Monte Candaglia Ice Hike

I was hoping to get one more snowshoe in this winter so I headed up through the overcast to Il Cansiglio.  The road broke through the clouds at 900 meters into blue skies and sun.  I was surprised how devoid of snow the place was:  only a few weeks ago it was buried in white.  I turned off the main road toward Archelon picnic area and parked.  Here  there was white at least, but I soon realized it was ice not snow.  Repeated thaw and freeze cycles made it hard and slick like a skating rink.  I carried my snowshoes on my back just in case.

The forest along this climb is glorious old-growth spruce and beech which they've left in uncleared wilderness.  Treefalls are left in place, soon engulfed in moss and allowed to decay into the soil.  So I was enthralled and simply adjusted my pace and gate to avoid slippage.  The very steep stretch before joining the gravel road from La Crossete was the only hard part.

I topped out at the Casa Forestale ranger station and then returned.  Much harder to descend on ice due to body angle so I donned my snow shoes.  No slips at all with these.  I realized driving home just how exhausting this had been.  I am beat!

Alpi Bellunese from Monte Candaglia

Mountains north of Piancansiglio