Casera Teglara MTB

Two "new" trails in Val Arzino.  From San Francesco I rode up the highway toward Sella Chianzutan. At the first switchback, turn left on gravel road and cross the bridge over the river.  The road climbs maybe 60 meters along the mountainside above the river heading upstream. You can see Pozzis through the fir trees. You descend and join the trail from Pozzis, then continue to Cascate del Arzino.   Surprised by the volume of water in the falls: 30 km away we are having a drought.

Soon you join the paved road toward Sella Chiampon.  Once you arrive take a left onto a gravel road with several trail signs, one for Casera Teglara (CAI 826).  It begins ascending steeply with concrete in some stretches and doesn't let up.  This beautiful fir forest has very little development and few visitors.

I finally arrived at Casera Teglara in the grassy highlands, where a shepherd was directing his dogs herding sheep.  Quite stormy looking so I soon departed.  A few hundred meters downslope a strong gust-front blew through the trees and I was certain I'd get soaked.  But it held off until I was on the paved road toward San Francesco where I got a light shower.  Fantastic ride.  

Upper cascata del Arzino

Downstream

View toward Malga Vallon about 1200 meters

Casera Teglara 1570 meters

The flock

View to south

View north

Looming thunderheads

The climb

Sella Chiampon

Finally cleared up so I headed for the hills.  I rode to Pinzano and then climbed to Anduins and the road through Val Arzino,  one of the most beautiful and uncrowded places I've ever been.  After Pielungo and San Francesco I began the climb toward Sella Chianzutan.  I thought I would continue to the top, but surprisingly the turn-off through Val Preone and Sella Chiampon was open.  Last year a huge avalanche had closed the road but now its's good as new.  I enjoyed the views, then headed down through the town of Preone to Socchieve.  Here I headed west on the main road toward Ampezzo, turning left just after Mediis toward Priuso.  Pretty good 200 meter climb here, which you immediately give back when you descend to the Tagliamento bridge.  Now the real climb starts, up the north side of Passo Monte Rest: 5.6 km averaging 8.8%, with a ramp of 14.6.  After that down to Tramonti, Meduno, Maniago and home.  Fun ride!

Looking down through beautiful Val Arzino

Close up of mountains further down the valley.

Pozzis along the Arzino

Sella Chiampon meadows (sorry about the thumb)

Sella Chianzutan peaks seen from Sella Chiampon

Peaks from another angle

The notch is Sella Chiampon (seen from Socchieve)

Waterfall at the start of climb up north side of Passo Monte Rest

Climb stats up north side of Passo Monte Rest

Cascate d'Arzino Hike

I tried to visit this cascade last year after crossing Monte Rest and ascending Sella Chiampon, but I turned too soon and  instead reached the spring where Torrente Arzino originates.  Today I decided to drive up from Anduins, park at the Val Preone junction (Sella Chiampon road) and hike to the cascade turnoff.  The dogs were much happier with this plan- they got a wilderness hike!

After a hundred meters or so this plan was dashed- a huge avalanche had wiped out the road.  I doubt it will be reopened anytime soon.  So I went with Plan C, driving down to the settlement of Pozzis, fording the river on foot and hiking along the Arzino to the falls.  The river was moving swiftly, filled with snowmelt and the flat rocks of the ford were very slippery, so I went upstream a few meters to cross on rounder cobbles.   I was carrying a dog under each arm and only had one sharp-edged rock that gave me cause for concern.  Afterward, I put my shoes back on and headed along the river bank.  This would be a decent gravel path for a mountain bike.  There is also a gravel road higher up the south bank, extending all the way down to the Pordenone province line, where a bridge crosses the Arzino: may try that someday.

Soon you reach the beautiful cascades which are quite full of water in Spring.  The river roars over 4 or 5 consecutive falls, separated by short stretches of flatter water.  The forestry corps has built nice bridges and wooden guardrails on the trails along the falls so it's safe for families.

