Casera Venchiareit MTB

I attempted this ride last November but rain turned me back at 1400 meters.  Today I warmed up on the climb to Passo Monte Rest, then turned left onto a gravel road.  Almost immediately it starts climbing up gravel and concrete switchbacks.  After passing some tall cliffs you climb onward to 1443 meters where you start heading down.  It descends steeply for quite a while, and  I was starting to worry.  Finally at 1100 meters I reached the turnoff that climbs up to my destination at 1350 meters.

The roads are unmarked and aren't on Gaia's GPS open source maps.  I did have my Tabbacco map so I tried to meld the two together.  After 3 or 4 dead ends I reached what I think was the correct road. It had a barrier across the road, marked "Private," etc so I turned around.  That's as close as I can get on a bike. 

Now back down to 1100 meters and then the toughest climb of the day: 2.2 km averaging 11% with some 15% ramps.  I was fried by the time I got back to 1440 meters.  Luckily it's mostly downhill from there on, turning to pavement at Passo Monte Rest then switchbacking down to Tramonti di Sopra.

Fun ride.  I think I'll try parking the bike at 1400 meters next time and hiking up to Monte Costa di Paladin. 

View of Tagliamento River and mountains toward Tolmezzo

Close up of Tagliamento

Monte Rest peeking over a ridge

Very big cliffs along the trail

Mountains to north

Killer climb

End of the public road

Sella Chiampon

Finally cleared up so I headed for the hills.  I rode to Pinzano and then climbed to Anduins and the road through Val Arzino,  one of the most beautiful and uncrowded places I've ever been.  After Pielungo and San Francesco I began the climb toward Sella Chianzutan.  I thought I would continue to the top, but surprisingly the turn-off through Val Preone and Sella Chiampon was open.  Last year a huge avalanche had closed the road but now its's good as new.  I enjoyed the views, then headed down through the town of Preone to Socchieve.  Here I headed west on the main road toward Ampezzo, turning left just after Mediis toward Priuso.  Pretty good 200 meter climb here, which you immediately give back when you descend to the Tagliamento bridge.  Now the real climb starts, up the north side of Passo Monte Rest: 5.6 km averaging 8.8%, with a ramp of 14.6.  After that down to Tramonti, Meduno, Maniago and home.  Fun ride!

Looking down through beautiful Val Arzino

Close up of mountains further down the valley.

Pozzis along the Arzino

Sella Chiampon meadows (sorry about the thumb)

Sella Chianzutan peaks seen from Sella Chiampon

Peaks from another angle

The notch is Sella Chiampon (seen from Socchieve)

Waterfall at the start of climb up north side of Passo Monte Rest

Climb stats up north side of Passo Monte Rest

Monte Costa di Paladin MTB

Another turnoff I've passed many times but never ridden.  I warmed up climbing from Tramonti di Sopra to Passo di Monte Rest (7.5 km averaging 7.5%).  At the turnoff onto the gravel road, a young fellow was using a crane to stack logs on his truck.  He asked if I was doing a giro (loop) and tried to help by warning that the road was blocked ahead, but I said I'd just turn around when I reached the barricade.  The road quickly gets steep switchbacking and then climbing along the ridgeside to 1415 meters (4.6 km averaging 8.9%).  I carried my bike over an obstacle as the man had mentioned, a small avalanche across the road.  Other than that the only delay a was fallen tree whose big limbs had to be crossed carrying the bike, but no problem.  Maybe further along something bigger like a landslide was blocking the way?

Anyway above 1400 meters the slight drizzle got a little harder and the road confusingly began descending with switchbacks.  I needed to look at the map but wasn't going to get it soaking wet, plus my turnaround deadline was nigh (Marilyn needed a ride to the store), so I turned back.  I'll try this again next Spring.  Pictures I've seen of the view from Monte Costa di Paladin (1700 meters) are pretty dazzling.  

