Gone ….to the Hills !

So, should I have a nice relaxing day..after the busy weekend, or do what I promised myself…climb the hills behind Pietracorbara, and see if I could find a route all the way up to the top ridges.. we’ll see, anyway that’s why I got up at 6-15 a.m., breakfasted, made my sandwiches and was off with a big load to walk up the hills.. it was already hot as I set off at 7-30 a.m., even as I trudged through the undergrowth, with all the birds singing, butterflies/moths flying, a beautiful chorus to greet the day.. and I was right in the middle of it

I did well, having marked the trail I wanted last week, and I recognised it after 30 mins or so, without my signs, although they were still visible, and I started the climb up towards the ridge, by now in the full glare of the sun which was behind me , and it was hot,hot,hot !..that’s probably steam coming off me, it was like being in an outdoor Turkish bath !

I continued climbing, hoping the trail would continue, which it did, until I got to a dirt road, which wended it’s way around the foot of the final ridge, only about 50/100 mts above, but no visible track – I’d got above the 400 mts contour, but seemingly impassable scrub and thorns blocked my way..and I wasn’t going to start ‘bushwhacking’ in my shorts and short sleeved shirt !

I then meandered left, and found another trail up through the brush, so took that as it contoured around to the side of the ridge, and some promise with it…and then I saw glimpses of a building up above, so thought the trail must go somewhere near it, but first…mid morning snack, in the shade of some trees, a well used spot, from where I could look down on Sisco beneath me ,even hear the church bell ringing… and then I continued on the trail, hoping to continue upwards

The building that I could see, turned out to be a church/chapel, built on top of a slab of rock , amazing, and only a foot trail to it ! I made my way to it, locked as you may expect, although I could see through some gaps in the stonework, to see the inside, although I could see better on the pictures.. I then continued, finding another trail, which climbed, although it quickly petered out – I then started climbing up a dry stream bed/gulley, which was quite fun, although got quite tricky with loads of loose rocks, and trees…I eventually gave up, deciding to try no further, although I didn’t seem far from the top ridge, I just couldn’t get to it ..and so retraced my footsteps down the stream bed, contouring around the ridge line, and back to the trail I’d followed upwards.. straight into the late morning sunshine, it was just a matter of getting down as quick as I could, although the 2lts of water I’d brought was handy !

As I got onto the ridge path I’d followed, the sun was bouncing up off the stone, like a cauldron..although I did find some nice specimens of green marble/stone..

I eventually got back to the campsite, after a 5 hour walk, 535 mts climb, and ready for a snooze in the shade, after I’d washed some of the dust off me …so I’d not quite made the top, although had got most of the way, with only a few scars,cuts and grazes to show for it !

So, it was back to the grindstone of snoozing, swimming, and eating, and cleaning the BBQ, ready for packing up and leaving – I even defrosted the fridge !, along with my nice Chilli con Carne which I’d saved, delicious… Bonne Nuit !