| bagi21. 12. 2018 10:09:02 |
This time the idea was ascent through the gorge Vallone Degli Uccelli to the goal Monte Bruca, and descent on the opposite side of the hill to the starting point. We hadn't done this variant yet, so it was all the more interesting  . The described conditions refer to December 2018.
Ascent :
Path 521 *Sentiero degli Uccelli* was a discovery of the unknown for us. Already at the starting point there's a sign with a warning that doesn't really apply in the initial part. We understood its message only later. Steep slopes and goat path high above the Bird Stream demand full attention and steady step. We were well aware of the depth below us. The most dangerous passages are well secured and so it is until the junction with the Bird Stream. There a different story begins ...
First you need to cross the stream, which can be trouble even at low water level. There are almost no markings anymore, no protections. The stream bed is too deep for shoes, the current strong, suitable rocks for crossing very few. They were iced over on top, which I unwillingly experienced myself  . After a successfully performed pirouette in the middle of the stream, I managed to stay dry above the water; only my knee protested for a while due to the hard landing on the rock. At high water level, crossing the stream is mission impossible and the sign at the starting point warns about it. Unfortunately, you realize this only towards the end of the gorge.
Further on, we searched for passages along the bed until the slopes of a huge scree field opened up on the left. There is no visible path here either, so we headed across it via the *most favorable* variant. MISTAKE !!! The scree, luckily frozen, became steeper and steeper. Return would have been even harder and a slip very unpleasant. Pure scree class three, I tell you  . The tedious ascent with the help of all four limbs, low profile and probably even teeth finally delivered us to the flatter part. The left, crumbly gully might have been a better choice, but it didn't appeal to us due to the ice.
Where next ??? Eyes on stalks again. A good soul marked the passages with red lines; you just have to spot them. And so it is until the junction with path 501 much higher up. From here to the turnoff for Monte Bruca, the walking is a completely different tune. The path is maintained, protections impeccable. Without them, the fallen places would be quite annoying. Our goal, panoramic Monte Bruca, is nicely marked, the path to it trodden.
Descent :
Path 501 *Sentiero Bepi della Schiava* delivered us back to the starting point. In comparison to the traversed path, this descent is pure poetry. The renovated former WWI mule track descends smoothly into the valley in numerous zigzags. It is suitable for anyone who wants to ascend to Monte Brizzia or Monte Bruca. At the church just above Pontebbo, we shortened the return via an unmarked shortcut to the left.
Summary :
The stars were favorable to us and we managed to complete the full loop. It is one of those you gladly repeat every few years . It is hard to leave you indifferent; the conditions just have to be right.
Coordinates of the starting point (near Pontebbe): 46.510683, 13.317388
 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74
| (+8) |  | |
|
|