Monte Medol MTB, Hike

Hot and humid today so I headed for a cool spot in the mountains north of here.  I mountain biked up through Barcis and Valcellina to Arcola.  Here I turned left, crossed the river and began the climb up Val Prescudin to Villa Emma, a forestry service house.  This is a beautiful shaded area with lovely grass, picnic tables, birds singing.  Very peaceful because no cars are permitted.

I turned onto the dirt road up Val di Tasseit, which ends in a 200-meter-long 15% ramp.  At the top (745m) is a little flat spot, and here begins the hiking trail up Monte Medol.  First it crosses Rio Tasseit, then climbs steeply through shady beech forest to 1124 meters.  Great views of the surrounding mountains up here, as well as some beautiful low flower bushes, which I thought might be rhododendron, but not sure.  Descent was fast, but be careful because the path is steep and covered in dry beech leaves, quite slippery.

Descending with a suspension fork was great- I wish I had a lighter version of this for my road bike.  The cold tunnels south of Barcis had fog in them from the condensing humid air- it felt like light rain when going fast.   

Rhododendron (?) with fat bumblebee

Bee visiting a different bunch

Crep Nudo 2200 meters and cloudy

Monte Teverone 2328 meters

Another shot of Teverone

Torrente Prescudin with another gravel road to explore

Monte Venal 2212 meters

Not much to look at but Monte Medol offers great views from the top 

Rugged eroded smaller peaks along Val di Tasseit

Monte Messer 2230  meters in right background

Monte Santander 2184  meters

Val Prescudin

A few kilometers from our home the Cellina River flows through a gorge from Claut to Montereale, surrounded by mountains.  About halfway up the gorge, Val Prescudin joins the Cellina from the west.  It's a beautiful wilderness area, without cars, chainsaws, tractors etc.  Only the sound of falling water and singing birds.

I've passed by the turnoff near Arcola dozens of times, but there was a barrier so I never tried it.  But on a local program called Sentieri Natura a few months back they showed Corpo Forestale  hiking up the road, then continuing on up to Monte Medol.  So I thought I'd give it a try.

After passing through the gate, I crossed the Cellina bridge and started riding up the road along Torrente Prescudin.  At this level there were mainly pine trees.  The road snaked up the gorge with spectacular views of surrounding mountains and white water below.  The forest transitioned to lovely stands of beech trees with sunlit leaves, then yew, and finally fir trees.  At the end of pavement are some meadows and Villa Emma, a large house now used as a nature observatory by Corpo Forestale. 

I descended quite slowly as the pavement is rough and steep, plus a number of hikers were enjoying the wilderness walk.  Back on the main road I returned past Barcis (full of weekenders enjoying the fine weather), through the tunnels and home.  I'll try hiking this climb with my dogs in the near future- they'll love it. * See below 

Crep Nudo, 2200 meters, above Torrente Cellina

Monte Messer, 2230 meters, above Val Prescudin

Villa Emma at 650 meters, with Monte I Muri (2046m)

Crep Nudo from Villa Emma

Torrente Prescudin cascade from the cliffside above

Map of the climb

* Update 12 April
I took the girls for a walk up Val Prescudin this morning.  They loved it, and even found a new path through the forest from Villa Emma down to the big bend in the road.  Fun!

The path from Villa Emma down to the big bend in the road

The bend, with backlit leaves of beech trees