The driving was on spectacular (and rather scary) roads to a little village called Palagnana (with a cafe!) where we picked up the CAI (Club Alpino Italiano) path. The countryside was idyllic in the spring weather, and the going was easy until a rocky gorge known as Le Scalette (The Ladders). Near the top of this, there are rock-cut steps, and a chain is provided for safety. Above this , we were backin sunlit woodland, until we emerged onto grassy meadow up to the summit - very like a climb in Scotland. The summit is at 1314m (4311ft).
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| The first stretch of CAI path No.8 |
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| At the spectacular Foce delle Porchette, where we get our first glimpse of the sea ... |
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| Mystery mountain looking south |
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| Bill scales Le Scalette |
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| Barbara uses the chain to tackle Le Scalette |
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| Made it! |
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| "Path only for Expert Hikers" - that would be us then? |
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| Barbara at the summit (where Scottish mountains have a trig point - Italian hills have a cross ...) |
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| The spectacular twin peaks of the Pania della Croce (which we have climbed) and Pania Secca (which we haven't - too hard!) |
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| The distant Appenines, seen across the wide valley of the Serchio. The tree-line ids just visible below the snowy peaks. |
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| Bill surveys the Panie |
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| The Tyrrhenian Sea peeps out under the cloud in the centre |
it looks like you were too early for the daffodils. By the way, Pania Secca is definitely NOT too hard for you. It is less strenous than Pania della Croce and technically easy. But not to be done if it is misty as you might get lost.
ReplyDeleteit looks like you were too early for the daffodils. By the way, Pania Secca is definitely NOT too hard for you. It is less strenous than Pania della Croce and technically easy. But not to be done if it is misty as you might get lost.
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