Pianezze + Rifugio Mariech

This climb is the twin of Madean-Rifugio Mareich from a couple of weeks ago.  Not identical twins though:  the road from Valdobbiadene to Pianezze is a wide well-paved highway up to a ski resort, similar to Via Piancavallo.  But they share the road continuing up to Rifugio Mareich.  Normally you would descend on the better road but today I traversed over to Casera Budoi, then down to Madean in search of my lost pair of glasses.  No luck though.  Still a very fun ride.  

View north from Rifugio Mareich

Wildflowers, rolling grassland

Piave River meandering toward the Adriatic

Monte Grappa 

Forcella di Giais MTB/Hike

A hike I've never climbed, right above our village.  First I MTB'ed to the Gravon, a gravelly stack of switchbacks.  Then I locked the bike to a tree and walked to the trailhead.  Nice and shady up this very steep connector trail.  You emerge into the sun and connect to a sharp ridge ascending from Marsure, Sentiero Costa Longa.  This takes you steeply up through grassy slopes to Forcella di Giais.  No one here but a herd of goats and sheep and some shepherds.

I hiked up to a narrow notch  with 360 degree views but couldn't see the trail down.  So I decided I'd hike over Pala Fontana and then down.  Luckily I saw a sign for Casera di Giais via the easy traverse trail.  This has some beautiful hidden forest patches along the way, quite nice walking.

At the Casera Iturned downhill on the same trail as last week.  Happy to find my knees didn't hurt this time.  Maybe I'm healing.  When you reach the trail for Baitala Polo don't take it, continue on the trail toward Casera Palussa, following the terrain and entering shady woods.  At the casera continue downward through woods until you arrive at the Gravon.  Found my bike and coasted home.  Fun!

Sentiero Costa Longa

East toward Monte di Mezzo

Montereale, Maniago

To the west

Alter at Forcella di Giais

Forcella di Giais with Monte Cavallo Gruppo

Goats and sheep grazing here

View west

East toward Cellina River

Looking back at Gravon

Pala Fontana Summit

To the east

Local trails map

Casera Palussa

The climb

Casera Cruden

I haven’t been back to this climb in 6 or 7 years.  Not sure why because it’s stunning scenery and the effort to reach the top is epic.  This time I drove to Puos d’Alpago then MTB’ed up through  Lamosano and Irrighe.

Here the climb switches  from steep to heart-exploding.  I finally gave up the ghost at a restaurant where a logging truck was inching down the grade.  After it passed I restarted and climbed up past Casera Cruden.  Shortly after the pavement steepened yet more I gave up pedaling and just pushed.  This continued until some loggers were loading logs in the middle of the trail.  They very kindly offerred to let me pass but I told them I was finished.

Now I coasted down almost to  Casera Cruden and turned onto  Sentiero Alpago.  Fun MTBing finally, fast saliscendi down to Pian Formosa, then back onto pavement and a great descent back to Puos.  Must return!

Trail toward  Casera Cruden

Near Pian Formosa

Monte Dolada from western Alpago

The main climb

Coltura-Piancavallo MTB

A cold front blew through yesterday, dropping temps and clearing the haze from our skies.  I hopped on the MTB and cruised down to Coltura.  You must find Via San Michele and head west.  Pavement ends shortly and you start climbing hard.  Today finding my way was easy because the trail is marked for the Troi Trek MTB race.  You pass several summer houses, usually deserted but today full of extended families and kids for Ferragosto.  Climb more, past casere and rifugio, through the faggio forest of the Cansiglio.  Eventually you end up at Torrone, pass the turnoff  for Casa Forestale Candiglia and head toward Piancavallo.  There were many more hikers, bikers than usual and even some cars but no problems.

After Piancavallo I descended via Bornass (deserted) to Madonna della Mont and climbed up to Gias, very tired.  What a glorious ride.

Emerging from the forest
onto the grassy altopiano  

Torrone

Crode San Tome

Budoia

Descent to Piancavallo

Mountainside sweeping down to Torrente Artugna

From Coltura to Valle Friz

Passo Monte Rest

Finally finished the road repairs which kept the pass closed for a few extra months.  Even near Ferragosto with motorcycles and cars and many cyclists Monte Rest manages to feel wild.  Very lucky to have such a gorgeous ride so near at hand.  Even a cloudburst from Maniago to Montereale could not dampen the joy.

Bear caves with motion sensing cameras

This shepherd has a great pair of dogs to control his flock

Circling 'round at full speed 

This is only the pass climb; the approach
probably doubles its altitude gain

Troi dei Vuolth Hike

Troi dei Vuolth is an alternative trail to Casera di Giais for hikers coming from Selva.  Not too well marked after Baitola Polo, but if you watch carefully, especially through the boscaglia, you can see the junctions.   Grass was about 4 feet high even on the main trail CAI 986 so you must watch your step. At the top I checked out Monte di Mezzo, where I got so lost a few months ago.  Scary even looking at it.

Walking down I was very careful of my knees and avoided any problems.  Slow but worthwhile.  The trails and scenery of Giais are so beautiful I want to enjoy them more often.

Baitola Polo

From the baitola la boscaglia  and the grassy slopes 

View of Cortina

Selva e Glera

Casera di Giais

Toward Monte Ciastelat

My nemesis Monte di Mezzo

Casera Valfredda

Cima Valfredda

Monte Cuar MTB/Hike

Monte Cuar/Flagjel is one of the distinctive peak shapes you can see for many miles; it looks like two Twin Peaks with a parabola draped between them.  I've ridden up to the malga where the gravel road  passes below them but never made it to the summit.  Until today.

You start just after Peonis at a left marked Cjanet.  This stack of tornanti has a very shady, sweet gradient for warming up.  Eventually you turn sharply right onto a gravel road and climb all the way up to the paved road for Cuel di Forchia and Avistanis.  Turn right and in a few minutes reach a gravel road on your left.  This switchbacks up toward the malga, but well before you get there turn onto side trail to your left marked Monte Cuar.  Hop off your bike and lock/hide it.  Hike steeply upward following CAI red markings.  Here I encountered my first human of the day, a middle aged hiker descending with trekking poles.  She was doing really well given the gradient.  Keep going to the top (the trail continues to Flagjel).  Great views up here though hazy today.  I descended slowly to protect my gimpy knees.  

Back on the bike the descent was great though quite jarring.  I need to let some air out of the fork.
Anyway, other than the hiker I mentioned, I saw one other MTB'er and a small reddish deer.  Naturally a Griffone vulture was lazily circling above me on the ascent, patiently waiting for me to drop.  Not today, but time is on his side.

Monte Flagjel to the west

Pielungo, Forno

Val Arzino, Fiume Tagliamento 

Peaks to northwest

View to north

Campanella Monte Cuar

Madonna
Monte Cuar

Monte Prat altopiano,
Monte Ragogna background

The climb