Passo Manghen da Molina di Fiemme

Passo Manghen in Trentino is a special climb.  The forest it traverses is densely packed with big fir trees growing on slopes so steep it seems they must topple over.  There is hardly any sign of human development other than the road, which seems like a backcountry forest road.  Manghen is farther south than other 2000-meter passes and peaks of northeast Italy, and attracts fewer tourists in July/August than more famous mountains to the north.  

I climbed the southern approach from Val Sugana a couple years ago and today finally tried it from the north, Molina di Fiemme.  The climb starts very gradually, so you can use it for a warmup if you want.  I did just that, because I had gotten lost driving to Molina di Fiemme and squandered half an hour of ride-time.  After 6 or 7 kilometers of warming  up the hard climb begins: 8 km averaging 10% gradient with a few spots in the mid-teens (Garmin says 16%).  I decided to see if I could stay in the 27-tooth cog the whole way and I succeeded.  That was a first.  Also used my mountain bike pedals and shoes on the road bike because I was originally planning a climb in Austria where they'd be needed, but the weather there turned bad.  The MTB shoes seem more steep-climb friendly.

Lots of clouds boiling up over the pass from the south.  I quickly donned my cold weather clothes and headed back down.  Lovely descent with many riders heading uphill now.  Maybe word is getting out about this place.  Best of all I even found the correct roads driving home.  I highly recommend climbing Passo Manghen if you get a chance.  No tour busses, motorhomes or packs of motorcycles.  Lots of trees and streams.

Pastures transitioning to fir trees above Malga Cadinel

View of Cima Fornace across the valley from Cadinel

Stream rushing down the precipitous slope

Another stream with waterfall

Large loud cascate di Torrente Avisio

Rive delle Stue at 1250 meters

Passo Manghen

I've read about Manghen in riders' reports and Giro d'Italia coverage for a few years now.  The emphasis is usually on the extreme difficulty, and I agree it's a great workout.  But what surprised me was the wildness and natural beauty of the place- simply gorgeous.

I started at Castelnuovo (365m) near Borgo Valsugana around 0700.  After maybe 100m the road begins going directly up the slopes covered with apple and berry orchards.  I rode slowly so the lack of a flattish warmup was no problem.  Higher up you reach Telve and climb through the outer edges of that town. Soon the road enters a shady spruce forest, which actually is a bit chilly when climbing on the easier sections.  The road meanders more or less along Torrente Calamento, with some brief stretches over 10% to get you ready for higher up.  At 1167m you enter the broad verdant meadows of Calamento, still climbing but so happy with the scenery you barely feel the exertion.   The road steepens considerably here, hitting 15% at times.  The switchbacks climb through meadows mixed with stands of pines scattered here and there.  A herd of dairy cows is having breakfast, some of the girls in the road but graciously allowing intruders to pass.  Around 1500m the road steepens again, but this time doesn't relent, averaging 10% for the 5km to the pass at 2043m.  The road finally enters alpine landscape, grass, wildflowers, bare reddish rock, with scarce pine trees.

Nice and chilly up here at 0915, but so quiet and peaceful with sparse early morning traffic.  I tried to get some fotos with the wonderful morning light, and then headed down.  More traffic was beginning to come up now, as well as many road bikes.  I really recommend this whole area, which is slightly off the beaten path further north.  In August the Dolomiti can get a little too popular sometimes.  

Golden morning light on Monte Ziolera (2478m)

Monte Ziolera above wildflowers

Altopiano Asiago peaks to the south of Valsugana

Reddish rock with lichens and wildflowers

Looking down at the switchbacks

A rocky summit of the Lagorai range

One of many waterfalls of Torrente Calamento

Sound of Music meadows of Calamento

Another of the falls further downslope

Switchbacks from Calamento to pass

Beginning of the climb

10% average gradient top 5 km