Italy - Day 21: A cold but scenic morning

I did not sleeping well that night, with the wind shaking my tent. In the morning, I was relieved, when I saw that there was no fog and thus I started early.

It was sunny, but crazy windy and cold. I wished I would have gloves, but they were at the bottom of my backpack - it was the end of May in Southern Italy after all... while I was too warm the other days, I was too cold today!

The views and clouds were spectacular until I was standing in the fog again. But thanks to the wind, only for a short time. I had planned to hike up Monte La Meta and maybe continue on the ridge, but skipped it. Instead I descended into the Valle de Canneto, where I walked around a little lake and then followed the river upstream. I made a short stops at two cascades and had a long lunch break at ghe spring near Rifugio Acquanera, knowing this will probably be the last water for 1.5 days.

So I ascended again with lots of water, following markers through the beech forest up to the treeline. I had planned to walk the ridge up to Monte Panico, but although it was sunny when I ascended, it was windy up in the mountains and the ridge I wanted to follow disappeared in the clouds. So I descended earlier into Valle Inguagnera. After a short bit on the road I walked trailless into the forest, camping in the open beech forest, away from any trail or path.

See the crazy clouds!

The highest peak hiding in the clouds

The ridge is disappearing in the clouds

Italy - Day 20: A short hiking day

Yesterday, the thunder and rain bypassed my campspot, but in the valley I could see the rain.

The new day started with some rain, so I slept in. When it stopped, I packed my things and just when I wanted to pack my tent, a light rain started. But since it didn't look too bad and I knew it's just over 2 peaks before there is some forest again, I hiked anyways.

I walked over Monte Ferruccia and Monte Mare and surprised some chamoises. The views were nice, but the sky looked dark again. When I came to the forest I was torn between setting up camp and hiking, but with the rain my decision was made: I set up my tent.

But not long after, there was blue sky and sun, and I was going back and forth again. Finally, the blue sky convinced me to at least try hiking.

I did not come far, before dark clouds were above me and clouds were blown on my route. So I set up a provisional camp on a meadow below Coste dell'Altare, thinking I would be able to continue in a few hours. It was just noon, so still a lot of hours for the weather to improve!

Although it did not rain, my route further up along the mountain chain disappeared in the clouds, so I decided to stay in my tent. But now it was getting really cold and windy. Since my tent pole broke once in the wind in the Grand Canyon, I am really worried about the stability of my tent and camping in the wind... and so I was lying there, thinking I should have selected a better camp spot, hoping the wind won't get stronger. But I have to admit, the view (whenever visible) is amazing ;)

I guess I don't have to mention that I ate faaar too much food and used up a lot of my battery power, while spending all day in the tent.

After the rain

Do you see my tent on the right side in front of the snow?

Italy - Day 19: Roads and the Abruzzo National Park

It was so humid hot yesterday, that I opened up my tent in the evening, which was great because I was again able to see the gloworms flying around. But I am glad I put my rainfly on again, because there were a few raindrops at night.

The morning was nice cooling and due to the early hour on a Saturday, the road was not too husy. But it was a lot of road walk today...

In Colli a Volturni, where I stopped for water, it rained a little bit, but again hust a few drops and so the weather forecast, calling for some rain today, was wrong.

I took a REALLY long lunch break at a water source just after entering the Abruzzo National Park. My hip hurt like hell from the backpack, it was going to go up the usual 1000 m elevation and the sun was out again.

When I finally continued on the road, I hit a picnic spot with lots of people enjoying their weekend. But further on I just met 4 dayhikers, a couple and 2 of trailrunner.

It was a loooong ascend, but in return there were beautiful views from 1800 m high Monte Marrone. I did not want to continue, but walked a little around to a hut and got some water from a spring nearby, where horses were grazing. I surprised a fox, which was "flying" down the hill into the beech forest. 

Another really really early camp today. Feels a little bit like holidays ;) Let's see if I can hike tomorrow, or if the weather forecast is finally correct  predicting rain and thunderstorms. At least at the moment there is thunder, so let's see...

Walking towards those mountains

Up on the open meadows just below Monte Marrone

Those mountains are next tomorrow

A cute little hut which is well hidden

Clouds are forming - will it rain after all?

Great view on Lago di Castel San Vincenzo

Italy - Day 18: Humid hot walk to Isernia

Today was truly unspectacular and just humid hot, hot and hot!

I walked mostly on dirt roads, passed Roccamandolfi in the morning, where lots of people wanted to use the spring, where I was washing my socks at.

Then the Sentiero Italia must go the same way as a pilgrims trail, as it was suddenly well marked and I passed a few churches, the biggest being Santuario dell'Addolorata.

I found a cherry tree with some ripe fruits but was called off by a woman, passing in a car...

In Isernia, I went crazy shopping for food, before I walked down through the old town on to a looong road walk. This is not the SI, but me making things up. The SI splits into a Western and Eastern route. I want to follow the Eastern route, which means I will miss the Abruzzo Nationalpark. So I will do some roadwalk to get to the National Park, make a loop there and walk back on the SI.

However, my road walk today was stopped quickly, when I heard some thunder. I found a crappy spot next to a road (more bigger roads and houses everywhere around me). I managed to set up my tent before the rain started, but then there were only a few raindrops!

Tomorrow will be road walk and maybe some more rain. And then I hope the weather gets nicer when I'm in the mountains again!

Strange humid hot weather 

Roccamandolfi 

Basilica