The pups set a blistering pace back to the ford, where they enjoyed being carried as I hobbled over slick pointy stones.   Good hike!

Huge avalanche on Val Preone road

The lighter material in the avalanche is dirty ice

Some pretty wildflowers along the riverbank

This is Torrente Arzino above the falls

Two plunges in close succession

Close up of upper falls

Two of the middle falls

From the bridge on the middle falls;
strong low-pitched rumble here

Lower falls

Pool and rapids below lower falls

Honey and Teddi enjoying the cascate

Teddi is fascinated by white water

This is the ford; I crossed the wider rocky area on the right
to avoid the slippery surface of the flat ford stone

Monte Rest - Sella Chiampon

Beautiful Spring day.  I rode up through Val Meduna to the start of the Monte Rest  climb.  This is one of the best climbs around here- well-made road through wilderness with spectacular scenery.  I was startled to see numerous long strings of caterpillars attached head to tail moving across the road in various places.  Been here many times before but never noticed that.

At the pass (1055 meters) I put on my windjacket and descended.  Lots of fallen rocks this time of year, some as big as my foot.  So descend carefully till they clean the road.  At the Tagliamento River you head steeply upward to Forcella di Priuso 655 meters then descend to SS52, the main road from Tolmezzo to Ampezzo.  

From here to Socchieve and then Preone where the next climb starts.  Val Preone is a very steep road hugging shear cliffs above the white water river below.  I made it to about 700 meters and had to stop to hyperventilate a while.  Luckily I was able to restart and finish the climb, avoiding the ignominy of pushing the bike to the top.

The meadows at Sella Chiampon, are gorgeous, covered with wildflowers and surrounded by mountains.  I continued along the road until I pulled over by a family that had finished hiking.  The man was very kind and advised me about a frane (landslide) ahead.  He thought I could dismount and make it along the narrow edge, but his wife was worried.  As it turned out it was no problem, I rode right along the edge without difficulty.  I'd intended to hike down to Cascate dell'Arzino, but I turned off too soon and ended hiking to the headwaters of the Arzino, maybe 500 meters above the falls.  By then I'd spent too much time and needed to get home, so I'll return to check out the falls later.

The descent down the Arzino gorge to San Francesco and Anduins was wonderful as always.  I was getting tired by now and despite plenty of sweet tea, fig bars, dates and almond-butter balls I was running out of steam.  I finally reached home, got in the bath, and promptly fell asleep.  Then Marilyn made me a big bowl of spaghetti, which brought me back to life.  

20-foot long train of caterpillars on Monte Rest climb

Photo doesn't capture how steep this is, but after
grappling up from the river this stretch finished me off 

Beautiful headwaters of Torrente Arzino above the waterfall

Note all the gradient above 10% on Sella Chiampon climb;
the dip at 70 km is where I stopped to "rest"
 

Passo di Monte Rest - Sella Chiampon

A favorite ride on a beautiful day.  I cruised to Meduno, over the rollers to Lago Tramonti, and headed up the 10% hill to Tramonti di Sotto.  More rolling hills, then after Tramonti di Sopra the climb proper begins.  Dozens of tornanti, not too steep, with the sounds of white water and bird song to accompany you.  At the top (1060m) it was quite cool, so I put on my wind jacket and headed down the twisty descent.  Rode slowly because of the many rocks, branches, and a few remaining patches of snow.  The only other person I saw on the entire climb/descent, a truck driver in an empty logging truck, asked if there was room to turn around at the passo.  I guess he had to pick up a load and wanted to get pointed in the right direction before loading. 

Finally warmed up when I reached the bottom, about 500m, in sunny Val di Tagliamento.  They've recently paved the road, so nice and smooth.  Now you start another little climb, up Forcella di Priuso to 654m.  Then down to the junction with the main road SS52 below Ampezzo.  Here I turned right, over the rollers to Socchieve, and took another right toward Preone.  

