Claut

An easy climb with spectacular scenery, up the Valcellina to Claut (655 meters).

After Montereale and the 4 km tunnel I arrived at Barcis. Lago di Barcis is filled to the max- no more room for additional snowmelt or rain runoff. And the Cellina is still flowing full tilt- I've never seen it filled bank to bank before- usually it meanders through smaller channels in the wider riverbed. Very nice to hear the white water when ascending up the canyon (on the way downhill the wind noise drowns it out).

I rode through Claut, continued up the valley to Lesis and finally the end of asfalto at Pian dei Muscol. Here it was deserted- all I could hear was the river, birds singing, and the clanking of cow bells in the meadows above. There is a hiking trail from here to some fossilized dinosaur tracks, discovered by visiting school children in 1994. Speak of the devil, when I headed back I encountered a large group of schoolchildren hiking up to see the fossils.

The ride home was fast- mostly slight downhill. This was negated somewhat by a strong headwind whipping up the gorge, but wasn't too bad. Only had one gust start to blow me sideways, and I caught it quickly.

Big bend of Fiume Cellina, with Monte Pinzat in background

Upper Cellina, above Claut, with Col Nudo in background

Upper Cellina near Lesis

Upper Cellina near Lesis

Meadows at Pian dei Muscol

Snowmelt-swollen Fiume Cellina above Lago di Barcis

For more details on Valcellina

http://www.parcodolomitifriulane.it/page.php?sid=907d85996a4c55057d26cc2affb83cde&pageid=SLIV301E

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

Marsure - Giais

Disclosure: I didn't ride this route. My wife rode it, while I followed her walking our two dogs.

She started in Marsure 0n our lovely bikeway, which runs from Budoia to Montereale Valcellina (see http://www.itinerariciclabili.it/index.php?id=138 ). Every time she starts to ride away the dogs go nuts & start barking, trying to keep up with her. I run as fast as I can so they can try to stay with her, but once she builds up a head of steam and pulls away, they continue pulling until I tire out and then we resume walking. My wife usually rides a half kilometer or so down the bike path, & then rides back to join us. The dogs are happy again once she comes into view. "Teddi's ears perk up when she sees Mommy from a distance." We repeat this process over and over throughout the ride.

My wife wishes to add "Mommy gives the babies orange juice water from her camelback into their little plastic cup. They think this is so fabulous.

Summer wildflowers were out, purple lupine, purple clover, & small white daisies or margarites. The grass was very tall & dense & rather boggy due to the last 2 or 3 weeks of rain. On Italian tv the weather people said this was the rainiest May since 1978. I don't know if this is true because I remember 1995 as raining every single day. We heard frogs croaking, I tried to see them but couldn't. There were ravens out in the farm dirt trying to eat something. The smell of acacia blossoms from the trees was everywhere, smelling fragrant & sweet. The bees go to the blossoms, eat the nectar & make delicious Italian honey."

The bike path is quite popular. Today there was also a large group having a picnic, followed by a pick-up soccer match by San Biaggio, a very old church in the middle of nowhere. I've read that our town used to be near this church, but to avoid foreign invaders, the town was moved over the hill to its present location.

We continued past the centrale, which is a disused hundred-year old hydropower plant. A couple of 3-meter diameter rusty, riveted aqueduct pipes cross above the path, which decades ago carried pressurized water from the dam high above at Lago di Barcis. Apparently none of the electricity was used in our little town- it was all sent to Venice.

After returning to Marsure, my wife and dogs hopped in the car to drive home, and I rode the bike the back way up the hill. It's only a 50 meter climb, and they've recently paved the backroad, so it's quite easy. We do this ride often on Sunday afternoons when it's not raining.

A little park that someone built by his vegetable garden, by the bike path

My wife riding away, (dogs going nuts not visible)

The map

Forchia Meduno

I peeped outside this morning and there were thunderclouds in all directions, except one- northeast. So I headed that way, expecting to turn around any second. I wondered where I should ride. Best case, maybe I could go to Meduno, Campone, maybe even up through Navarons to Poffabro. With that in mind, at Meduno I headed up toward Forchia Meduno (see http://dolomiti-friulane.blogspot.com/2010/04/monte-valinis.html ).

