Snowshoeing in the snow-covered forests of Ugovizza

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7 February 2019

Active

Snowshoeing in the snow-covered forests of Ugovizza

Every season has its own charm and, for me, winter is most splendid in the mountains. On clear days, you can see the snowy peaks kilometres away, even from my home, on the beaches of southern Friuli.
After recent snowfalls, I couldn't resist the invitation of this evocative landscape and together with a friend I decided to take part in the “Cjaspole e Larici” snowshoe hike organised by the In Natura per Natura association, which promotes slow and sustainable tourism in Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

We met Claudio, our nature guide, and the other participants in Ugovizza and, armed with snowshoes and poles provided by the association, we set off to discover a part of the Puanina Tour.
The Puanina Tour is a circular route that links up the alpine dairies and mountain refuges in the Vallone di Ugovizza, winding through the dense forests of the Tarvisio area, also known as the “cow trail”.

We started our trip by taking the forest road near the car park in the Val Rauna at 1090m. After walking for about an hour and a half among the snow-covered woods of larch and fir trees, we took a short break on the terrace of the beautiful Malga Priu, at about 1250 m in altitude, where we had a picnic snack admiring the breathtaking view of Mount Lussari. The alpine dairy, open to tourists from April to October, not only offers the traditional type of accommodation but also an original solution: eco-sustainable tree houses in the shape of a fir cone, where you can sleep under the stars 10 metres above the ground, admiring the 360-degree panorama of the surrounding mountains.

Refreshed, we continued on foot to reach the highest point of our hike: the Casera Mezesnik, on the eastern slope of Mount Stabet at an altitude of about 1400 m. Our efforts during the last climb was repaid by the landscape; from the mountain hut, we had a broad view of the Julian Alps: Sagran, Osternig, Acomizza, Mangart, Lussari, Cima di Cacciatore, Jof Fuart, Jof di Miezegnot and Jof di Montasio. Kissed by the sun and surrounded by a beautiful blanket of bright snow we ate our well-deserved packed lunch while admiring the view.

The most challenging part of the day was over and the time had come to make the descent, sliding with our snowshoes through the thick layer of fresh snow, each one of us making our own way over the still intact mantle of snow.
When returning along the stretch at the end of the circular route that takes us back to our starting point, I felt like I was in a book of winter fairy tales, with a variety of picturesque landscapes.
To crown our day in the snow and the good company, we went into the warmth of Rifugio Gortani, where we ended our trip chatting and eating delicious homemade cakes, and were full of energy again.