Mount Alps

Group decimated for this sunny, but windy, Sunday in January. To settle the direct troops on Mount Alps are Tutino, Domenico Di Domenico and leave Miraglia, absent Domenico Cantisani ( 'or Blonde) for the purpose of study, plus Henry and Fabio to form the trio of distinguished absent. It starts at the foot the massive mountain resort in the Alps Footer, 1070 meters, and immediately we head into a canyon, sometimes snow on the ground. Subentriamo successvamente in a forest, also snow, which finished us a break based blood of the area. There are no words to describe the view from here: to see the entire valley that extends to the foot of the massive Sirino is almost the feeling of being behind the window of an airplane to look from a vast portion of territory. But there is not much time to look around, so immediately you again, and, under the influence of dopante pudding, is imprinted suffered a rapid pace to climb, which henceforth will present more of the obstacle strong gusts wind, whose speed, estimated at sentiment from Tutino, would be around the 70-75 km / h. In the wisdom of Tutino, is not indifferent wind action today, so every step costs us twice, if not three times, fatigue. Come after about two and a half hours after departure on the summit, 1903 meters, the wind here is stronger, only sin we forgot to film the exciting moment of the summit, almost seems the k2, between wind and snow. We are forced to pause little, the time of some hasty photo on the ridge east, a little more protected, and then straight down into the wood that gives us the right protection from the wind. A new path, then that needs to be rebuilt as soon as combines the beauty of the landscape and amenicità limestone rocks where he dwells pine loricato, with the difficulty Altitude and the evocative presence of ice and wind, to make still our most heroic effort.

Tracks year-end on Mount Pope (2005 mt)

Sunday, 30 December 2007. Last round of 2007 for CAI members, and what's better than the highest peak of our downstream (upstream Pope, with its 2005 mt) to close beauty in our first year associates? In addition the rise is not the usual, already addressed in several instances, but presents a variation unknown to us until now. So after be gathered in loc. Pecorone of Lauria, before the hut of Mountain Rescue, we head towards our beloved ski resort to Preserve Lauria, where are our friends and Vincenzo Pasqualino. Well yes, happening right here in our close encounter with Vincent, the "mad man of snow Lauria (un'inconfutabile test for those who still do not believe the existence of the Yeti), which greets us warmly and, as in His style, sends us his very picturesque good wishes for the day (not could not also invite to a well-known destination). He thus beginning the journey, which initially winds along the path of skiing, until the Laudemio Lake, at an altitude of 1550 meters. From there, instead of continuing along the chairlift Laudemio, we head towards the west, and, beyond the wooden bridge, we enter the dense forest of beech trees along the Lake. Here the climb presents the most challenging, and it sweetens only when, at an altitude of over 1600 meters, is entered in the Plains of the Garden, a narrow corner of Sirino, indisputable beauty and many unknown, consists of a broad plateau at the heart of an amphitheatre very similar to that of nearby Laudemio, where the focus runoffs surface of the North side of Mount Pope. You then have to choose whether to attack from the left side, along the shoulder of, or along the back speculate with it, to the right side. The troops led by Mr. Fabio Limongi opts for the second choice, conditioned the appearance that suggests a less fatigue. But we know that, especially in the mountains, we must be wary of appearances, and the fact risatine Fabio leave us immediately presage a climbing more impervious. The climb that becomes hard and follows a pattern straight, with the point where you scollina is up and that seems not get anything, a burning sun accomplice typical for the most days of spring, make still greater effort, both alleggerirci that we have of our clothes. We are at the vigily's Eve to almost 1800 meters and stendo to believe, and I Tutino us virtually short sleeves! But beauty is coming only now: once over peak, after a short sub-flat opens before us a small ridge as impressive, a sort of wall that brings into play a fair rush of adrenaline. There rid of snowshoes, crampons obligation, and so along the rugged slopes of the obstacle, then there will be a summit. With ability Fabio and Tutino accompanying roped in the two doctors present in. At the summit, Dr Jacob alletta us with a very good brandy valdostana that led to the top with great thrift. From the top there is to be reported especially sfottò telephone calls to the great absent day (it is well known that those who are absent are always wrong, and therefore it is right that sorbiscano these treatments, primarily Henry and Domenico, it just renamed as "a'kids"). The descent was characterized by Fabio from observation that has thrown with its Alpine ski from the summit and that there has delighted some gestures on technical snow that perhaps the snows of Sirino had never seen before (Mister, not montarti But the head!). In this regard, you can watch its video on you tube prestp that will put the network, always with the consent of the person concerned. During the day, we saw the presence of several hiking groups, from neighbouring regions, especially from Puglia, and came right here to perform a wide variety of practical activities in the high mountains. A large turnout in a period of total disruption of lifts, given this to us particularly grateful because makes us aware, however, of potential catchment area not matter that can boast our area, but at the same time leaves us with 'bitter in the mouth for the current stand-by who is living the Sirino that other well deserved fate. There has been talk both dell'ipotetico development of tourism in this area, the picturesque tourist package offer sea and mountain that only it can make, have been made many, many proposals, but to our eyes is a mountain increasingly devoid of services. What can we say, waiting for better times so far, this day represents yet another lost opportunity!

