete is a bit bumpy but Fedaia’s steel frame softens the impacts.  You join the highway below Sedrano and continue through San Martino.  Lovely ride.


Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Coltura-Cansiglio-Piancavallo MTB

A favorite ride through gorgeous alpine landscape.  After warming up with a spin down to Coltura you turn right  on Via Ruals then left on  Via San Michele.  This soon turns to gravel and climbs continuously until reaching the paved road that connects with Cansiglio highway.  Soon you climb past Lama di Som and continue steeply on concrete and gravel.  Eventually you reach the paved road connecting the malghe and continue steeply.

Now you enter the shady old growth forest of Cansiglio and enjoy much sali scendi on dirt roads.  This ends as you emerge into grassland of Col di Scios.  Continue on Panaramica Cansiglio-Piancavallo.  Descended from Bornass to Costa.  Tired but happy.



Saturday, July 20, 2019

Cadolten MTB

Continuing westward down the front range we reach the climb to Cadolten.  After a long warm up from Giais via Rugolo and Montaner I started the climb  from Osigo.  Turn left on Via Pravinera and begin the endless series of concrete ramps and steep gravel stretches.  Mercifuly shady today so I never completely collapsed.  After the chieseta the shade vanishes but you continue in the prospect of reaching Cadolten before too long.  Finally cool and shady you reach the descent.  After La Crosetta all is bliss; even the few little hills don't bother you.




Malga Coro at Cadolten

Rocky hill Cadolten 




Thursday, July 18, 2019

Troi de Rut and Troi delle Cloipes

A couple more Giais hiking trails to share with you.  I parked at end of pavement in Glera and hiked up the gravel military road toward Il Gravon.  Before long a trail veered off to the right and headed steeply upward.  It's not too steep to climb, but returning downhill would be pretty dicey on loose gravel.   It climbed unceasingly through the woodland and the terrain on the left gradually fell away into a deep gorge.  Cliffs emerged and then they fell away too.  Eventually it leveled out briefly and I found a point to get some photos from.  After a length of steel cable to hold on to you reach Casera Palussa, which was deserted today.  This is the end of Troi de Rut trail. 

Now begins the descent on Troi delle Cloipes, slightly less steep but just as shady.  It touches the edge of il Gravon, a large sun-exposed gravel face but I stayed on the woodland trail.  It ends maybe 100 meters from the start of Troi de Rut, a perfect loop.  Unfortunately I left the gps at home but it’s easy to find and follow.

The cliffs of Rut with
Glera in background

Another angle with cave opening

Trail map at Palussa

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Colline di Giais MTB

Fun MTB’ing in the hills around our village.  There are dirt roads and trails, flats and steep climbs, open grassland and shady woodland.  Wonderful area.

View north

View northwest


Sunday, July 14, 2019

Val Zemor

Last year rode down this gorgeous mountain road, so today I tried the other direction.   Beautiful and peaceful and never too steep.  Eventually joins the road from Stella to Mantaner then down almost to Artegna and the long road home.  Glorious bike ride.



Thursday, July 11, 2019

Zuccul Supigna MTB


A cool July day perfect for a mountain bike climb.  I rode up past Osservatorio Astronomico to the trailhead for Pala d'Altei and pushed the bike steeply up the trail and then turned down the rocky trail to Zuccul Supigna.  Gonna have to hike up this promontory next time on a clear day soon.  Lovely ride and a nice work out.



Montreale Valcellina

Pala d'Altei

Giais




Monday, July 8, 2019

Clap de Pissol Hike

Been wanting to visit Clap de Pissol for a long time.  You hike north from Selva (Giais) past the internet ground station to the trailhead for Troi del Vuolth.  Climb to Baita Polo (aka Britol).   Head north to turnoff marked Clap de Pissol and continue to the cliff face.  Lots of water running through these cliffs today.  Beautiful views all along here.

Note Garmin cut off at Baita Polo.








Giais from Baita Polo


Panning west toward Aviano

Baita Polo

View toward Clap de Pissol

Baita Polo from Clap de Pissol

View east toward  Montereale

Pala Fontana

Cliffs with another spring above Glera

Friday, July 5, 2019

Montaner to Cansiglio


Cruised down to Sarmede and climbed to Montaner then found the narrow  Via di
Guitcillo.  I gave it my best shot and made it maybe two thirds of the way up, then stopped for 5 minutes to recover.  Alas I couldn’t pedal, so I pushed most of the way to the house where the scramble up slope begins.  The blackberry thorns weren’t bad yet and I soon made it to the dirt road. A few more upslopes and I was over the top, immersed in cool shady beech forest.  Descended to the highway from Fregona, rode briefly upward to the dirt road to picnic area.  From there continue on dirt then asphalt to the highway down to Sarone.  From there along Palu to Polcenigo, Budoia, Aviano and home.

















Shady Cansiglo lane





Junction with road to Sarone