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Ken Roberts - - Bicycling what's heresee also: more Europe stories | public discussion | more on Europe Tony + Ken in northeast Italy
lots of great riding so far -- more to be added.
non-riding day: "via ferrata"Via Ferrata "Vallon" + summit of Piz Boe, 08june After two long hilly days of riding, we decided to try something different. The Dolomites are famous for a different kind of steep rock climbing -- where the are steel cables and bars ("ferrata" = iron) attached to the rock to protect against taking long falls (but not necessarily protect against a shorter fall). Also sometimes help get up thru difficult sections of climbing. We'd never done it before. We had a via ferrata "kit" of special protection equipment and helmet and shoes good for climbing on rock for each of us, and a guidebook and some hiking maps. We started in Corvara, took the Boe and Vallon lifts as high as they went, then walked following the 646B trail, which later got indistinct and then snow-covered, so we walked up the snow to the left of the waterfall at the head of the valley or ampitheater, at its west end. We put on our via ferrata kits and helmets, clipped into the cable, made rock climbing moves. When our protective attachment reached the next anchor, we clipped into the next higher section of steel cable. But then we reached a section where the cable was buried under the snow, so we unclipped and found a way to stay on easier rock to get to the next section where the cable was on rock, and did some more climbing with protection. Then a footbridge below a waterfall (got a little wet), then on the other side a steep face -- the most difficult section. Careful moves with a long reach required to clip the next section of cable. Then some steep rock-climbing moves, then less steep and I find myself at the top standing on flat ground in the sunshine. Soon Tony was up to join me. What next? We decided with all the snow that we did not want to try the shortcut of descending the "Lichtenfelser Steig" (which the guidebook says is path 672 roughly in the northeast direction), because we thought it might have steep sections but with the protective cable buried under the snow. Instead we kept walking up toward the Piz Boe, at 3152 meters the highest summit in the Sella mountain group. Yesterday we had ridden our bicycles around the Sella group, today we were climbing high inside it. Navigation was a bit tricky at first because the hiking trail markings were buried under snow, and we could not yet tell which summit was the highest. After we recognized that we had guessed the wrong peak, we corrected course and walked up on alternating sections of snow and rock, until we finally found a marker for path 672 going in the southwest direction. Soon we were up on an interesting rock ridge, then the trail markers down to a snow col at the head of the Val di Mesdi (its south end) -- a long valley that goes down to near Colfosco (just west up the road from Corvara) -- I had looked up the Val di Mesdi while climbing to Passo Gardena yesterday. Then up on the rock ridge and (roughly) follow along this to the summit -- with a big solar panel -- and hut serving food + drink, called "Capanna Piz Fassa". We each had two strudels and ice tea, and asked the hut warden if path 638 was OK to go back to the Vallon lift, and based on his response decided to take it. Some parts of path 638 had very deep mushy snow which slowed us down (and got our socks soaked). Later a steep southeast-facing couloir filled with snow. Fortunately the snow was still reasonably soft, so we made it down OK facing out down the hill (or sideways) -- but it was strenuous for our leg muscles and joints to have to go down it carefully. After that the path was mostly straightforward, but then a thunderstorm hit, so we walked faster (and ran) and then hail started. Tony still had his helmet on from the via ferrata, but I didn't. The hailstones seemed kinda big, so I put both hands on the top of my skull to protect my brain. Then the storm stopped and we arrived at the top of the Vallon lift, and the lift attendant started the chairlift and we rode down on it, then down the Boe ski lift -- and after a long ride we were back in Corvara to finish a fun adventure.