Near the statue of Christ Maratea

Maratea, Sunday 23 Diembre 2007. Appointment pre place in a rather unusual for a group CAI now reaches deal with a small path traced by our president Marino, which connects the square in the old town of Maratea the famous statue of Christ, in a scenary that is not really impressive ago more than reinforce our idea of the enormous potential it offers our territory. Basically we just south of the left geographic Monte Coccovello already climbed in the spring is therefore easy to see how few kilometers snow fell from the Sirino and Pollino the enchanting beaches on the coast of Maratea. From the town square, always a destination for tourists and where there coffee and reception services, through the characteristic downtown alleys, leads to the grove, from which you can see the blue of the sea between the thousand fronds. It passes through the ruins of an ancient chapel in local stone and reach, even after an hour walk to pace adage, a small convent anticipates that the ample parking for those who want to visit the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Here, we ventured on exercise in a small cliff, under the careful supervision of two experienced guides, Pasquale el'omnipresent Fabio. However we feel we advise everyone to undergo a little effort to follow this route similarly small, accessible to all irrelevant to the problems and offers both along its short route.

The Scazzariddo Face wishes Merry Christmas to its many visitors.

Another peak: Serra Round!

19-12-2007. Strange to say, but a small peak as the Round Serra, a stone's throw from home, missing in our movers. The summit reaches altitudes rather modest, but certainly did not deserve our inexcusable indifference toward its ascent, which is quite challenging because of its excursion Altitude and the significant slopes addressed. We start at 8.20 by Lauria and parcheggiamo the car near the Rione Murgi, about 800 meters. The snow fall last weekend is already present in these shares and makes even more exciting our ascent. The mountain rises before our eyes quite impressive, with its steep slope that dominates the country, down before our eyes. It begins to rise immediately, with the pace high and demanding slopes immediately, passing for young specimens of Pino Loricato that persist on the west side of the mountain. We recognize immediately the harshness of the company, so that in a few meters we already share rose significantly. Wonderful is the view behind us, we can see that Lauria between Pini Loricati that we just passed. The time of a photo and rise again, while giving support, and in just 58 minutes the first Domenico (or blond) is already on top, while the others achieved an eaten minutes later. The company is not negligible, we covered a distance of 1.2 km with roughly 500 meters in altitude, for an average gradient of well - 38.2%. On the summit, after a rejuvenating the warm, as our rite wants, we sbizzarriti in the photos: Our backgrounds are the favorites massive Sirino and Alps mountain shrouded by clouds. Although it is well below the other peaks of the valley, the view is the best and offers the opportunity to expand with the view to 360 ° not pass unnoticed here by the exit of North Lauria, Walnut Valley, area Galdo, Serra Spina, Lake Cogliandrino and Lake Sirino, Monte Alpi and Monte Sirino, Coccovello and the Tyrrhenian Sea. The steep descent differs from the others for the landscape in front and that changes as you go down, and that makes this part of walk less monotonous than usual.