Now you start another climb to Torrente Saezza gorge at 560m.  You descend to the ponte across the river at 530m, then the steep bit begins.  In the next 1.5 km you gain about 200m elevation, up the side of the gorge above the roaring Saezza, averaging 11.6%, with stretches of 18-19%.  This definitely had me panting like a freight train, but I made it to the top.  Now the grade lessens until Sella Chiampon at 789m.   It's a beautiful green valley surrounded by mountains.  At the end the valley narrows, and the road hugs the cliffs above Fiume Arzino.  It's rough but well worth it for the views down the gorge.

At 720m you join SP1 coming down from Sella Chianzutan.  Fast curvy descent along Fiume Arzino gorge to San Franceso.  Now the road becomes flatter, with spectacular views above, below, back and front.  It was quite windy in the gorge but at least it's slightly downgrade most of the way.  At Anduins you descend some nice tornanti, then start a series of rolling hills through Casiacco, Flagogna, Pinzano and Valeriano.  After Lestans the road is more or less flat, but with a headwind.  This next hour I didn't feel like I bonked, but my hamstrings and glutes were very sore.  Several times I coasted while trying to stretch them, which felt better temporarily.  Finally made it home and a hot soak seemed to help.  Hopefully they'll have recovered by Friday for the next climb.

Note: camera battery died after Monte Rest, but I have some pictures of Sella Chiampon from last April here.

Cascade at 650 meters

Monte Tinisa 2080m

Monte Corno 1240m

Monte Corno above Val di Tagliamento 

Mountains to northeast, Val di Tagliamento  

Gradient of Monte Rest, Forcella di Priuso, Sella Chiampon

Clockwise Passo Monte Rest, Sella Chiampon

Close up of Passo Monte Rest climb (bottom) and descent (top)

Close up Sella Chiampon (from top to bottom)

Monte Rest da Priuso

I've ridden this route in the clockwise direction before, but had never tried it counterclockwise. I'd read the climb from the north is much harder than from the south, so thought I'd try it and see.

I remembered the Sella Chiampon road was closed last time I rode, so I figured I'd go over Sella Chianzutan instead. I rode up the tornanti at Anduins, up the beautiful Val d'Arzino and to the start of the climb to Sella Chianzutan. I overtook a guy who was going slow, and a fast guy passed me. Then at the turnoff for the road to Sella Chiampon, there was a barricade and some guys making everyone turn around.

Turns out today is the annual car race, a hill climb from Tolmezzo to Sella Chianzutan. They wouldn't let the fast guy pass unless he paid €8 to watch the race. I saw this and decided to try the closed road to Sella Chiampon. It was still messed up from the winter landslides, but passable. After awhile the fast guy caught up and asked me "dove vai?" I told him Monte Rest, and he took off like a rocket. I continued on the beautiful backroad, and was glad the race had closed the other road. This one avoids some towns and a longer drive on SS-52, a busy road with too many tourists, campers, etc. I was also glad to be doing the 20% grades downhill. Much easier.

After a short ride through Socchieve on SS-52, I turned off toward Monte Rest. There is a small climb first- Forcella Priuso. It's only 3 km long and gains 200 meters, with 6.5% average grade. Then you descend to a bridge across the Tagliamento. Now the climb up Monte Rest starts, 7.6 km with an elevation gain of 550 meters, averaging 7.2%. It was beautiful with many streams and waterfalls, switchbacks, a steady 8-11% grade, nice shady beech and fir trees, and fantastic views of the Tagliamento and surrounding mountains.

After a snack at the Passo, I headed down the tornanti to Tramonti. Then along the blue green lake to Meduno, and the flat ride home. I like the ride in this direction too- it seems two completely different rides.

Waterfalls on Arzino above San Francesco

Waterfall on Arzino above San Francesco

Wildflowers near Sella Chiampon

Wildflowers and chiesetta, Passo Chiampon

Waterfall along climb up Monte Rest

Waterfall on Rio Novarchis above Tramonti di Sopra

Map of climbs

Ride elevation