Monte Grappa from Semonzo

My Ediciclo guide says this route up Monte Grappa "è in assoluto una delle salite più difficili e belle delle Prealpi...."   I had my doubts:  how could this route, with cars full of sightseeing tourists, compare to the walls of death on Strada degli Alpini or Salto della Capra?  So I blithely pedaled up the 8% past the "28 tornanti to go" sign.  It was only later, when the predictability ended  and the road transformed into a shape-shifting wolf in sheep's clothing that I saw his point.  Though I never had to stop and rest, I was wrung out by the time I reached the summit: nothing in reserve. Più difficili sounded about right. 

The ride down was glorious, with stops to enjoy the landscape.  My guidebook was right about the beauty of the ride as well.

The enormous ossario on the summit

Beautiful alpine pastureland

Trees in the meadows

Natural hanging gardens on the cliffs

Close up view (campanelle?)

More all along the road

Fedaia resting from her climb

18 km of 8%.  Hard.

The magenta line is the climb

Cadolten

Another steep gravel road attempt with the road bike.  Cadolten is an order of magnitude more difficult than Monte Jouf. I warmed up from Stevena, down through Sarmede and up to the panoramica connecting Montaner with Osigo.  From here climb briefly on the main Vittorio Veneto-Cansiglio road, then turn left on Via Praviner.  Soon pavement ends and you begin alternating steep concrete sections with gravel;  after the first alteration I was toast.  I'm not sure if it was the gearing or the difficulty gaining traction with 28mm slicks, but between the two I was struggling most of the climb.  I would estimate I walked about a quarter of the climb off and on.  But it was still wonderful: cool shady fir trees, silence except for birdsong, delirium from exertion.  A great climb!     

After Cadolten, a gorgeous altopiano with meadows surrounded by tall firs, I descended to La Crosetta and the deserted descent on Strada del Patriarca to Villa di Villa.  Very tired when I got home.  

Osigo

View toward Vittorio Veneto

Cadolten fir-lined lane

Close up of climb, clockwise

Tough climb

Monte Jouf

First time biking up Monte Jouf from the Maniago side (I've MTB'ed it from Pala Barzana before).  This time I used the Fedaia Legend road bike, which proved its versatility again, charging up this unpaved Haute Category climb like a mountain goat.

Beautiful scenery up here.  I need to come back and hike around it one day.
Wonderful local ride.

Wildflowers at the summit

Rolling altopiano at the top.

Monte Raut

To the east

Nevegal

There are two routes to Nevegal: the moderate one from Ponte negli Alpi and the steep one from Belluno.  Today I climbed the steep one.  It's easy until Castion, then goes nuts.  Long switchbacks give you no chance to rest, it just goes on and on.  On the plus side, in the cool morning shade there was no sweltering sun like you endure on the Ponte negli Alpi route.

At Nevegal I continued on up to Faveghera at 1430 meters. Slightly less steep but the cumulative exhaustion made it feel just as difficult.  The fast descent was wonderful, and then I took the shortcut via Cornolade.  A classic.

Almost haze-free seeing this morning

The climb from Castions to Faveghera

The Belluno Nevegal climb as featured in the
2011 Giro d'Italia Cronoscalata

Malga Fara

Tried to get a ride in before the temporale returns.  I rode up through the tunnel to the turnoff for Andreis and headed up the climb toward Forcella di Pala Barzana.  Shortly after Bosplans turn off on the road to Malga Fara.  Good steep climb with varying pitch so you must keep adjusting.  It was clear at 944 meters so I figured after descending I would continue over Pala Barzana.  At the pass it started sprinkling with an ominous black thunderhead towering to the east.  I decided to return to the west, which was still clear.  Lucky call.  Short fun workout.

Eye-popping view

Nice and cool up here this morning

Brake check flight

A couple of weeks ago I changed my Gatorade-contaminated rear brake pads and thought all was well.  But on the long descent of Madean the other day, climbers seemingly were arriving around every curve, and the front pads now seemed inadequate by comparison (naturally).  Yesterday I changed them as well.  Today a rainless window appeared and I quickly jumped on the bike and headed for the nearest high ground, the Observatory at Montereale.  The brakes worked flawlessly and now I'm ready to climb to Carnia (when the weather breaks).  

The camera kept tipping over on its fencepost,
so I was relieved when it finally worked

Short but steep

Pianezze - Rifugio Mareich

Another wonderful climb on Monte Cesen.  This one rises from Valdobbiadene to Pianezze, a winter ski area.  From there you continue on up to Rifugio Mareich at 1500 meters.  Nice altopiano with cows and sheep up here.  

Descend back down to Pianezze and traverse to Localita Budui, a rustic eatery.  Now descend down Madean to Combai.  Excellent workout on a glorious June morning.

From Mareich you can see Dolomiti Bellunese

Long unyielding climb

Curvy road

Monte Cuarnan

Monte Cuarnan is a change of pace from the usual killer climbs; it has over 30 switchbacks keeping the gradient always manageable.  There are tall trees providing cool shade almost the entire route.  Really pleasant ride.  At end of pavement I continued on the gravel road up to Malga Cuarnan.  

I took it easy on the the ride down too.  Very peaceful morning.    

Beautiful views of Monte Chiampon high above

Most switchbacks of any Friulian climb

Passo Praderadego

Passo Praderadego is a favorite climb up the south face of Monte Cesen.  It has a wild remote feel, despite being easily accessible.  After leaving the Vittorio Veneto-Valdobbiadene road it begins climbing steadly, with only a couple of easier stretches.  Beside the dense forest and views of the distant pianura there are towering cliffs to admire.   At the top are some places for visitors to eat.   From here you can descend to Mel and then climb up to Passo San Boldo.  Wondeful area.

At the top

A lodge on the pass

Cool cliffs

Look back toward the pianura

Climb stats

The twisty bits

Suncreen my triathlete friend Bob recommended.
Excellent! 

Mezzomiglio - Monte Candaglia - Piancavallo

Over Passo di Fadalto and up the eastern shore of Lago Santa Croce to Villagio Riviera.  Begin climbing moderate switchbacks, which soon become quite immoderate.  It's an endless series of long steep ramps which wear you down almost to collapse when suddenly you reach the meadowy altopiano Mezzomiglio.  Spectacular views of the alps from here.

Next I headed down a very nice packed stone trail to a wooden forest house.  I continued on looser stone trail until the junction for Palughetto and Tafferel.  Two mountain bikers from Belluno showed up and chatted.  I told them I was going to Tafferel and they recommended not going on 28 mm slicks. I've done it before, but it's been raining a lot lately, so after some thought I changed my plans. Instead I rode down the paved road to Palughetto and then took the main road to Pian del Cansiglio.  From here I rode steeply up to Casa Forestale and Monte Candaglia.  That was a beautiful climb.

Next I rode the Panoramica Piancavallo - Cansiglio.  So gorgeous and completely deserted.  At Piancavallo I descended to Rifugio Bornass, enjoying the spanking new asphalt.  I was tired so I coasted down to Madonna della Monte and Costa, then climbed home.

Great ride!

Belluno alps above Mezzomiglio

I Fanghi 1530 meters (above Valle Friz)

Valle Grande above Dardago

Mezzomiglio climb stats

Panoramica Piancavallo Consiglio climb stats

Combined climbs sat map