NIGEL'S RAMBLES: Obsured by Clouds on Monte Cavalbianco

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Obsured by Clouds on Monte Cavalbianco

As often occurs when I venture into the high Apennines, a change of destination occurred due to the place that I had chosen to walk being covered in cloud. I had seen that Monte Cavalbianco was free of cloud, so I doubled back from Passo Cerreto and headed for Passo Praderena from where the path that climbs Monte Cavalbianco starts.

Beech trees, Monte Cavalbianco, Ligonchio,RE

Monte Cavalbianco, Ligonchio,RE

This is a mountain set back from the main “Crinale” that I had intended to climb for some time, but had never got round to doing it. It is quite a brief walk that should take 50 minutes even though one climbs 280 metres to the summit .

Monte Cavalbianco, Ligonchio,RE

It was a strange day here, it was quite cloudy around the mountain and as I climbed banks of cloud would arrive now and again to cover the mountain before rapidly dispersing. The cloudscapes made for some interesting photographs. As always changeable weather gives some great photo opportunities in the mountains, often more interesting than a day with clear blue sky.

Monte Cavalbianco, Ligonchio,RE

The CAI indications were correct as usual, and after a fairly stiff climb I arrived at the summit in more or less 50 minutes . As often is the case with the mountains that sit behind the main ridge the views were fantastic, especially with the banks of cloud blowing over the passes between the mountains into Emilia from Liguria.