La Crosetta

Another favorite prealpi pordenonesi climb- La Crosetta is the southward pass accessing altopiano Il Cansiglio.  It starts below Sarone, a perfect warm-up-ride-away from our house.  From here long steep stretches meander across the mountainside exposed to the sun, but it's no problem on this cold overcast day.  Around 850-900 meters elevation the environment transitions to beech forest, shady and cool.  At 1120 meters you reach the forest station at La Crosetta.  You can continue on to Monte Pizzoc (over 1500 meters high) or down to Il Cansiglio, a beautiful grassy plain surrounded by forested mountains.  Sorry, no pictures today, but you can click on "View full route" and click the "play" arrow to see location vs altitude (or gradient) animation.

Passo di Monte Rest

Haven't ridden up Mont Rest since last spring so it felt nice to be back.  All the rain has filled up the waterfalls and they looked great.  The climb gave me a good workout, and at the summit there was absolute silence- very unusual as there was no wind or even birds chirping.  I saw no other bicycles above Meduno, and only one car above Tramonti di Sopra (arriving at Passo di Monte Rest just as I left).  Felt tired on the way home- still haven't recouped training lost while I was healing in September.  I'll try to catch up this fall/winter.

Waterfall on Rio Novarchis

Boisterous falls on Rio Pecol

Monte Jouf hike

I was planning to ride to Monte Rest today, but thought I'd check the news first to see if any roads were closed from landslides, bridges washed away, etc.  Instead I found a news item about rampaging baby bears in the mountains above Maniago.  Intrigued, I decided to head up Monte Jouf to search for bears.

It's possible to climb Monte Jouf with a mountain bike but I don't have one so I hiked it instead.  I drove up to the high point of the paved road from Maniagolibero, parked and set off.  I hiked up the first couple of switchbacks (under construction) then headed up the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) trail toward the summit.  Great trail through beautiful forest, and well-marked though I managed to wander off course anyway.  I couldn't find any of the red & white trail marks on trees or rocks.  No harm done, I found my way back and continued.  The trail gradually became steeper, then even steeper, and again I lost sight of any trail markings.  I rested a moment before heading back down to look for the trail, when I heard a clattering sound above me.   Peering through the tree limbs I caught sight of an elderly man rapidly descending this steep slope with trekking poles.  He seemed to be floating along, barely touching the leaf-cover and loose stones with his feet but rhythmically stabbing at the ground to left and right to keep from tumbling.  I asked him if this was the way to the summit and he asked if I was from Deutschland (I get that a lot) then said the trail led to a "gross haus" and promised it was only 5 minutes away.  I figured at my speed it would take 15, but it ended up being 30.   

Beautiful up here, the forest abruptly ends and it's rolling grassland.  Great views in all directions.  I wandered around awhile but never sighted the bears.   Then it was time to head down and I still couldn't find the CAI trail so I headed down the dirt road.  This would be a fun descent on a mountain bike, but on foot it was quite long.  I wished I had a pair of those trekking poles and could glide down the steep footpath like the old fellow.

Pillows of alpine grass foreground, with Alpi Giulie to northeast

Malga Jouf (the "gross haus") with barn for hay and livestock

Monte Raut towering over Pala Barzana

Remnant of antique teleferica, a ski-lift for cargo used in mountains 

Counterclockwise

Pala Barzana

The torrential rains are over and the flood waters are receding- time to head for the hills.  Today I set out for Pala Barzana, first visit in 6 or 8 months.  A shame to visit so infrequently- Pala Barzana is one of the classic Prealpi Pordonesi climbs, along with Il Cansiglio, Piancavallo, Monte Rest, Sella Chianzutan, Monte Prat.  It's very close to home, yet feels like remote wilderness.   

Torrente Cellina was still unusually full of water, as was Bus di Colvera.  All the streams along the climb were foaming and surging with runoff.  Luckily there were no landslides or washouts.  Part way up the climb from Pian delle Merie toward Pala Barzana there was a bad slump in the pavement, maybe a couple of feet vertical drop- no problem ascending but if you were descending fast it might cause a crash.  

