Cycling Dolomiti Friulane: September 2019

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Pala d'Altei MTB/hike

Beautiful ride/hike in the mountains above Montereale and the Cellina gorge. Pala d’Altei was cloudy but at least there were fewer nettles. Fun ride down. I’ve fallen in love with where I live.

Snowy peak through a hole in the fog

Pala d'Altei

The biking climb

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Piani del Grassi is a favorite climb on the ridge stretching from Vittorio Veneto toValdobiaddene. It doesn’t fool around with an approach, immediately slanting upward at the start in Longhere. It’s beautiful landscape with shady forest alternating with open mountain vistas. Must try it if you’re in the area.

Fiume Livenza

Vittorio Veneto from Piani dei Grassi

Monte Pizzoc

The climb

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Piancavallo MTB

MTB’ed up through Madonna delle Monte and Bornas to Castaldia and Candaglia. Left the paved road at Via delle Malghe and climbed past Casera Val Fredda to the pass by the microwave relay towers. Descended to near Forcella di Giais and explored the gravel road/hiking trail toward Rifugio Monte Lungo. Eventually this became too rough and I pushed/carried the bike briefly then turned back. I’ve bike-hiked it in the opposite direction, so will try again another day.

Returned to the junction and turned onto the wonderful gravel road to Collalto. This trail is also great for snowshoeing in a few months. Rode back down to Castaldia and home. Fantastic workout.

Casera Valfredda

Climb to the pass

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Via Praforte

Flat to rolling ride to Travesio with a steep climb up Via Praforte to a disused Italian army observation stand for watching artillery live fire. Great workout.

climb

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Mezzomiglio

An annual rite- the death climb to Mezzomiglio. This time I rode from home to Lago di Santa Croce. Here you head up switchbacks to Rifugio Mezzomiglio. I got stuck behind some MTBers so turned off just before the rifugio and took the dirt road toward Palughetto, then La Crosetta and home. Dead tired. Fell asleep after watching the Vuelta and slept for ten hours.

From Mezzomiglio

The main climb

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Monte Celant MTB

Drove to Tramonti di Sotto and MTB’ed to Tamar and Monte Celant. To reach the summit you must hike a few hundred meters upward, with great 180 degree views of Campone and surrounding mountains. Excellent workout.

East of the summit

Southeastward

Tramonti di Sotto

Mountains to west

Monte Rest (center)

Steep climb

Climb stats

Monday, September 9, 2019

Forca del Prete MTB/hike

From the dam at Redona to Chievolis and on through the canyon of Rio de Gamberi. At Plosplata gravel road ends and you start climbing and pushing/carrying the bike. At 570 meters you reach Forca del Prete then head steeply down. You reach an alluvial plain but soon it it descends again. Now you reach a torrent and a foot suspension bridge, unfortunately closed.

Note: I forgot my garmin so I will try to draw the track on Tabacco map.

Monte Celant from below Forca del Prete

Saturday, September 7, 2019

Ponte del Piave

Another flat ride, this time to the southwest. I tried to continue from Sacile using the phone for navigation but got lost. Eventually reached Oderzo and my goal: Fiume Piave. On the return
I just followed the roadsigns and seemed to navigate better. Now my legs are sore and I’m tired. Good workout.

Fiume Piave

Another angle

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Venezia delle Nevi

A dream come true for Friulane bikers: a new well-constructed bikeway from Dardago to Piancavallo. The grand opening will be on Sunday, but I visited today to avoid the crowd. It is absolutely perfect- I wouldn’t change a thing. Since my last visit they’ve completed the lower section, now finely-packed lentil-sized gravel. Even with 28mm slick tires I never had trouble with traction climbing or descending. The views of Croda San Tome and Val Grande are spectacular.

Grazie mille Dardago!