Casera La Pala MTB

This is another climb from the south shore of Lago di Barcis up the precipice of Monte Longa.  Today  I started from Portuz, immediately after the dam.   The road is briefly paved, then turns to dirt/gravel with concreted steep bits.  Like the road from Vallata the landscape is beautiful: tall fir trees immersed in shade on the north-facing slope.  The road switchbacks to and fro until 1200 meters where you reach Casera La Pala.  It's a hiking/snowshoeing hut, very quiet and private, high on the mountainside.

From here I explored some, then rode to Casera Monte Longa, a similar place.  It was my destination a few weeks ago though I never made it all the way to the casera.  Today after visiting the hut I headed down a shortcut to the descent road.  I'd been warned in Fred's blog about nettles along the path and he was right: they stung the heck out of me.  But I did determine that this was not a good shortcut when biking: far too steep and narrow for carrying or pushing a bike. 

The descent was wonderful with lots of gravel switchbacks, then at 700 meters the steep paved road.  Arriving at Vallata by the lake, I recrossed the dam, through the tunnels and home.   Beautiful ride.  Will try some more of the other dirt roads up here soon: there are several more I've never ridden. 

Casera La Pala

Monte Ciastelat from Casera Monte Lunga

Casera Monte Longa

The steep climb from Portuz to Casera La Pala

Val Postegae MTB

Nippy morning- a few degrees above freezing.  I took Marilyn to get some blood tests, then brought her home and decided to drive to Cimolais instead of riding from Giais.   After parking I pedaled up the beautiful road along Torrente Cimoliana to the turnoff for Rifugio Pordenone.  Instead of turning toward the rifugio I continued straight on the gravel path to Casera Meluzzo, a shelter in a gorgeous wooded, grassy valley like the Ponderosa.  The valley turns east and becomes the gravel riverbed of Torrente Postegae.  Eventually the gravel path ended and the CAI trail appeared to head up along the lower slopes of Cima Brica.  But I was done  climbing for the day so I took some photos of Monte Pramaggiore (2478 meters) and turned back to the car.  Fun descent along the gravel and dirt road.  This area is a must see for anyone in or near Pordenone Province.   

Monte Castellato (2336 meters)

Pala Grande (2385 meters)

Towers peaking over the corner of Cima Meluzzo 

Looking up Val Monfalcon

From Val Postegae looking back at the
 forest of campanili along the horizon

Looking east up Val Postegae toward
Monte Pramaggiore, dusted with snow

Casera Senons MTB

Last year I rode up to Claut and then continued along Torrente Settimana to Rifugio Pussa.  Later I decide the best MTB ride from there would be the forest road to Casera Senons.  Today I finally got around to trying it.

I was well-warmed up by the time I reached Rifugio Pussa so I stopped to explore the meadows surrounded by mountains along Torrente Settimana .  Really pretty spot.  Then I headed up the dirt road toward Casera Senons.  The road is fairly steep gravel, then switches to concrete on the steeper sections.  There are switchbacks climbing through the fir forest, and as you get higher instead of concrete the steep bits are paved with large stones without mortar: incredibly bumpy even with a suspension fork.  Before long it's nothing but gravel even on the steeps.  Very hard because you must power up them seated  and half of your power is wasted in wheel-slippage.

Finally the steepness lessens as you enter the beautiful pastures below Casera Senons.  This is one of the loveliest places I've ever seen: autumn leaves and rocky mountains against a blue sky, all rising from a rolling green meadow.  I heard a stag deeply bellowing to attract mates, a very wild and primitive sound.  Tried to record it with camera but all you can hear is wind noise.

On the way back down I saw a black grouse with red head (gallo forcello) awkwardly winging from tree to tree.  They fly kinda like a chicken.

The ride home was long but mercifully downhill (mostly).  May try a hike from Pussa next time - Monte Pramaggiore climb starts there.      

Above Pussa, the rolling meadows along the trail

Looking across the lower meadows toward the west

After climbing to 1324 meters you reach Casera Senons

Ridge to south

Abandoned cows' stall with stone walls and wood shingle roof

Cima Nartais above stall

Close up of Cima with autumn color

View to northeast Vetta Fornezze

From Valle di Senons: Monte Chiarescon

Forcella Clautana MTB

I tried climbing to Forcella Clautana in May, but the snow was still too deep on Monte Ressetum.  Today I took a slightly different route, climbing from Lesis toward Casera Pradut, rather than Matan to Casera Ressetum as in May.  Both routes are gravel roads with loose stone, and concrete or asphalt on the steeper sections.  This road is still a killer gradient but seemed slightly less difficult than Casera Ressetum- maybe all in my head.

At the trail junction (1381 meters) of Pradut and Colciavas, turn left toward Casera Colciavas.  There are several rough gravel switchbacks to climb so you must pedal while seated to avoid tire slippage.  The casera at 1513m is slightly above the road and I skipped it today.  The gravel road finally climbs to 1552 meters and then begins to descend.  There are several loose-gravel switchbacks on the descent, then you arrive at Forcella Clautana at 1432 meters.  I caught a glimpse through the trees of Lago Ca Selva to the east- a route I'll attempt another day.  Today instead I headed down Strada degli Alpini trail toward Casera Casavento.  This is fantastic cliffside single track built by Italian soldiers before World War I.  I'm a chicken, so I rode slowly almost the whole way, stopping at landslides and rockfalls to walk.  There are great views from up here.

