Via Guitcillo da Montanara

A big storm blew away all the haze last night; now the sky is crisp and clear.  I rode Fedaia to Sarmede, up the hill to Rugolo and on to Montaner.  Here you find a side street marked Via Guitcillo da Montanara and head upward.  Almost immediately I hit a 19% wall which I stood in the pedals for.  The gradient drops down to mid teens which I sustained until 450 meters, then I hopped off and walked to the next switchback end.  I thought I would have to do this repeatedly but as it turned out I stopped only that one time.  

Eventually you reach a grassy path and continue up through the houses till 850 meters.  A man in front of the last house said the road finishes here.  I asked if I could walk through the woods carrying my bike: he said I could try.  So I went up past the hunting blind, through the thorny blackberry bushes and up a stack of rocks till joining the gravel road (to Villagio, the man had said).  

I tried another road hoping to find a way to bypass the portage in future, but it dead ended.  So I headed up the gravel road then down until reaching the main highway from Vittorio Veneto to il Cansiglio.  Here I headed down quickly to Osigo, traversed to Montaner and took the shortcut down to Sarmede.   Great ride on a gorgeous day. 

The unmarked, uncleared 120 meter climb to the gravel road

The view to the west

Southwest view, with Colli Euganei on horizon (south of Padova)

Steep climb