It was a beautiful climb through the forest. At 530 meters a big meadow opens up on the right, and I saw a bushy-tailed red fox bounding through the grass toward a vineyard (maybe there's truth to the fox and the grapes fable?) At 550 meters a light sprinkle began- I figured maybe it was just a little mountain shower and I continued on up slope. At 630 meters I reached the forchia and it was decision time. The rain had picked up, making the choice easy- I headed back down the same way. Because of poor visibility, braking, and road drainage I descended slowly. At Meduno I joined the main road and sped up, but the rain just kept coming down. It was a good motivator to ride fast- I put out more effort than usual on the flats.

The rain itself wasn't so bad- it's the poor drainage, causing standing water on the roads. When possible I went around the water, but often traffic didn't permit, so I rode through. Between that and the rooster tails of passing cars, I was pretty filthy with road grime by the time I got home. A nice hot soak made all right with the world again.

So I'll go back again on a clearer day soon, maybe taking the hard way up from Campone, through Forchia Piccola to Forchia Tamer.

Map of climb

Villa di Villa - La Crosetta

I kept reading hints of a different route up Il Cansiglio: an 1037 meter climb, with moderate grade, and no traffic. After some painstaking detective work, I was hopeful I'd found it. And finally today, a chance to try it out.

As I left home on the bike, my neighbor pointed at an angry black thunderhead towering above and asked if I thought it might rain. I laughed and said it probably would, confirming her suspicions that I'm matta. I rode down Via Pedemontana to Villa di Villa, near Cordignano, expecting to turn around any second when the inevitable cloudburst broke. But it actually looked a bit brighter there in Treviso province (Veneto). So I continued up the hill toward Castello di Cordignano (see http://dolomiti-friulane.blogspot.com/2010/04/sarone-rugolo.html ) and hung a right at Santa Felicita (165 meters).

The road isn't too steep, but it does include a 5 km section of uninterrupted 8-10% - it's a good workout. But the nicest thing is the woods it passes through, and the solitude: for 11 km there were no cars, no other bikes, not even a hiker. The woods are familiar in the mountains round here- shady beech trees, karst rock formations, moss and ferns, singing birds. In the higher stretches there were clouds in the treetops. The solitude ends at 983 meters where the road joins the strada provinciale from Caneva to Piancansiglio. I continued on up to La Crosetta at 1134 meters. Oddly, the cloud tops were right below this elevation, and all of Piancansiglio seemed bright and sunny.

After a little rest, I rapidly descended via the main road to Sarone. Then a 25 km, 300 meter climb home. Though overcast, it wasn't raining, until I completed the climb to our little town, and then the rain began.

Castello di Caneva from the climb

Sun was out at La Crosetta

Map of climb and descent

Ride profile

Fanna - Cavasso Nuovo

Thought I'd take a break from climbing and do a little exploring near Fanna and Cavasso Nuovo, two towns east of Maniago. After a lovely ride through Cavasso Nuovo, I headed up toward Mas, and then up to Vescovi. In a cruel twist of fate, turned out my easy exploration ride was quite steep after all- the road up to Mas was 16%.

I cruised over to Grilli and down a very steep slope. Then up another 16% plus wall to Dreon and Runcis. These are all very rustic hill towns with pretty views of the pianura, colline di Sequals, and Fiume Meduna. If you're in the area, check them out.

Fiume Meduna from Vescovi

Colline di Sequals

Monte Valinis

16% plummet from Grilli

Map

The 16% gradient to Mas and Runcis

Costa - Collalto

Yesterday I left my camera at home because of the rain, but I regretted not getting some pics of the scenery, so I set out this morning to ride from Costa part way up to Rifugio Bornass. I was certain that my legs would be fried, and I'd only be able to take a picture of Torrente Ossena, then crawl home. But something keep telling me to climb higher....

The climb from Costa (205 meters) starts off very steep, with a kilometer of 10-15% ascent. I was sure that would finish me off after yesterday's climb, but no, I felt great. The grade gets easier then, averaging 5.4% to Bornass. I passed a couple of guys on the moderate climb, and then stopped to take a picture of the gushing white water of the torrente. Then I decided to head on up to Rifugio Bornass (767 meters), intending to turn down to Pedemonte and home. The ride was awesome, and when I got to the Rifugio, I decided instead to try to reach the antenna farm at Castaldia (1090 meters). This 4 km stretch averages 7.5%.

