Despite being a bit weary after our drive back from Montepulciano via Arezzo (the parking! Mamma mia!), the weather forecast dictated we do something useful the next day - Friday. We settled on a trip up the hills behind us to the col of Porticciola, and the mountain of Monte Giovo (1991m, 6532ft), which we had thought to climb last year, but early snow beat us to it. Being in the relatively gentle slopes of the Appenines (a bit like our Scottish hills) it is a less demanding climb than our last effort in the limestone Apuan Alps.
It was a relatively easy climb, first up through the beech woods above Renaio, then a ridge walk up to the summit. Quite a lot of strands of mist around, giving us some anxiety, but in the event, they all cleared and gave us superb views from the top. This being the feast day of Ognisanti (All Saints), the summit was every bit as busy as when we climbed the Pania della Croce, and we were able to find a cheery young climber to take our photo at the top.
On the way home stopped at the mountain refuge of La Vetricia, where we had wonderful tarte mirtillo (blaeberry tart) and excellent cappucino.
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| Nearing the ridge, on left, snaking into the mist |
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| Setting out |
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| Is it closing in ... or clearing? |
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| It was clearing! |
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| Bill, with the valleys of Emilia-Romagna behind him |
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| Some crags |
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| Beech trees in the sun on the way down |
Well done, Bill and Barbara! As you become more familiar with the area, you'll find that one can follow that ridge (path marked 00 ) for a long way, and in a few hours one arrives at San Pellegrino in Alpe. Actually that path is part of GEA - Grande Escusrione Appenninica, and you can walk for weeks, from Umbria to Liguria...
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