Eventually I made it to Casera Casavento at 980 meters.  Many cows and asini in the pastures here.  I headed down the gravel road until pavement resumes at 870 meters.  A fast trip down the tornanti then along Torrente Cellina to Lesis.  Want to come back and try some of the possible variations- this is great MTBing country.  

On paved road along Torrente Cellina:
turn right towards Pradut

This is the junction after the killer gradient;
head toward Colciavath

Forcella Clautana Monument

Detail of carving on porphyry column 

After the Germans routed Italians at Caporetto, many retreated
via Strada degli Alpini to Piave River and new front line

Monte Ciampons

Casera Casavento far below

Looking back toward Monte Ressetum

Monte Domanzon

Ciol de la Galina waterfall

Ciol de Ciasavent shooting off a cliff before falling to the large
boulders below and exposed dinosaur fossilized footprint 

Baby asinino near Casera Casavento coming over to visit

Enjoying a scratch between the ears

The principle climb

Val Cimoliana MTB

Our rainy October has finally ended so I celebrated with a local ride.  Mountain biked up Valcellina highway to Cimolais, and then turned right on the road marked Val Cimoliana.  The valley is wide here, with pastures and small woods surrounded by tall craggy mountains.  The valley gradually narrows and soon there is no room for pastureland.  Around 850 meters you pass between two vertical walls with barely enough room for the river and the road.   The rumbling white water reverberates off surrounding rock walls.  Climbing out of this gorge you cross a bridge over the river and traverse out through the forest.    Soon you reach the parking area for Rifugio Pordenone (1200 meters) where the road ends.  Fantastic views of dolomite towers on the surrounding peaks and the gorge continuing to the north.  I will be coming back to hike here. 

Torrente Cimoliana from Ponte Scandoler

Cascade between rock walls, below Ponte Confoz

Crossing a wide gravel bed with great views to northwest

Spectacular dolomite towers above Val Montanaia

Campanile Gambet (2025m) to northeast 

Lovely view to west from Casera La Fontana parking area

Narrow gorge below Confoz

Looking north through Confoz gorge

Val Settimana MTB

Torrente Settimana flows into Torrente Cellina just before you enter the town of Claut.  For years I've wanted to visit but needed a mountain bike.  Finally I got to see it!

You cross the bridge over Torrente Settimana  at Claut's city limit and immediately turn left.  Follow the signs for Val Settimana or Rifugio Pussa.  The road is well paved at first and follows the Settimana through a beautiful gorge.  The steeply descending mountainsides are densely covered in spruce trees, with rocky cliff faces higher up.  There are occasional unpaved stretches, some of which aren't bad but others are covered with road bike tire-shredding rocks.  I was glad I had brought the mountain bike.  You pass through some lovely wooded stretches, which were full of cows and sheep with clanging bells.  Magical sound!  Eventually  you reach Ciol del Pes, a side canyon with a beautiful waterfall.  A bit further and you enter Casera la Pussa, a wide grassy area between the mountains on both sides and the torrente.  This is the end of the road but the trailhead for footpaths going in every direction into the mountains.  Rifugio Pussa is also here, with lodging for hikers.  The ride back was mostly downhill- very fun.  I will try to come back here often. 

Cliff topped mountains lining the west bank of Torrente Settimana

And these line the east bank

Cascata di Val Piovin on east side of gorge

Close-up

Looking south from Casera la Pussa

North to Rifugio Pussa

Noisy Ciol del Pes waterfall on west side of gorge

View back up Val Settimana from cyclists' bridge near Claut 

Valcellina- Val Meduna climbs map

Here's a map of some good climbs in Valcellina area.  For now you must click on the green bike place marker to see name, link to description, etc.  I'd prefer a label to pop up when you scroll over the place marker, will work on it.


View Valcellina- Val Meduna in a larger map

Valcellina

Valcellina is another great local training ride.  Starts 4km from home at Montereale, with a gradual climb up through the 4km-long Monte Fara tunnel to Andreis and Lago di Barcis, then up the spectacular Cellina gorge to the turn off for Claut.  Or you can continue on to Cimolais and beyond if you wish.  

Today I got a late start because I was helping my neighbor stack firewood, so I turned around just past Cellino, where the gorge widens out and the river bends sharply east  toward Claut.  I love this spot because the river seems to always have fog rising off it here, which on the coldest winter days condenses and freezes on tree branches above the water, forming beautiful glass-like sculptures.  Also here- a big stand of river-bottom vegetation- very unusual around here.  

Looking back down the Cellina toward Monte Provagna

Looking over riparian flora toward Torrente Cellina,
with Monte Diasup in background

Nice panoramic view of Valcellina and mountains