estimates for mountain rides in northeast Italy08june These are some rough estimates of vertical climbing and horizontal distance for some rides I've considered trying. what's here:
to change climbing in vertical meters (m) to vertical feet, multiply by 3.3 (or 3.28). to change distance in kilometers (km) to miles, multiply by 0.6 (or 0.621). rides near Canazeiaround Sellaloop clockwise around the Sella group ("Sella Ronda"): climbing over P Sella, P Gardena, P Campolongo, P Pordoi = +1500m / 53km [ = +5000ft / 33 miles] longer: replacing P Campolongo with P Valparola + Cernadoi adds +750m for a total of +2250m. climbing up from Canazei (and finishing there) adds +450m for a total of +1950m / 63km. longer: starting in Canazei, then replacing P Pordoi with P Fedaia adds something like +600m / 30km for a total of +2550m / 93km. longer: starting in Canazei, then replacing P Campolongo + P Pordoi with P Valparola + Cernadio + Caprile + P Fedaia adds +1050m for a total of +3000m. much longer loop: starting in Canazei, then replacing P Campolongo + P Pordoi with P Valparola + Pocol + P Giau + Caprile + P Fedaia has a total of +3700m / 115km [= +12000ft / 71 miles] (adding a side trip from Pocol to Cortina brings the total to +4000m / 131km). around Marmolada (3343m)loop counter-clockwise: Canazei - Moena (1194m) - P San Pellegrino (1918m) - Cencenighe (~775m) - Alleghe - Caprile - P Fedaia (2057+m) - Canazei = +2050m / 96km (? or is it +2250m / 93km ?) [ = +7000ft / 59 miles] replace Alleghe with around Monte Civetta (3220m): Cencenighe - Agordo (611m) - P Duran (1601m) - Villa (935m) - Forcella Staulanza (1773m) - Caprile: adds about +1625m / 49km for a total of +3675m / 145km Fedaia - Giau - Falzarego - Pordoi loopCanazei (1465m) - P Fedaia (2057+m) - Caprile (1014m) - P Giau (2233m) - Pocol (1453m) - P Falzarego (2105m) - Cernadoi - Arabba (1602m)- P Pordoi (2239m) - Canazei = +3300m around Sasso Lungo / Langkofel (3179m) + Seiser Almloop counter-clockwise: Vigo di Fassa (~1250m) - Canazei - P Sella (2244m) - Santa Cristina (~1500m) - Monte Pena (1635m) - (dirt) - Saltern / Saltaria (~1695m) - Seiser Alm - Compatsch / Compaccio (1844m) - Seis / Siusi (998m) - Tires - P Nigra (1688m) - P Costalunga / Karerpass (1745m) - Vigo di Fassa = roughly +2900m / 112km (making some allowance for dirt) the dirt could be avoided by going from Santa Cristina to Kastelruth / Castelrotto by way of St Ulrich / Ortisei and Panider Sattel / Passo di Pine -- see below: "loop without Seiser Alm + without dirt". loop without Seiser Alm + without dirt: add down+back to the Eisack / Isarco river valley adds roughly +550m of climbing. up-and-back to Seiser Alm from west: Kastelruth / Castelrotto (1060m) to Compatsch / Compaccio (1844m) and Saltern / Saltaria (~1695m) and back down is around +1000m / 34km one-way Kastelruth / Castelrotto across P Nigra + P Costalunga to Vigo di Fassa = roughly +1350m / 47km
one-way Bozen / Bolzano (266m) across P Nigra + P Costalunga to Vigo di Fassa = roughly +1750m / ??km
around Cima Boccheloop counter-clockwise: Moena (SW from Canazei) (1184m) > Predazzo (1018m) > Passo di Rolle (1970m) > low point (?1600m) > Passo di Valles (2033m) > Falcade (1297m) > Passo di San Pellegrino (1918m) > Moena = roughly +2000m / 72km rides near Corvara + Colfuscothe rides around Sella under "rides near Canazei" pass thru Corvara. these rides under "rides near Canazei" go one pass-crossing away from Corvara:
rides near Cortina d'Ampezzoaround Cristallo (3221m)loop clockwise: Cortina (~1150m) > west pass (1530m) > Schluderbach / Carbonin junction (1432m) > Col St Angelo (1756m) > Misurina > P Tre Croci (1805m) > Cortina = roughly +1000m / 40km [ = +3300ft / 25 miles ]
around the Tre Cimes / Drei Zinnenloop counter-clockwise: Schluderbach / Carbonin (1432m) > Col St Angelo (1756m) > Misurina > Auronzo (~770m) > Passo del Zovo (1476m) > Dosatedo (~1200m) > Kreuzbergpass / Passo di Monto Croce (1636m) > Sexten > Innichen / San Candido (1174m) > Toblach / Dobbiaco (1241m) > Schluderbach (1432m) = roughly +1900m / 93km [ = +6200ft / 58 miles ] starting from Cortina and going around Cristallo adds about +750m see also analysis under Auronzo around Averau (2648m) + Nuvolau (2575m)loop counter-clockwise: Pocol (1453m) > P Giau (2233m) > point 1300m > Cernadoi > P Falzarego (2105m) > Pocol = +1600m