Turn left on this road after crossing Passo di Monte Rest

Casera Feletta

Fiume Tagliamento; in background Monte Bivera (2474 meters) 

The avalanche

Monte Rest - Sella Chianzutan

Usually when I cross Passo Monte Rest I return via Sella Chiampon, but the road is closed due to an avalanche.  So today I thought I'd try a new route via Verzegnis.  I left early and it was crystal clear and cool.   Crossed Monte Rest without seeing a soul (just one spotted salamander).  Got very cold on the shady descent, and even the climb from the Tagliamento to Priuso didn't thaw me out.  I turned right on SS52 and rode down to Villa Santina.  Shortly after crossing Torrente Degano turn right at the sign for Invillino.  Then turn right off of Via Divisione Julia onto Via Col di Zuca.  This joins SP72 which crosses the Tagliamento on an old bridge.  

The road was marked closed but I thought I'd try it as they often are still passable.  The road winds up the forested hillside toward Verzegnis, but about the time I thought I must be nearing Chiacis the road was blocked.  Excavators have torn up all the roadway so there's not even a path to walk along the edge.  Luckily I noticed a dirt trail descending steeply to the left and thought I'd try it to see if it went through.  Sure enough after half a km the trail returns to pavement at Villa.  From there follow the road to Chiacis and soon you join SP 1. 

This main road, SP 1, was being readied for the Sella Chiazutan hill climb car race next week.  One guy was doing practice runs in an old Peugeot 205.  At the Sella ominous clouds were gathering and I hurried to get down to low altitude before it rained (hailed?)  After Anduins I continued to Pinzano and Sequals.  The wind had picked up and was mostly in my face.  I was very happy to get home, bone-tired.  

From Tagliamento River bridge below Monte Rest

From Villa Santina looking west 

From Tagliamento River bridge south of Villa Santina

Sella Chianzutan with gathering storm clouds

Monte Rest

Finally rain stopped and sun came out.  Rode up through Valmeduna to check if Passo Monte Rest is clear yet.  Almost, but at 912 meters it's snowed over.  You might be able to mountain bike it.  Enjoyed this solitary ride, especially all the burgeoning streams and waterfalls. 

Monte Valcalda from north end of Lago Tramonti

Torrente Chiarzo joins the dammed Meduna from this side canyon

Torrente Novarchis waterfall

Rio Pecol waterfall amidst the switchbacks

Lovely Rio Pecol around 700 meters

End of the road today- the snow will melt soon

Passo Monte Rest X2

Passo Monte Rest is an old favorite climb, but today I added a twist- instead of turning around at the top after climbing from the South, I continued down the other side to near Ampezzo.  Then I turned back and climbed the North side.  I rode very early so it was nice and cool both ways and hardly anyone else was on the road.  There is a surprising little climb from the Tagliamento River up over a little pass before Peonis, which you also climb on the return.    

When I reached the main road SS52 below Ampezzo I  noticed for the first time that Torrente Lumiei from Lago di Sauris joins the Tagliamento here.  That would be another little extra to add to the exertion- a climb up Passo di Pura to Lago di Sauris- hard!

Falling water of Rio Grasio, north slope

Monte Tinsia (2126m) across the Tagliamento

View west up the Tagliamento valley toward Veneto

Monte Rest - Sella Chiampon

Beautiful Spring day.  I rode up through Val Meduna to the start of the Monte Rest  climb.  This is one of the best climbs around here- well-made road through wilderness with spectacular scenery.  I was startled to see numerous long strings of caterpillars attached head to tail moving across the road in various places.  Been here many times before but never noticed that.

At the pass (1055 meters) I put on my windjacket and descended.  Lots of fallen rocks this time of year, some as big as my foot.  So descend carefully till they clean the road.  At the Tagliamento River you head steeply upward to Forcella di Priuso 655 meters then descend to SS52, the main road from Tolmezzo to Ampezzo.  

From here to Socchieve and then Preone where the next climb starts.  Val Preone is a very steep road hugging shear cliffs above the white water river below.  I made it to about 700 meters and had to stop to hyperventilate a while.  Luckily I was able to restart and finish the climb, avoiding the ignominy of pushing the bike to the top.

