very long route, both for development and for the significant difference, but certainly full of historical charm and natural. You walk retracing the famous ascent of Horace Delfico, first climber of the Teramo side of the Corno Grande. The refuge of Fontanino located halfway between the Valley and the Forks of the Madonna del Gran Sasso is dedicated to him.
Starting point: Forca di Valle (800 m)
Gradient: 2100 m about
Rise Time: 6 hours
Lowering time: 4 hours
Difficulty: EE
a time not too far on this tour the first Sunday in August you will probably find the crowd. The feast of Our Lady of the Snow recalled many inhabitants of the Valley who left Sicily on foot from the countries of the valley to go to the Madonna del Gran Sasso.
was a real collective ritual can take part in inter ipaesi. Usually started at midnight from the main square and between songs he would walk in the darkness there propitiatory. The first rays of the sun rising from the waters of the Adriatic Sea just below the pilgrims caught normally all'Arapietra. I had the good fortune to attend several times at dawn from this place and I can say that is one of the most beautiful sights that one day in the mountains can offer. The magic of the few moments when the Paretone is tinged with pink is something that goes in for very time. The climb
parked the car near the church of Forca di Valle begins to rise steeply between houses along a narrow concrete. Arriving at the end of the village, turn left and continue on a rocky trail. When you reach the first fork go right (signs of the park are still not getting lost) and continue gaining a more open area and characterized by extensive grassy slopes is still used as fodder for livestock. Soon you will reach the big rock below which flows the water of Fish of the source, visible mostly in the spring when its scope is more abundant. A final steep section of trail leads to a large grassy saddle from which you can enjoy a magnificent view of the two horns, the Paretone and the beautiful slopes of Alta Cima and Montagnone.
From the saddle, continue to the right following a path wide enough that rises and then runs along the hillside on the eastern side of Montagnone. Then a track in the middle of meadows leading to the shelter at Horace Delfico Fontanino near which in summer is usually a herd of grazing cows. From the hut, the path becomes larger and takes the form of a real dirt road is what remains of the attempt to build a road capable of uniting in a more direct and Pietracamela Prati di Tivo with Forca di Valle and near Highway A24.
reached the level of the pond following the apparent track of what is left of the road, all that remains is to head along the scenic trail that runs along the obvious ridge dell'Arapietra. It passes the ruins of the shelter dell'Arapietra and soon you get to Madonna. The trip could also wanted to finish here, the difference in height and length are already far more than enough to store a lady trip and the view enjoyed by the Virgin Mary all over the Valley of Sicily and the Adriatic Sea in the distance make this place an excellent destination .
But to those who have breath and legs, noch Board certainly wants to continue to go further and into the valley of the crows. The valley is a sort of river of stone made of stones all types and sizes that surround the trail. Apart from a short distance behind a railing, do not meet technical difficulties to the refuge Franchetti managed with great care and courtesy for over twenty years by his friend Luca Mazzoleni (now rightly become a true legend of the Grand Massif Sasso). The refuge is located on a beautiful rocky promontory and was built in 1959 by the Rome section of the Italian Alpine Club using local stone. In summer you can sit on the deck of the terrace of the hut at 2433 meters and comfortably sipping a beer you can see the rope teams engaged on the nearby walls of the Little Horn. Those who had not yet satisfied effort made to get here can go up to the top of the eastern Big Horn. The alternatives at this point are two: go to the Calderone glacier and the normal route, or take the more challenging rich iron.
latter part directly behind the hut. You follow a trail that cuts a path of rocky slope to the left along the hillside until you reach the north ridge of Corno Grande. The trail leads to a large sloping ramp that goes completely, it ends at an obvious rocky channel equipped with some lashings. Climb around the canal with beautiful views of the forest and down to Paretone Casale San Nicola, the vacuum in this part is significant and should get their hands on the rock steps to overcome some easy Grade II until you reach the large plateau dell'anticima north where it joins the path that follows the normal route to the peak. The wilderness character of this route makes a path for people and experts that move smoothly even on very exposed.
The beginner can climb along the so-called normal route. From the Rifugio Franchetti takes you to the right on the path that cuts through the base of the moraine of the glacier Calderone and reaches the obvious saddle of the two horns. From the saddle you can enjoy a magnificent view of the first Intermesoli Pizzo, on the pillars of rock that they are based on underlying and Val Maone.
The path now becomes a little 'uncomfortable and most steeply among the debris of rocky moraine of the glacier in southern Europe. At the end of this steep section is left on the right path that climbs to the top forwards in the west and one combo, the bottom of the glacier in summer is usually covered with stones. In the hottest season of the glacier is usually reduced to a steep tongue of snow that rises to the top Western Europe, the average temperature increases in recent years has also left its victims here.
It crosses the entire front of the moraine of the glacier until you reach correspondence a clear channel leading up to the summit of the eastern Big Horn, the signs on the rocks and some rope rigging some most difficult step, however, leave no doubt on the path to follow. This stretch of the climb is a bit 'delicate because of the many unstable rocks that characterize the area. Council, however, great care and attention, always remember that underneath us there may be other people. Wearing a helmet is a possibility that does not call for discard.
It comes out on the summit ridge at the arrival of the street Jannetta, the big ramp that affects the whole Paretone obliquely. The view is open to people who are new in this way leaves you breathless both for the excitement due to the huge void that suddenly opens at our feet that the wild beauty of these places. The immense and high Paretone is under our feet and we can not help but stop a moment to contemplate such great magnitude.
The peak hour is at hand, we have to continue on the path that goes right along the ridge and get on the big stone which characterizes the summit. The view and the absolute vertical position of the other rocky peaks that surround us amply repay the great effort made to date to arrive. In
descent along the normal route to the hut where Franchetti continue tracing the tracks you have climbed.
