Piancavallo MTB

MTB’ed up through Madonna delle Monte and Bornas to Castaldia and Candaglia.  Left the paved road at Via delle Malghe and climbed past Casera Val Fredda to the pass by the microwave relay towers.  Descended to near Forcella di Giais and explored the gravel road/hiking trail toward Rifugio Monte Lungo.  Eventually this became too rough and I pushed/carried the bike briefly then turned back.  I’ve bike-hiked it in the opposite direction, so will try again another day.

Returned to the junction and turned onto the wonderful gravel road to Collalto.  This trail is also great for snowshoeing in a few months.  Rode back down to Castaldia and home.  Fantastic workout.

Casera Valfredda

Climb to the pass

Via Praforte

Flat to rolling ride to Travesio with a steep climb up Via Praforte to a disused Italian army observation stand for watching artillery live fire.  Great workout.

climb

Mezzomiglio

An annual rite- the death climb to Mezzomiglio.  This time I rode from home to Lago di Santa Croce.  Here you head up switchbacks to Rifugio Mezzomiglio.  I got stuck behind some MTBers so turned off just before the rifugio and took the dirt road  toward Palughetto, then La Crosetta and home.  Dead tired.  Fell asleep after watching the Vuelta and slept  for ten hours.

From Mezzomiglio

The main climb

Monte Celant MTB

Drove to Tramonti di Sotto and MTB’ed to Tamar and Monte Celant.  To reach the summit you must hike a few hundred meters upward, with great 180 degree views of Campone and surrounding mountains.  Excellent workout.

East of the summit

Southeastward

Tramonti di Sotto

Mountains to west

Monte Rest (center)

Steep climb

Climb stats

Forca del Prete MTB/hike

From the dam at Redona to Chievolis and on through the canyon of Rio de Gamberi.  At Plosplata gravel road ends and you start climbing and pushing/carrying the bike.  At 570 meters you reach Forca del Prete then head steeply down.  You reach an alluvial plain but soon it it descends again.  Now you reach a torrent and a foot suspension bridge, unfortunately closed.

Note:  I forgot  my garmin so I will try to draw the track on Tabacco map.

Monte Celant from below Forca del Prete

Ponte del Piave

Another flat ride, this time to the southwest.  I tried to continue from Sacile using the phone for navigation but got lost.  Eventually reached Oderzo and my goal: Fiume Piave.  On the return
I just followed the roadsigns and seemed to navigate better.  Now my legs are sore and I’m tired.  Good workout.

Fiume Piave

Another angle

Venezia delle Nevi

A dream come true for Friulane bikers: a new well-constructed bikeway from Dardago to Piancavallo.  The grand opening will be on Sunday, but I visited today to avoid the crowd.  It is absolutely perfect- I wouldn’t change a thing.  Since my last visit they’ve completed the lower section, now finely-packed lentil-sized gravel.  Even with 28mm slick tires I never had trouble with traction climbing or descending.  The views of Croda San Tome and Val Grande are spectacular.

Grazie mille Dardago!

Croda San Tome

View back down toward Dardago

Fontana Tarabin

Val Grande

Croda San Tome

Castaldia

My "gravel" bike

Beginning of descent

From Piancavallo follow sign for Sauc

The climb

Villa Menin

Villa Manin portico

A flattish 100km ride across the Tagliament to Codroipo and Villa Manin.  Felt great, I'll have to try this again soon.

Casera Valine MTB

Casera Valine is high above Lago ca' Selva in an altopiano at 1300 meters.  There's a well marked turnoff onto the gravel road at Pinnoch.  It's a long series of steep ascents with some concrete sections that allow you to stand so you can vary the muscles you're using.  Last Fall I it made about 2/3rds of the way up but they had laid fresh concrete so I had to turn back. Today I made it up to the base of the final 100 meters pedaling, but had to push the bike up the final stone wall.   Beautiful grassy plain up here.  I would like to try again to reach the start of Monte Raut climb.  The closest I've been is Forcella di Capra hiking from Pala Barzana (1824 meters).   This route from the north seems easier.  Next year I will try cycling to Plan di Crous and hiking upward.    

Casera Valine

View east

View north

View west

From lago to Casera Valine  

Val Salega MTB

Another route up il Cansiglio, this time up steep trails from Val Salega to Boscars, where it joins the road up Monte Pizzoc.

Borgo Zouf

I've ridden past this turnoff dozens of times on my way to Lago Ca Selva but never tried to climb it.  It’s steep but rideable, even with a roadbike.  The first settlement you reach is Chiarazuela, then Staligal and finally Zouf.  Here a friendly man explained the only way down is a steep sentiero to the dam.  I retuned the way I came, gorgeous scenery.  Rode home fast, felt great.

View from Borgo Zouf

From Staligal

From Chiarazuela

Pian delle More MTB

Rode up past Madonna del Monte and the car-free road to Bornass, then on the highway to Castaldia. From here I took the beautiful backroad to Collalto, then down to Pala Ghiaccio.  From here I rode on dirt down to the reservoir at Pian delle More, then back on pavement to Piancavallo.  Descended on highway to Bornass, then the backroad.  Beautiful.

Grassland below Pala Ghiaccio

Arriving in Pian delle More

Monte Resettum

Centrale Antonio Pitter MTB

Testing my 80mm stem with a ride up the switchbacks from Montereale cemetery to Ravedis dam.  Coasted to the short tunnel and down to trails at Centrale Antonio Pitter, a 100 year old hydroelectric plant.  Found a new trail to hike along the spillway where water from Barcis rushed into the turbines. Very interesting area.

Lago di Ravedis below Pala d'Altei

Wildlife refuge where heron took off