Descent to Andreis wasn't bad, but when you reach SS251 the road to Molassa is closed.  I was thinking of riding down there to check out Forra del Cellina, but it's impassible.  The 4km tunnel was fine, just some water half-way across the lane in a few spots.

Traditional mountain house in Bosplans: to go from room to room you must go out
on the wooden balcony- same to go up/down stairs.  That would suck in winter.
Wooden slats are for drying hay

Cloudy rugged peaks north of Bosplans

Counterclockwise

Col Alto (almost)

A warm sunny day and no school so I decided to try my first big climb of autumn.  I got a late start because I stayed up in the wee small hours of the morning watching election results, so I wasn't sure I'd have time to reach the top and return home.  I kept a steady pace up the mountain until the steepest section, between tornanti 6 and 7 below Rifugio Bornass.  There I had to stand for the 13-14% stretch and was breathing very hard.  Afterward I returned to slow, steady, and seated.

At Castaldia I had to decide whether to go to Piancavallo, Col Alto, or just turn around.  It was getting late so I decided to continue part way up to Col Alto.  I rode up the long traverse to Candaglia (1179m) took some pictures and turned around.  Tried not to go too fast on the way down- hard not to on this wonderful road.

Candaglia, toward Casera Barzan

Fontanuzze with autumn colors; Alpi Giulie in background

Forgotten cycling gear

A few months ago I drove over near Slovenia, parked and got ready to ride, when I realized I'd forgotten my tire changing levers and wouldn't be able to fix a flat.  I abbreviated my originally planned ride, and luckily avoided a flat.  A few other times I've forgotten my cell phone or gloves or sunglasses but rode without them.

But the last week or so I've noticed two cycling bloggers who both forgot their shoes and ended up riding on clipless pedals with street shoes.  These are experienced racers, so I'm taking it as a sign.  If I was in the Air Force again I would make a checklist and tick off the items before departing.  On second thought I'll probably keep looking over my gear just before leaving and hope for the best.

http://www.stefanolacara.com/2012/11/se-ci-si-dimentica-le-scarpe-da-bici.html 

http://jackciclista.blogspot.it/2012/10/soluzioni-tecniche.html

First snow

I saw the snow on the mountains behind our house when I woke up,  and later went outside to check the temperature.  My neighbor Nerina asked if I was going riding up there (pointing toward the mountains)-  after 16 years she can read me like a book.  I warmed up via Ponte Giulia (by Vajont) and Ponte Ravedis near Montereale, then began my first steep climb in 2 months.  Despite the 20 km warmup I felt a twang in my right shoulder ligament pulling up on the bars while climbing the 12% above Motel Spia.  After that everything felt fine.  Sunny and cool, autumn colors looked great and the only snow I saw was on Pala d'Altei high above.  At the astronomical observatory (685m) I turned around and coasted back down.  Nice ride!

Pala Fontana from my bedroom window early this morning

Valfredda (left), Pala d'Altei (right) 

Alpi Giuliani to northeast from observatory

Montereale Valcellina, Ponte Giulia far right background

Parco San Valentino- Pordenone

Beautiful warm day so I biked to school for a change.  22 km of downslope, takes me 45 minutes going easy.  I arrived in Pordenone with 45 minutes to kill so I wandered around Parco San Valentino taking pictures.  After school the ride home is all slightly uphill, with a warm October breeze from the northeast.  Took about 90 minutes to get home.  I'll try to commute twice a week weather permitting (I'm a wuss about commuting in the rain).

Red leaf tree

Yellow leaves of sycamore tree

The pond and its surrounding wood

Meduno-Colline di Sequals

Beautiful warm sunny day- rode slightly up grade northeast to Meduno, then south to the colline di Sequals, a small range of morainic hills.   After the pretty town of Sequals, headed west through Arba, Maniago and home.

