Monte Crostis - Panoramica delle Vette

An overcast  morning in Comeglians, with Monte Crostis wearing a corona of clouds high above.  Not perfect, but maybe the clouds would keep the sun from baking me.  I warmed up by heading away from Crostis, down the west bank of Torrente Degano to Ovaro, across the little dam,  climbing up to the main road, and back to Comeglians at 532m).  From here the real climb begins, easily for a km or so, then more intensely. Your surroundings for this climb are lovely- dense forest, views through the gaps of mountains to the west, and a series of villages far below in Val Degano.  At 890m you reach Tualis, a pretty little town in a sunny spot on the mountainside.  By this time two different ladies had each greeted me with "Bon di!" and then "Bravo!"   Very friendly folks here.  

After Tualis the traffic became practically nil.  The climb continues through the forest up a long series of switchbacks.  I passed a few mountain bikers, a young guy on a Scott bike passed me (later giving me my 3rd "Bravo" of the day when I arrived at the top).   On one hard stretch I had wandered over across the center of the road when I saw a mountain biker descending slowly toward me.  I apologized but he said "Vai tranquillo"- che simpatico.  I was able to return the favor to another mountain biker struggling upslope and veering erratically, and like me he seemed happy that everyone was treating each other cordially.

This section of steep but shady slope, with nice switchback ends to rest in, comes to an end around 1500 meters, as the trees get smaller, more sun-exposed and the road starts following the contours of the steep mountainside.  The worst section is a kilometer of over 13% average gradient at times hitting 18%, which had me gasping so hard a passerby would probably have forced me off the bike and started administering chest compressions.  This wall of death mellowed some around 1800-1900 meters, and then you just keep going on fumes until the top, at 1934m.

The environment here is grass- and wildflower-covered rocky hills.  To your right the meadows descend very steeply.  I was quite chilly and donned my windjacket.  Now you begin the strada sterrata known as Panoramica delle Vette.  It traverses the mountainside for several kilometers toward the east, with great views (on a clear day) and a close-up experience of wild alpine terrain.  I hit a pointy rock apparently, which cut a hole through my sidewall.  I tried booting it with a bit of plastic, but it was useless- the tube stuck out through the hole like a bulging aneurysm.  Nothing to do but press on and hope it would last a few km.

While I was changing the tube some tourists were animatedly talking and pointing toward some marmots downslope a bit.  It was good to see them still around since the improvement of the road for Giro d'Italia last year.  I was concerned the increased traffic would drive them away.

I finally reached the resumption of asphalt above Ravescletto (1871m).  The descent has been vastly improved by the 2011 Giro preparations- there are barriers along the steep drop-offs, they've repaved the worst stretches, etc.  I descended cautiously, not using my rear brake to prevent heating the rim and tube.  At Ravascletto (958m)  you join the wide, smooth main road, which has some great sweeping curves, still fun despite my one brake handicap.

I may try this next month in the opposite direction-  when I ascended it last in 2010 the road coming up from Ravascletto was a deteriorating mountain lane- much better now.

Looking back at end of climb (1934m) from Panoramica delle Vette

Bright green lichens on their rock

Monte Crostis summit (2251m)

Looking down at the twisty descent

A hole in the cloud cover illuminates the slopes

Monte Zoncolan ski area across Sella Valcalda

Circuit ridden clockwise

The climb

Panoramica delle Vette

Descent (on the right)

12.7km of 10.8% average gradient

The above-10% grades

Sella Valcalda - Monte Crostis

Another double-header today; first Arta Terme (506 meters) to Sella Valcalda (958 meters). Then the main event- Sella Valcalda to Monte Cristis (1934 meters).

Sella Valcalda was the warm-up for Monte Zoncolan in the 2010 Giro. It isn't bad, but has a healthy 3km stretch of 10-12% toward the top. I climbed standing on the steeper parts to save strength for the ascent to come.

After riding around a bit to cool down at Ravascletto, the ski resort at Sella Valcalda, I headed up the big slope toward Monte Crostis. It's a narrow mountain lane through wonderfully shady fir forest. The gradient dithers around 8-10% mostly, with two stretches of 13% about 1 kilometer long each. So the average grade works out to 9.1% for 10 km, taking you from 958 meters up to 1870 meters. It's strenuous but I took it easy and stood often to avoid lower back strain. Didn't seem as bad as my guidebook made it sound "Salita di estrema difficolta".

Around 1650 meters the road exits the shady fir forest and enters a grass covered alpine zone. A bit warm in the sun (even at 10 AM) but not bad. After some long switchbacks in the open, the pavement ends abruptly at 1870 meters. I read through several Italian cycling forums and opinion was divided on whether the rocky, unpaved "strada panoramica delle vette" was cyclable on a roadbike. The first stretch certainly was ok- tightly packed and mostly small red stone chips. There were some quite rough rocky stretches too. My advice is don't bring fancy wheels or tires or a bike you don't want the paint chipped. Other than that you'll be fine- I didn't fall on 6 km of this road, though I did a lot of standing and changing my line to avoid the worst stone piles.

