Technical data:
- Start point: Andreis (elevation 456mt)
- Arrival point: Andreis (elevation 456mt)
- Difference in height: 300mt
- Maximum elevation: 752mt
- Minimum elevatiom: 453mt
- Length: 7.2Km
- Estimated travel time: 3 hours, 40 minutes
- Cartography: Tabacco chart 1:25000 sheet #012 - Alpago - Cansiglio - Piancavallo - Valcellina
- Difficulty: excursionist
Description:
Start from the Andreis built-up area (elevation 456mt), through hay meadows and woodland stretches until you reach a narrow forest road (indications to Mt. Ciavac). Hike it up (CAI 675-679) until you reach Ledron Creek. Proceed until a bump made of densely fractured rocks (Col del Crous), where a shrine is located. The rock’s partition state indicates the presence of the important tectonic lineament called “Barcis-Staro Selo Line”, or Periadriatic thrust.
Proceed keeping to the orographic left of the Ledron creek and along the pebbly shore. After passing a narrow gorge characterized by steep sides with very inclined layers, you’ll arrive to a fork. Abandon to the left the trail with roadmark 675 and follow the CAI 679 trail. Hike up a steep wooded shoulder toward Monte Ciavac Pass. Still following the same roadmark, in a short time you’ll reach the narrow pass (elevation 752mt) in erosion phase. The view expands on the harsh and rough landscape that counterbalances the wooded environment you just walked through.
Proceed from the pass on unstable debris. Pay attention to the roadmarks and after passing over a rill, you’ll arrive along the Sasibes creek, from which gushes a copious spring called Aga del Muscle.
Follow the creek’s course to the right and, after passing a spur, you’ll walk into a gorge characterized by spectacular and spread tectonic marks. Suddenly, you’ll perceive a brusque variation in the landscape perception.
The dolomitic layers present themselves vertically, with scattered and visible slickensides. The enormous pressure developed in the deforming phase and the elevated attrition caused the pulverization (cataclasis) of the dolomites into several layers arranged along alignments diagonal to the valley.
The slopes in the gorge show several areas subjected to accelerated erosion. All of this causes not only a considerable production of debris, even rough, that accumulates in the bed, but also the local “badlands” morphology of the sides. Thus it is no surprise if the slopes are devoid of arboreal-shrub vegetation.
After leaving the Saibes valley, take an easy mule track leading to the asphalt road, and from there to the built-up area at the start point
Alternatively, in the final stretch, with a short detour you can hike up to the near small San Daniele church (indications), and then back to Andreis through the church’s access walkway.
Access:
Driving up the Valcellina state road 251 from Montereale. Right after the long gallery, turn right and follow the indication to Andreis. After reaching the picturesque downtown, drive through the built-up aread with its Visitor Center, and reach Alcheda hamlet, where you can park.
