Sunday, July 21, 2013

Lago Santo to Lago Nero



The weather has been very unstable in the mountains so far this summer. Saturday was forecast as being fine all day for the Apennines in the province of Modena.

So it was up and off  early to avoid a stiff climb in the July heat  to Lago Santo. This is one of my favourite places in the Apennines.
Lago Santo, MO

Lago Santo, MO

Lago Santo, MO
 After a fifteen minutes leaving from Lago Santo  one arrives  at Lago Baccio. This is one of the best panoramas in the whole of the Apennines with the chain of mountains behind the lake, especially impressive in the early morning light.
Lago Baccio, MO

Lago Santo, MO

Bee Orchid

Gilio di San Giovanni, Lillium Bulbiferem
I then decided to proceed towards Monte Rondinaio before swinging east to  the Finestra  del Rondinaio
(Window of the swallows nest). On the way I came across several dew ponds that are usually dry at this time of year. 
Under Monte Rondinaio, MO

Under Monte Rondinaio, MO

Under Monte Rondinaio, MO

Under Monte Rondinaio, MO
Semprevivo Maggiore (Sempervivum tectorum L. - CRASSULACEAE)

Semprevivo Maggiore (Sempervivum tectorum L. - CRASSULACEAE)

Semprevivo Maggiore (Sempervivum tectorum L. - CRASSULACEAE)
The Finestra del Rondinaio drops down almost vertically to  Lago Turchino were a spring  supplies lovely cold  fresh water, a godsend in July, much better than the tepid bottled water I have in my rucksack.

Finestra del Rondinaio, MO

Gilio - Lillium Martagon

My eventual destination was Lago Nero were I hoped to arrive at the Refuge in time to get something  to eat. From the lake I climbed up to Foce Giovo where a road built in the Eighteenth Century to link Modena and Lucca  crosses the Crinale, At the Foce the Orrido di Bottri can be seen in the distance.
Next stop Passo di annibal, were tradition says that Hannibal passed whilst invading Italy.

At the Dente della vecchia (The  Old Women’s Teeth) it was now time to head south into the province of Pistoia and down to Lago Nero. 
Lago Nero, PS

Lago Nero, PS

Alpine Newt, Lago Nero, PS

Alpine Newt, Lago Nero, PS

Alpine Newt, Lago Nero, PS

At the Refuge I was early, the refuge was just opening. The people who run it have to arrive themselves  on foot with all the provisions for the refuge.  So instead of the rubbish I carry to eat, I had some strong local cheese with Tuscan bread, washed down with a couple of glasses of wine. 


Contrary to expectations the weather seemed to be changing.  So it was time to head back.  By the time I got back to Foce di Giove I could hear thunder in the distance. Passing by a memorial to someone who had been struck by lightning up here did not tranquilize me!

Add caption
At the Foce di Giove I took the 519 footpath that drops violently downwards, before continuing fairly
easily back to Lago Santo. It was now raining as well. The weather forecast had not been very accurate today.



No comments:

Post a Comment