At one point I came across a man and a cute black and white spaniel. I heard a loud whistling, like when someone puts 2 fingers in their mouth and blows hard. I figured it was the guy calling the dog, but no. I looked toward the source of the shrieking sound, and about 40 meters upslope was a big marmot standing on a boulder. I noticed the dog wasn't cooperating with the man, and I asked if the dog was scared of the marmot. The man said no, it was his friend's dog and wasn't used to him. So he put the dog on a leash for a walk up the grassy slopes. I pointed out the marmot and the man, whose vision was better than mine, noted it had a little juvenile marmot with it. So I'm presuming the mother was trying to scare off the dog to protect her baby.

Eventually the strada sterrata joined the paved road coming up from Tualis and Comeglians. This is the highest paved road in Friuli, at 1934 meters. There is a sheep and goat farm in the meadow below so you can hear the babies calling. To the west, beautiful views of the mountains toward Cortina ( though quite hazy and partly cloudy by now). It was cool looking down at the little towns along the Val Degana.

Very steep curvy descent to Tualis at 890 meters. This route would be a harder climb- maybe I'll do it someday. At Tualis I took the cliff-hanging road via Salars to Ravascletto, then down the hill to Arta Terme.

Great ride- do it on your mountain bike or a rugged road bike. You won't be disappointed.

I'm afraid many of my fotos were unusable as the sweat vapor in my jersey pocket seems to have steamed up the inside of the lens- I couldn't wipe it off. It apparently dried off on the sunny strada sterrata. Still quite hazy skies today- my apologies.

Looking down the forested slopes from strada panoramica delle vette

Mama marmot and baby

On the lookout for predators

Cows and horses enjoying a picnic in the alpine meadows

The level roadbed of the strada sterrata

Looking down through the haze at Tualis and Comeglians

Vertiginous grassy hillsides with scenic gravel road

Val Degana and mountains toward Cortina

Cloudy peaks to the west

The grade on the paved road from Ravascletto up to 1870 meters

Passo Duron - Sella Valcalda

Giro d'Italia stage 15, on Sunday, 23 May 2010 finishes with 4 climbs. The first, Sella Chianzutan ( see http://dolomiti-friulane.blogspot.com/2010/04/selle-chianzutan.html ) is pretty easy. The second Passo Duron, I'd never ridden before, so I tried it out today.

I started in Tolmezzo, cruised up the main road toward Austria and turned right at Cedarchis onto a beautiful gentle climb along Torrente Chiarsò up to Paularo. The valley is surrounded by gorgeous green forest, numerous waterfalls, little villages perched on the mountainsides. By the time I reached Paularo I was blissed out. A pretty blond girl walking her poodle waved and said "Bon di", I turned left onto the road for Passo Duron, and reality smacked me in the face. The grade hits 18%, and persists for half a km, averaging 13%. I stood on the pedals and ground up the slope to the cimitero. Now the grade lessens slightly, averaging 9.6% from the cimitero to the top of the pass (about 4 km). I had to stand frequently, between stretches of seated grinding.

I stopped at the top (1070 meters) to snap some pictures (and stretch my aching back). I kept hearing a screeching sound like an eagle from the nearby fir trees- maybe an eaglet in a nest crying for more food? I then headed downhill slightly to Forcella Lius. It's a beautiful meadow with cowbells clanking in the distance and panoramic views in all directions. I saw a newly-erected monument to Friulani who've emigrated around the world. Apparently it was built for the Giro stage, as it mentions the 23 Maggio 2010 date.

I continued down the hill to Ligosullo, with a lovely mural celebrating the giro. Also a church with pink ribbons radiating like spokes from the steeple down to an adjacent tornante guardrail. People are dressing the whole route up for the giro- pink decorations everywhere along the roads today, road crews paving the worst stretches, painting white edge-stripes on the roads, mowing the verges, etc.

At Paluzza I briefly rejoined the main road to Austria, then turned right at Sutrio, rode by the Zoncolan turn-off and up Sella Valcalda, the third climb of stage 15. I climbed it last Fall, but it seemed easier today- maybe all this ascending is paying off. It's very easy at first, then has a 3 km stretch of 8-12%, and tops out at Ravascletto (960 meters), a ski area. From here it's a fast curvy descent to Comeglians. Then I turned south, passed through Ovaro (which is shown in my blog header photo), past the turn off for Monte Zoncolan (which the giro will be climbing) and continued down Torrente Degano. This torrente was very full and churning with snowmelt and rain. It was chocolate milk-colored from all the pulverized dolomite, etc caught in the current. The crosswinds had picked up as well, almost blowing me off my bike at one point. Very wild ride down to Villa Santina. From there I turned east toward Tolmezzo and into the now-headwind. Good resistance training!

It was great ride, and there are numerous variations you can make, taking various side roads (you can read about the side "road" from Paularo to Pontebba here) http://cycloclimbing.com/tour2000/dolomite4.html

Torrente Chiarsò, mountains around Paularo

Rio Valle cascade in forest

From Paularo looking down Torrente Chiarsò

From Forcella Lius, looking down Val Pontaiba

Monument to Friuliani emigrants around the world,

dated 23 maggio 2010 (Giro stage 15 date), Forcella Luis

Murale a Ligosullo

Murale a Ligosullo

"Austrian" style steeple, Treppo Carnico

Ravascletto and mountains to the northwest



Torrente Degano, looking north toward Ovaro

Torrente Degano, south toward Sella Chianzutan

Ride Profile Passo Duron and Sella Valcalda

The "killer" grade coming out of Paularo

Sella Valcalda grade from Sutrio, nice climb