Monte Fara Hike

Drove with the pups past Bosplans near the road closed barrier (landslides).  We hiked up the beautiful ridge trail from Forcella la Croce to Vetta Monte Fara at 1342 meters.  The pups had a great time trying to pick the correct trail route by sniffing.  Honey seemed to be the champion sniffer on the ascent, then Teddi took over.  From the vetta we briefly followed the trail toward Molassa, but soon turned right onto the disused trail to Malga Fara.  The red and white trailblazes are fewer and are faded, covered by snow in many sections.  Luckily Teddi came through and found the way with no problems.  The old trail eventually joins a logging road from which you can see the malga maybe 100 meters below.  My back was hurting ( I tweaked it somewhere along the way) so I decided to try the dirt road to avoid this steep slope.  After maybe 10 minutes of hiking away from the malga I decided the dirt road wasn't going to double back so I headed down through a steep meadow blanketed in crocuses.  I went slowly and my back survived.  Then down the paved road from the  malga to our car.  Great hike- may try the climb from Molassa or from near Ravedis dam next time.

Morning mist rising from Andreis

Monte Raut early morning sun

Monte Jouf cliffs; you can hike the gap between
Monte Fara and Jouf via Ravedis trail

Honey alerting on a possible threat (a middle-aged couple on a hike)

Teddi surveys the panorama from the summit she conquered

Across Valcellina gorge, with Giais in left background

The bridge across Lago di Ravedis on road to Barcis

Montereale and Torrente Cellina 

The marker for turnoff to old trail to Malga Fara

Fading fast but this signs the trail to Malga Fara

Monte Raut and Monte Castello in midday sun

Monte Castello and Valcellina east range above Andreis 

Malga Fara with Monte Raut as backdrop

Malga Monte Fara

The forecast called for rain (which we need!) but I looked outside this morning and the sky was crystal clear.  So I tried another nearby lungbuster, the ascent to Malga Monte Fara.  After warming up through the 4km tunnel toward Barcis, I turned off at Andreis and rode along Torrente Alba.  Next turn right onto the climb for Bosplans.  After Bosplans  continue climbing up to 660 meters, where a gravely road enters from the right.  After the gravel the road is paved but quickly gets very steep.  I stopped to go under the barrier (for cars I presume) and continued upward.  Quite a lot of loose rock so must be careful not to lose traction when standing in the pedals.  I stood most of the way and almost ran out of breath but made it to the top (964m).  

Descending I just gripped the brakes all the way, as the gravel made gathering speed dangerous.  I rejoined the main road and resumed climbing to Pala Barzana (850m), then down the other side.  Took the shortcut through Val di Frina instead of Poffabro.  After Valcolvera I checked out the newly refurbished tunnel- very well-lit and paved now.  I'll definitely use it more often.  Continued home through Maniago and the bridge at Ravedis.  Great ride.

The steep gravely climb to the malga

Pala Barzana climbed from left, over the top and down toward the right 

Malga Monte Fara

Malga Monte Fara is very close to our home, but I never knew until a mountain biker I was chatting with, Ermiono, mentioned it.  Today was my first chance to ride it.

Quite stormy off-and-on this morning but there was a brief gap in the weather so I went for it.  Up through the long tunnel to Andreis, then along Torrente Alba and up the road through Bosplans.  There is a scout camp in the valley below and apparently they have a brass and woodwinds band, which sounded pretty good in the natural amphitheater of surrounding cliffs.   I continued climbing to their accompaniment up to 650 meters, where a gravely, washed-out road turns off to the right, with a wooden sign pointing to Malga Monte Fara. 

After making your way through the initial gravel stretch, it improves a bit- now a narrow, roughly paved lane with lots of loose gravel washed down by the rains.  It's not bad if you can keep traction on the loose material covering the steep incline.  I stood on the steeper parts, feathering the force applied to my rear tire as required.  But below 13% I tried to stay seated to keep some weight on the rear wheel.

I reached a small group of hikers.  The lady in back heard me panting, turned and saw me, then announced "Attenzione! In arrivo una ciclista a dietro" like it was a race.  Then the other hikers cheered me on "Coraggio!" "Bravo!" etc.  That was fun.   

Eventually I reached a homemade gate of sticks tied together to keep the sheep and goats from escaping.  I closed it behind me and continued to the malga at 950 meters.  I descended very slowly because of the surface and rejoined the main road above Bosplans.  I didn't even think about descending the way I came, instead heading upward for Pala Barzana.  Soon the black clouds to the north began drizzling on me, but it felt good as I climbed through the dense forest to Pala Barzana.  From here I rode downhill gingerly because of the damp pavement and spruce needles in the road.

The rain picked up as I neared Pian delle Merie.  Luckily the road was closed for repair and there was a deviazione through Val di Frina, which is a bit shorter.  They've paved this road since last I tried it,  much nicer now.  Below Poffabro the deviazione ended and I sped through Val Colvera and the tunnels toward Maniago.  Here it was dry, so I slowed some and headed toward Montereale.  But the rain resumed near Maniago Libero, and continued over the bridge at Ravedis, through Montereale and almost all the way home.  

I'll try this again on a clearer day this Fall and try to get some fotos of the lovely rock formations above Andreis as well as the meadows on Monte Fara. 

Rustic gate

The malga at 950 meters and grazing sheep

Tabacco map showing the turn off after Bosplans

Malga Monte Fara left, Pala Barzana right

Some of the steep, loose slopes

Satellite shot

Max speed is wrong- caused by loss of GPS signal in tunnels