Casera Montelonga MTB

This climb from the shore of Lago di Barcis to the grassy altopiano above 1300 meters is one of the best in our area.  You can climb the lower paved section on a road bike up to 940 meters if the pavement is dry and no fallen leaves or seed casings have slickened the pavement.  Above that you'll need a MTB on the generally good gravel road.  The infernal climbing lessens above 1300 meters at Casera Montelonga.

I intended to hike/bike to Pala d'Altei and descend to Grizzo as in 2015, but a late start due to rain and the shorter Spring days didn't allow it.  So I descended the way I'd come until 760 meters when I decided to try the alternate route which eventually leads up to Casera Pala.  I used it to descend though, great fun because it's muddier with contra-pendenze to keep you pedaling hard.  Eventually made it down to the lake shore and rode back home through the tunnels.  Will try again this summer to connect with Pala d'Altei.  

Casera Montelonga

Beautiful mountainscape through a gap in the trees

From Rifugio Vallata to Casera Montelonga

Farra di Soligo

Beautiful Spring ride through prosecco vineyards above Conegliano.  After warming up on the ride to Vittorio Veneto I climbed up to Formeniga and Manzana then descended to SP635.  Instead of climbing up the next ridge on Ca' Poggio I rode down to Conegliano and climbed up to the castello.  This ridge road ends up at San Pietro di Filetto, Refrontolo, Pieve di Soligo and finally Farra di Soligo.  I tried to bike/hike up to Santuario Collagu' but never found it- I'll try again with MTB.  This

area has some very steep terraced vineyards.  Quite spectacular.

I rode home more or less the same way, stopping at Emisfero for some emergency lemon tea.  Awesome ride.

View west from San Pietro di Filetto;
the church organist was practicing with the doors open

Northwest toward Monte Cesen

Terraced prosecco vineyards above
Farra di Soligo

Terraces with Monte Cesen above

Meduna di Livenza

I intended to ride to the laguna at Jesolo when I started, but after repeatedly getting lost (despite my meticulously prepared cue sheet) I decided to just have some fun.  After Villa Varda, Portobuffolo, Mansue, and Motta di Livenza I headed north-ish to Meduna di Livenza.  They’ve restored the iron bridge over the Livenza and use it for cycling and pedestrians only.  Continuing north I meandered through flat farmland until I saw a sign for Rivarotte, or broken levee, which I remembered from prior visits to the Meduna-Livenza confluence.  Back on familiar ground I bore down and pedaled hard all the way home.  An unintended route that turned out perfectly, on a cool clear Spring day.

Shady walk at Villa Varda

Fiume Livenza

Restored iron bridge at Meduna di Livenza

New suspension bridge for cars

Collalto

Today I rode Maxima down to Costa, up past Madonna del Monte to Bornass and continued to Castaldia, up the back road to Collalto and down the main road to Pedemonte.  Beautiful weather and zero traffic.  Wonderful climb.

Val Zimor

Longish rolling ride to Artegna near Gemona.  From there the steep road up the lower slopes of Monte Chiampon through Mantaners.  When I rode this 5 years ago I descended via Stella to Tarcento, but today I took a gorgeous little lane down Val Zimor.  A magical ride I’d like to try to ascend next time.  On the ride home I was pretty devistated but didn’t go into  brain freeze like some previous rides.  After a bath and nap I was much better.

Pala d'Altei MTB/Hike

Gorgeous day for a MTB ride and hike.  I rode to Grizzo then up the paved road to the telescope.  Here a good gravel road snakes up the hillside to Palais.  I parked the bike and headed up the shady trail toward Pala d’Altei and Montelonga.  I had hiked this years ago with our terrier Rocky.  It has some steep bits where you climb with both hands and feet.  I remember reaching down repeatedly to pick Rocky up and placing him on the next rockshelf.  Very tough little dog.

Today after reaching the panoramic lookout at 1250 meters I began following the trail blazes gradually downslope  until reaching a hollow still covered in snow.  I decided to turn back.  When Rocky was with me we lost sight of the blazes so we headed straight upslope.  It worked and we reached the ridgeline but were below the highest point.  I remember it was foggy so we followed the ridge down the other side until we reached trailblazes again.

Today I returned on the same path I’d climbed up, found my bike and coasted all the home.

Monte Fara

Monte Raut

Monte Resettum

Passo Rest (almost)

A favorite local climb.  Oddly, I took a wrong turn at Tramonti di Sotto and did the steep climb through Tramonti di Mezzo for no reason.  No problem, I continued on to Tramonti di Sopra and the climb toward Passo Rest.  Around 680 meters I reached a road works crew that said “Chiusa” so I turned around.  Maybe try again a Maggio.

Valdonegher

The climb from Farra d’Alpago through Valdonegher to Tambre and Spert is a killer.  The fantastic views keep your mind off of the pain, but still you must suffer.  I’m not in form yet this year and I paid the price: even after resting on the long descent from Il Cansiglio I still had  no energy in the tank.  Despite guzzling another bottle of Gatorade I remained in limp home mode all the way back to Giais.  Must try again next year.

Lago di Santa Croce

Panned to left

Alpago conch valley and surrounding peaks
from Valdonegher

Crossing Piancansiglio, view to the north

Climb from Farra d'Alpago
to Valdonegher

Ponte Madrisio

Beautiful Spring day, feels like May.  I tried this ride last year and got lost too many times to finish.  Today was much better.  The reason I want to use this route is to avoid the very busy bridge at Codroipo.  Madrisio was much less crowded.  Next I can try to extend the ride to Marano Lagunare.  Maybe this summer.

Oh, I had the tailwind on the ride home again, this time from the east.  I'm getting spoiled. 

Fiume Tagliamento flowing to the sea

A large upstream of the bridge

Mont di Vit Bike/hike

I warmed up through Maniago, Lestans and Pinzano, then headed up the switchbacks to Anduins.  Normally I skip the town and continue up Val d’Arzino, but today I climbed as high as I could in Anduins.  After the parish church I saw a stone-paved hiking path leading toward Madonna della Neve.  I’ve MTBed up there from Vito d’Asio before but this route was new to me.  I pushed Fedaia steeply upward for 2km and reached the paved road I’d MTBed on before.  I rode down through upper Vito d’Asio, then Clauzetto, Sequals and home.  Very tired.

Campanile Anduins

Parish church Anduins

Back on the road after 2km of
steep bike pushing

Anduins wih Colle San Martino
in background

Tagliamento River with Monte Ragogna

Tagliamento flowing to the sea

Ca' Poggio

 I started out today following the most direct, flattest route to Conegliano- SS 13.  Normally I avoid  this road like the plague but on Sunday there are no trucks and fewer cars so it’s not bad at all.
l followed my cue sheet navigating through Conegliano and soon was cruising on SP 635 below the prosecco hills.  I turned upward on Ca’ Poggio, a short steep ramp up to the crest.  From there through San Pietro del Filetto and down the gorgeous vine-covered switchbacks to 635 again.  I did try a shortcut, which miraculously did not get me lost.  The ride home also was blessed with some Pasqua divine intervention- a tailwind that kept me in the 28 to 30 kph speed range most of the way.  A perfect Easter ride.

Giro d'Italia U23 will include Ca' Poggio
this year

  

Prosecco hills panorama from San Pietro del Filetto

Same view panned to the right

Col Visentin from switchbacks below San Pietro

Monte Pizzoc from SP 635

Ca' Poggio climb