View northwest from the colline toward Monte Caserine Alte 2306m

Looking east toward San Nicolo

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

Dardago - Val di Croda

This is an excellent local practice climb- a 10 km warm up to Dardago, then a gradually increasing slope: first a bit of 5-6%, then a long stretch of 7-8%, followed by a healthy portion of 9-12%.  Toward the end it settles down to maybe 6% briefly before turning to gravel.  The setting is lovely of course: trees and cliffs, looming mountains, and today a pretty young lady with long reddish-brown hair descending on her mountain bike.  I took it easy on the descent, struggling to overcome my kamikaze tendencies.  There was one long straight stretch where I spun out the 11-tooth cog, but I forced myself to brake and slow down afterward.

A portion of Croda di San Tomè cliffs- to get the full picture I'd need my hiking boots

Description of some Bronze Age artifacts found in the area

Meduno - Navarons - Bus di Colvera

We've had torrential rains this week so I was curious how full the narrow gorge at Bus di Colvera would be.   Just for variety's sake I rode the loop counterclockwise this time.   I started on the easy upward grade via Fanna to Meduno.  From here rolling hills to the turn for Navarons.  The road dives down to the bridge over Torrente Meduna, then steeply upward to Navarons.  From here saliscendi along Torrente Muiè, past Casasola steeply up to the junction below Poffabro.  Fast slight downhill along Torrente Colvera, then turn right on to the old road just before the tunnel.  This is Bus di Colvera, where the wide whitewater suddenly narrows to 10 feet through tall rock walls.  The rock has been carved into dynamic fluid sculpture, mirroring the eddies and hydraulics of the current.  After passing through the tunnel gap you continue down the Bus under sheer rock-climbing walls.  The old lane rejoins the wide modern road as it exits the tunnel, then you descend steeply to Maniago.  Easy ride home, with a diversion along Valcellina and Ravedis bridge.     

A cylindrical cavity, 5 meters in diameter and 10 meters deep,
where the turbulent torrente shoots into Bus di Colvera 

Torrente below high cliffs of Monte San Lorenzo 

Close up of cascade in torrente

More whitewater downstream

Palu di Livenza

A few kilometers down Via Pedemontane, where the Prealps abruptly join the flat coastal plain, there is a large spring called la Santissima.  Most of the water forms Fiume Livenza and flows to the Adriatico.  But some water remains in a large boggy area called Palu di Livenza.  The abundant water created a perfect spot for a prehistoric settlement, with fish, plants and animals to eat, reeds for shelter, etc.  Archaeologists have dug up lots of artifacts from this prehistoric site, and there are some trails you can explore (but wear your wellies as it's quite muddy).  In my bike shoes I could only snap a few pics from the roadside.

Looking northwest across the Palu toward il Cansiglio

Stone arrowheads, spear tips, knives, and some ceramic pots 

Shows the archaeological dig and some diving in the springs 

Map

Some good fotos of the area

Palu is below Polcenigo on this GPS track

Vivaro - Tesis loop

Another local ride- from Vajont a wonderful slightly downhill, straight, smooth road for several miles to Vivaro.  Today a very large dude and small lady (wife maybe?) were going along at a leisurely pace/ talking so I passed and said Good day.  A while later the large dude with lady in tow caught up and passed- I guess I gave them something to chase.  So I rode along at their now-faster speed the rest of the way to Vivaro- quite easy with someone blocking the wind for you.

At Vivaro they went straight and I turned east toward Spilimbergo for a km or so, then north toward Tesis.  This is a quiet country road along fields and apple orchards, slightly uphill but not bad.  After Maniago industrial zone I turned west toward home.  Very peaceful ride, and good exercise.   

Arba-Cavasso Nuovo

I usually omit these short local rides, but who knows, maybe they will help someone looking for a warm-up or connecting them together to make longer flat rides.    From Montereale Valcellina  to Arba is a gentle slightly downhill ride.  From Arba you head northeast through Colle to Cavasso Nuovo, an easy gradient.  Then you follow the rollers west to Maniago, northwest along the Valcellina gorge to Ravedis, then up to Montereale.

My shock-proof Pentax Optio W90 was destroyed on Passo Furcia, sacrificed to save my right lower back (maybe hipbone too?) from a large pointy rock.  So today I tried my new camera, a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS20.  So far seems pretty good.

Salton delle Calvre  (935m) from Ravedis bridge

Zoomed in a bit

From a different angle