NIGEL'S RAMBLES: October 2012

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

A Perfect Day

Autumn has been very wet this year. I managed to take advantage of one of the few days of perfect weather in the high Apennines.

I decided to do what is for me a classic walk in the Cento Laghi park in the province of Parma.

I left the car at the Lagoni Refuge and after admiring the Autumn colours reflected in the lake, I climbed up the 711 footpath to Lago Scuro another glacial lake under Monte Scala. In the Autumn this lake seems far more “open” than in the summer.

I Lagoni, Bosco di Corniglio, PR

I carried on up to Passo Fugicchia ( 715) where the view across to Monte Orsaro is spectacular on a fine day.

Lago Scuro, Corniglio, PR

Passo Fugicchia, Corniglio, PR

View across the Parmetta vally to Monte Orsaro, PR

Next stop Lago Bicchiere ( 713 ) a small lake just under the “Crinale”. For the first time the lake was full of water.

Passo Fugicchia and Monte Scala, Corniglio, PR

Lago Bicchiere, Corniglio, PR

Another ten minutes and I was under Monte Matto ( Madman mountain) on the 00 footpath. Here the mountains drop almost vertically down into Tuscany on one side and more gently down into Emilia on the other.

The Bagnone Valley, Bagnone MC

Monte Matto, PR

Monte Paitino, PR

After Monte Paitino it was time to climb Monte Sillara, the highest point in the Province of Parma ( 1861m). From below it looks like a long stiff climb, but it is in reality quite easy, and before you know it you are at the top.

Under Monte Sillara, PR

The summit of Monte Sillara was the perfect place to stop for lunch ( a couple of “Pannini” filled with Parma Ham. ) The view across the lakes with the Alpe di Succiso in the distance is always breathtaking.

Monte Sillara, PR

I followed the crest along the 00 footpath before dropping down to Lake Compione. All around normally dry lakes were full of water , I have never seen the lakes so full or plentiful.

Lago Compione, PR

Lago Sillara, PR

Near Lago Compione, PR

It was now time to return to the car. After passing Lago Sillara and climbing back upto the crest I took a stretch of footpath ( 713) that was new to me. This footpath drops down, in some places almost vertically to Capanna Lago Scuro , an ex Sheppard’s hut , another quarter of an hour and I was Back at the Lagoni .

The Lagoni lakes are glacial lakes and the action of the ice on the rocks in the valley is very evident.

Rocca Piumaciolo, PR

Evening, I Lagoni, Bosco di Corniglio, PR

Sunday, October 21, 2012

An unpredictable Autumn in the Apennines

My latest two walks have centred around Monte Casarola (RE), both conditioned by the weather.

Monte Casarola, Collagna, RE

The first walk started at Passo del Cerreto passing Passo Ospedaletto and then from Sorgenti del Secchia. I intended to scale Monte Casarola on the 675 path. As I arrived below the mountain, the weather changed for the worse. The only thing to do was to turn back.

Monte Alto, Collagna, RE

French Empire border stone, Passo Ospedalaccio, Sassalbo, MC

Sorgenti del Secchia, Collagna, RE

The weather lower down seemed to be better. So I decided to do the footpath between Passo Pratizzano and Passo Scalucchia. Along this footpath one finds the “Recinti”. These are enclosed fields with heavy wooden fence posts. This landscape is very particular.

Sparavara above Valbona, Collagna, RE

The second walk started at Passo Scauccia and again had Monte Casarola as the destination.

Again the day started as a perfect sunny day.

Sparavara above Valbona, Collagna, RE

Monte Piano above Valbona, Collagna, RE

Below Monte Casarola, Collagna, RE

In the space of seven days the trees in the high Apennines had changed colour , the vast forests in this area had become like an orange sea.

Below Monte Casarola, Collagna, RE

As I climbed out of the forest the weather had again started to change. On the last leg of the walk the low clouds swirling around the mountain tops made for some interesting photographs. Again I had not got to Monte Casarola as the weather seemed to be on the point of worsening.

Below Monte Casarola, Collagna, RE

The view from just below the mountain is quite spectacular , with a narrow glacial “circus” between Casarola and the Alpe di Succiso. It was lunchtime , so whilst I eating I also enjoyed the ladscape.

Alpe di Succiso from below Monte Casarola, Collagna, RE

Below Monte Casarola, Collagna, RE

Monte Cusna from below Monte Casarola, Collagna, RE

The next time that I am in this area, I will climb the circus along the 675 footpath from the refuge at Rio Pascalo on the north side of the mountain.

I still had some time so I went to lake Pranda, always spectacular in the Autumn.

Lago Pranda, Cerreto, RE

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

A Perfect Day

Sunday, October 21, 2012

An unpredictable Autumn in the Apennines

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