It’s been a hot summer and to cool off and distract myself from the daily grind at work, the best thing is to go to the mountains and get in touch with nature. I finish working and at six I’m already heading to Gemona del Friuli after picking up Duke, my faithful dog who accompanies me on all my outings.

Thirty minutes later I’m already parked near the Duomo, walk through the tunnel towards Artegna and on the left I see the signs for the Troi dai Cincent or “Path of the 500”, so called for the amount—500 lire of the time— constituting the salary received to make it.

I take the path and I immediately understand that it will not be a simple walk: it is very steep, but the trail is very wide and well maintained. A few hairpins later and we are immediately up high; at the first junction we keep left, then a few more metres and we arrive at the first scree slope offering a natural window on Gemona, the surrounding mountains (Brancot, San Simeone etc.) and the whole of the Friuli plain... I stop and take some photos.

From that moment on, the path becomes gentler and more scenic in a succession of ups and downs and views also of Monte Chiampon. Then it goes into the woods and follows the natural recesses of the slope until we arrive at a man-made object: the “Crist di Siere”, behind which I find the asphalted road that climbs to malga Cuarnan and Sella Foredor. I take it downhill and shortly thereafter get back on the path that leads back to Gemona; this crosses the road several times, then finally leaves it and edges around Monte Glemine, a classic rock route that is very popular with novice climbers.

After arriving at the starting point of the path, we soon arrive behind the Duomo of Gemona and, passing through a gateway in town’s stone walls, we find the car.

The complete route is about 6 km long and with a total height difference of 500 m, reaching a maximum altitude of 700 m above sea level. The trail is very rewarding from the point of view of the view as a good stretch rounds around the slopes with panoramic viewpoints that offer glimpses of the Friuli plain. For those who want, just before the Crist di Siere, near a small ford, there is a path on the right that leads even higher, several times crossing the asphalt road, and from which you can reach the Elio Pischiutti hut or the chapel of the Redentore on Monte Cuarnan, which offers a unique view of the entire Friuli plain and, if the day is clear and sunny, you can also see the lagoon of Grado.

For those who are fit, the track lends itself to being run, even in a race, so it is great for some trail run training.