At Castaldia I was still feeling great and decide to try to reach the top, at Collalto (1374 meters). I turned off the main road and enjoyed a beautiful ride through the clouds, alongside little valleys, through faggio forest to the top. The road hits 10-12% percent here and there, but isn't bad. All told the climb is 1175 meters in 20 km, with median gradient 6.5%.

The cloud mist, a bit of light rain, wind and altitude made it quite chilly, so I donned my windjacket, but my fingerless gloves left my fingers frozen. Made braking on the descent difficult, so I need to bring a pair of fingered gloves on the climbs even in summer.

I thought about going down the main road (faster/shorter) but something told me to return the same way. I was immediately rewarded a few hundred meters down the road when two yearling deer crossed the road in front of me and gamboled down the steep slope. Later, I saw something move out the corner of my eye, and turned to see a falcon had landed on a branch a few feet away. Wonderful seeing such a magnificent animal so close up. Still later, a beautiful red squirrel darted across the road and stopped, by the road edge, its tufted ears raised alertly. These things made the descent worth the extra time and distance.

I don't even remember the 200 meter climb home from Costa to home- maybe a touch of hypothermia? But Collalto is a lovely climb and I'll try to do it again soon.

Torrente Ossena above Madonna del Monte

Close up of Torrente Ossena

Looking downstream into the gorge

Mountain valley above Castaldia

Faggi e karst a Collalto

Gradient from Costa to Madonna del Monte

Map of the climb

Altimetria

Pedemonte - Rifugio Bornass

After 6 days of continuous rain, this afternoon we had a brief "period of brightness" as the BBC weather reader says. I hurried and jumped on my bike, thinking I'd go to Villa di Villa and search for the Strada di Patriarchi backroad to Il Cansiglio. But as I approached the turnoff for Piancavallo at Pedemonte, I glanced up, saw the clouds had parted and I could see Castaldia, where the parapendio jump off the slopes. On an impulse I turned right, thinking I'd ride up to Collalto at 1374 meters.

As I mentioned previously http://dolomiti-friulane.blogspot.com/2010/04/piancavallo.html it's a long steep ride, rated "Molto Impegnativa" by Passi e Valli in Bicicletta- Friuli. I managed to remain seated up to 650 meters but a stretch of 13-15% did me in. So I climbed standing until 767 meters at Rifugio Bornass. My plans to reach Collalto quickly disintegrated during this standing stretch, as a huge black cloud with lightening and thunder loomed overhead. Discretion being the better part of valor, I decided to descend at Rifugio Bornass. It was quite windy and started to rain. Once I got down to 300-400 meters the rain stopped. I rode as fast as possible the 200 meter climb home on Via Pedemontana. Another guy with the same idea shot by me in a blur. A second fellow went by a little slower so I jumped on his wheel for the 1 km flat ride through our town.

Once home the sky split open and it rained buckets. I was very glad I hadn't ridden to Villa Di Villa- I would have been drenched and then faced a long ride home.

Map

Gradient from kilometer 7 to 14

Andreis - Pala Barzana

The climb to Pala Barzana from Andreis is shorter but steeper than from Poffabro (see Pala Barzana ). Either way though, it's a good work out and very close to home.

After the 4km tunnel, you turn off the main road and head gently uphill. A kilometer and a half later you turn off the road to Andreis and start up a 9% slope. After the little village of Bosplans the road does a kilometer or so of 9-15%. I was panting but remained seated for the climb. The grade eases up a bit (down to 7-8%) and winds on up to the forcella. Suddenly the forest canopy opens into a grassy meadow, surrounded by higher rocky peaks.

I had a snack there, then headed down the well-engineered road to Poffabro. It passes through a fir tree forest, then into faggio and other deciduous trees. It is more exposed to the sun than the climb from Andreis, but both have wonderful panoramas. Lovely streams with snowmelt criss-cross the road- the sound is enchanting.

After descending through Poffabro, I reached Bus di Colvera and stopped to enjoy the rushing white water. Very special place.

So try the climb both ways- you'll love them both.

Looking up from Forcella Pala Barzana at Monte Raut

Spring foliage above the tornanti

Mountain stream

Map of the climb

Ride profile