IMPORTANT:TO SAVE THE FORESTS OF THE PARK OF POLLINO

That is a small personal reflection which originates from a simple comparison of more photos on the same area, but dating back to different periods, albeit close to one another. What can scaturirne is quite rattristante, and I think all'inarrestabile metamorphosis of our territory where we are witnessing. It is quite clear that it does not believe that we are mere spectators of this marring powerless. Think for a moment to park Pollino, with all the treasures that preserves centuries, today exposed to uncontrollable threat, marked by irreversible alterations, in a terribly contorted and contradictory, especially where we are talking about sustainable development, evaluation and indicators ambiantali , maintenance and enhancement of existing assets. The substance, despite our, is very far from what we could expect from cotanti good intentions, which is also well known that full platform is the road that leads to hell. The enslavement of private interests that characterizes the administrative choices, in every corner of the Earth, is not a novelty, but the history of our area it covers ridiculous. And so, ultrasecolare Pino Loricato, symbol of the environmental heritage of the park, is inexorably destined to disappear, and with it all the animal species that have found dwelling, because of bloody hand, increasingly permeated by a kind of raptus demolitore, which made today the Park ground fire, and hunting and poaching, forest cuts, emissions of pollutants and sfrenate and sometimes unnecessary cementificazioni to achieve but not in proportion ever works anthropic. Anyone who has noticed last summer of boundless proliferation of fires (almost all of origin clearly fraudulent), landscape and gloomy spectral which follows (almost lunar in that area Frascineto), but those who are questioned about the existence the real ecomafie territory? And as if that was not enough, here in the heart of the park is now possible to make full law, culling of entire beech. Yes, the whole face of indications Community, the law of the establishment of national parks of'91, and expected opinion dell'Ente Park and the Regional Center of the State Forestry Corps' assessment of the impact of plans or measures affecting sites of Community importance. They were already slaughtered 1100 beech, and if they provide other 3500, between the municipalities of Viggianello, Newfoundland, Francavilla and Castrovillari activities that without doubt will feed the coffers of local government, but that strikes a particular variety of beech contorted his torso. How is this possible? Well, the politics of our day, it is a party or the other, is made up of ad hoc laws and tricks, so that the law, found deceit, and Basilicata Region, arm with the Calabria region have authorized such ruin. In the shadow of what would seem that there is, the face of the Kyoto Protocol, the infamous middle Mercure, on which one could say so, either because of their location, both in the absence of appropriate feasibility studies and for the Disproportionate size. But this is another unfortunate chapter in our park. Following the deforestation of the slopes of massive Pollino, the scenario imaginable, and is scientifically proven, could be that only one: the entire ecosystem would deteriorate, undermining the survival of various animals beings, the wolf first, which would vanish their natural habitat. Documentatomi good on this matter, I found on the site of the WWF chance to sign a petition via e-mail to link http://www.wwf.it/lavoro/petizioni/Pollino.asp. Read carefully the call to the Ministry of the Environment, the administration of the park Pollino and all relevant bodies, so that you immediately suspend the cuts in Corsican forest in the park Pollino, who risk serious damage to a priceless natural heritage value. It is time to say enough to be voters have full rights to express our absolute disagreement with this political class, too attached to private interests, too tied to the chair, too far from us individuals. Subscribe, it is in your interest to do so!
Http://www.wwf.it/lavoro/petizioni/Pollino.asp

Monte Pollino (2248 mt)

Saturday November 3, 2007. We are only two of us, the inseparable pair sprovveduti adventurers. We start from Lauria to 7.30 in the morning at a time of Refuge De Gasperi (1575 mt) of Piano Ruggio, a focal point for hikers in the area, located in the heart of the National Park Pollino. Parcheggiata car close to Colle dell'Impiso Goes Live to the summit Pollino. There infiliamo in the forest at the foot of the Serra del Prete, and in less than half an hour to reach sustained pace already in a plateau. We are down to 1453 meters, and from now on the road will be all uphill. Alongside a brook, then cross it: if I am not mistaken the river should be Frido the beginning of his path or a tributary. Accorciamo the beech forest along a coupon that allows us to reach briefly Plan Gaudolino (1684 mt), which comes wrapped in a fog hellish. Our ability guidance today will be put to the test in time bizarre. The visibility is bad, we just see the shadow of a tree before us. We sprovveduti we really, since we have forgotten (or rather, this is the fault of a single Domenico, but now without specifying which of the two) to house the maps of the area, and the compass. Well, now let us pay attention to the store with the few points of reference that we find in dense fog, and we undertake ably smooth the path that leads to the summit. Going up, the fog begins to go away leaving the post to a burning sun that soon we dries from our labors and obliges us to stop to free us from our warm clothes. We are back from the southwest side of the mountain, and looking towards the west will see countless examples of pine loricato our feet. The photos here are a must, but we should not lose too much time because the weather conditions seem unstable. So we come to the statue of the Madonna is placed 2240 meters, nell'anticima East looks to Serra Dolcedorme, obscured by clouds. Here is the case for us to withdraw in photos, and after an appropriate diet based sugars going to the true summit Pollino, at 2248 meters. Immortaliamo the time of the conquest of the peak on which persisted chiazze snow fall in the previous week, especially in the furrows and doline present in large numbers. Start Now the descent, pass without difficulty Plan Gaudolino and arrive at the source Spezzavummula (1664 mt), a meeting of our adventures on Pollino, whose waters during this period are "chiatrate" as we say in our language dialect. We come in a short time as the car, with the satisfaction of having covered the entire route (including stopovers) in 4 ½ hours just walking.