around Antelao (3263m) + Sorapis (3205m) + Marmaroleloop counter-clockwise: Cortina (~1150m) > Pieve di Cadore (~700m) > Auronzo (862m) > P Tre Croci (1805m) > Cortina = +1200m / 93km [ = +4000ft / 58 miles] add side trip / loop counter-clockwise to Santo Stefano di Cadore (908m) + Comelico + Passo del Zovo (1476m) adds +700m / 30km for a total of +1900m / 123km. could also add around Cristallo. around Monte Pelmo (3168m)loop clockwise: Cortina (~1200m) > low point on SS51 (775m) > Passo Cibiana (1530m) > Forno di Zoldo (810m) > Villa (935m) > Forcella Staulanza (1773m) > Selva di Cadore (1335m) > Passo Giau (2233m) > Pocol > Cortina = roughly +2700m / 97km or to do the "whole" Giau west-side climb, descend from Selva di Cadore to Caprile (1014m) [adds at least +350m climbing] - (? is it possible to ride from Selva to Caprile over Colle San Lucia? -- adds more climbing) see also
rides near Auronzo + Santo Stefanoaround the Tre Cimes di Lavaredo / drei Zinnenloop counter-clockwise: Toblach / Dobbiaco (~1200m) > Col St Angelo (1756m) > Auronzo di Cadore (~850m) > #532 north over Passo del Zovo (1476m) > Comelico (~1180m) > Kreuzbergpass / Passo di M Croce di Comelico (1636m) > Innichen / San Candido (1174m) > Toblach / Dobbiaco = +1800m / 80km (or is it 93km -- see above under Cortina) [ = +6000ft / 50 miles]
replace Col St Angelo with Cristallo Ronda + Cortina loop counter-clockwise adds +500m / 33km for a total of +2300 / 113km. start from Cortina is same as "replace Col St Angelo" [ = +7500ft / 70 miles] see also analysis under Cortina Auronzo loop east to Comeglians (in Fruili)loop clockwise: Auronzo (862m) > #532 north over Passo del Zovo (1476m) > Comelico > SS52 southeast to Santo Stephano (908m) > #355 east thru Sappada > over Cima Sappada (1286m) > Comeglians (553m) > #465 west to Forcella Lavarder (1542m) > #619 west over Sella di Razzo (1760m) to around Vigo + Lozzo (~700m) > north to Auronzo = +2500m-2700m / 114km [ = +8500ft / 71 miles] add Comeglians - Ravascletto - Sella Valcalda (959m) side loop adds +400m add loop Comeglians (553m) > (very steep) Monte Zoncolan (1740m) > Sutrio > Paluzza (~560m) > Sella Valcalda (959m) > Comeglians adds +1600m. add Comeglians - Tolmezzo loop (clockwise): Comeglians (553m) > Sella Valcalda (959m) > Paluzza - south thru Avosacco > Terzio > Tolmezzo (323m) > Moia > Comeglians adds +500m / 54km. see also
rides near Toblach / Dobbiacoaround the drei Zinnen / Tre Cimes di Lavaredosee under Cortina or Auronzo Austria mountain loop (around the Deferregeralpen -- Weissespitze 2963m)loop clockwise: Toblach > Anthölz valley > Stallersattel > Lienz Toblach / Dobbiaco (1241m) > SS49 west down (1015m) > Anthölz / Antarselva > Stallersattel / Passo Stalle (2052m) > east into Austria > Huben > rt 108 southeast to Lienz city (673m) > Sillian > west into Italy > Innichen / San Candido > Toblach (1241m) = roughly +1800m / 146km. around the Lienzer Dolomiten (all in Austria)loop counter-clockwise: Sillian (1102m) > SE on rt 111 to Kartitscher Sattel (1529m) > Obertilliach > E on rt 111 to Koetschach-Mauthen (708m) > climb N on rt 110 over Gailburg Sattel (982m) > Oberdrauburg (621m) > W to Lienz city (673m) > Sillian (1102m) = roughly +1200m / 121km. rides near Stelvio + BormioPasso dello Stelvio / Stilfserjoch (2758m)West side from Bormio = +1550m / ?? km. East side of Stilfserjoch / Stelvio:
start Bormio, climb up W side of Stelvio pass, over to E side to Franzenshöhe and back = +2150m
loop clockwise with Val Mustair: Prad am Stilfserjoch / Prato allo Stelvio (913m) > Trafoi (1547m) > Stilfserjoch / Stelvio (2758m) - Passo Umbrail (2498m) > descend (including 3km of dirt-gravel) to Santa Maria im Mustair (1375m) > gentle in beautiful Mustair valley > Glurns (Glorenza) (908m) > Prad am Stilfserjoch = +1900m / 62km [ +6200ft / 38.5 miles]
loop from Bormio to Passo Umbrail + Val Mustair + Stelvio: Bormio (1217m) > climb to Passo Umbrail (2498m) > descend (including 3km of dirt-gravel) to Santa Maria im Mustair (1375m) > gentle in beautiful Mustair valley > Glurns (Glorenza) (908m) > Prad a. Stilfserjoch / Prato allo Stelvio (913m) > Trafoi (1547m) > Stilfserjoch / Stelvio (2758m) > descend to Bormio = +3500m [ = +11500ft] Passo Gavia (2621m)Gavia -- Passo Gavia (2621m) from North side from Bormio (1217m) = +1400m [ = +4600ft] South side is steeper, and has narrow sections and an (avoidable) dark tunnel. otheraround Monte Civetta (3220m)loop counter-clockwise: Agordo (611m) - P Duran (1601m) - Villa (935m) - Forcella Staulanza (1773m) - Caprile - Alleghe - Cencenighe - Agordo = +1625m / 73km [ = +5300ft / 45 miles]
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more . . .see also
concept words: roberts Europe European visit trip vacation holiday American visitor report reports bicycling: bicycle bicycling bike bikes bicycles bicyclist cycle cyclist cycling touring riding rider riders routes: route routes ride rides tour tours map maps places: place river valley state country region regions area areas city town village fahrrad rad radfahren radtour touren routen velo tour tours route routes velotour cyclisme bici bicicletta percorso itinerario visita giro turistico |
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