The meadows at Sella Chiampon, are gorgeous, covered with wildflowers and surrounded by mountains.  I continued along the road until I pulled over by a family that had finished hiking.  The man was very kind and advised me about a frane (landslide) ahead.  He thought I could dismount and make it along the narrow edge, but his wife was worried.  As it turned out it was no problem, I rode right along the edge without difficulty.  I'd intended to hike down to Cascate dell'Arzino, but I turned off too soon and ended hiking to the headwaters of the Arzino, maybe 500 meters above the falls.  By then I'd spent too much time and needed to get home, so I'll return to check out the falls later.

The descent down the Arzino gorge to San Francesco and Anduins was wonderful as always.  I was getting tired by now and despite plenty of sweet tea, fig bars, dates and almond-butter balls I was running out of steam.  I finally reached home, got in the bath, and promptly fell asleep.  Then Marilyn made me a big bowl of spaghetti, which brought me back to life.  

20-foot long train of caterpillars on Monte Rest climb

Photo doesn't capture how steep this is, but after
grappling up from the river this stretch finished me off 

Beautiful headwaters of Torrente Arzino above the waterfall

Note all the gradient above 10% on Sella Chiampon climb;
the dip at 70 km is where I stopped to "rest"
 

Passo di Monte Rest

Haven't ridden up Mont Rest since last spring so it felt nice to be back.  All the rain has filled up the waterfalls and they looked great.  The climb gave me a good workout, and at the summit there was absolute silence- very unusual as there was no wind or even birds chirping.  I saw no other bicycles above Meduno, and only one car above Tramonti di Sopra (arriving at Passo di Monte Rest just as I left).  Felt tired on the way home- still haven't recouped training lost while I was healing in September.  I'll try to catch up this fall/winter.

Waterfall on Rio Novarchis

Boisterous falls on Rio Pecol

Monte Rest

After a fast warm up through Meduno I headed up the Meduna river gorge.  Around Lago di Tramontina I noticed the normal haze was thicker than usual, and as I continued north I realized it was smoke.   It got thicker and thicker until Tramonti di Sotto, where I began to worry it would irritate my lungs too much when breathing hard on the climb.  The smoke seemed to come from the forested mountains east of Tramonti di Sotto.  Then I noticed a helicopter repeatedly dumping water tank loads onto the slopes.  I continued and the smoke grew less thick toward Tramonti di Sopra.  I started the actual climb after Mangon, and soon the smoke disappeared altogether.

This is a wonderful climb, not too steep, ascending well-engineered tornanti through a deserted, silent forest with huge cliffs looming above.   At the top (1080m) it was windy, and being wet I quickly got cold.  Quickly pulled on my mantellino and headed down.  The Viner is descending better and better (or I'm getting used to it).  From Mangon I rode home fast as I could, with a fortunate tailwind from Cavasso Nuovo to home.  My friend Silvano was visiting and saw my new bike for the first time- he liked it.

News about forest fire:
http://www.gazzettino.it/articolo.php?id=188386&sez=NORDEST

The choking smoke at Tramonti di Sotto 

Helicopter scooping up a load from Torrente Meduna

At the start of the climb the top of the cliffs loom above

The series of tornanti

Monte Rest Dec 2011

A frigid sunny winter morning- perfect for one last climb up Monte Rest. Easy warm-up through Meduno to Tramonti di Sopra, and commenced to climb. It's a wonderful road, with stacks of switchbacks, streams, waterfalls, and the enormous cliffs of Monte Rest looming above.

The pass was marked Closed on signs at Meduno and Tramonti, but road conditions were perfect up to 975m. Here ice on the road became too pervasive to climb safely with a road bike. The ice appeared to have repeatedly melted and refrozen at night. I turned around and descended. Clouds had moved in and obscured the sun, resulting in half-frozen fingers. Luckily they thawed out on the flattish ride home. I arrived just in time to take the dogs on a walk in the woods, which helped get the lactic acid out of my legs.

Beautiful snow-capped Monte Rest (1780m);
the distinctive peak is visible even from Pordenone

Monte Valcalda (1908m) from Tramonti di Sopra

I made it up this icy stretch to 975m

Decided it wasn't safe to continue on 23mm slicks