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64010 COLONNELLA
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THE CALDERONE GLACIER (Mt. 2680-2850)

Situated in a large dell, for which it is named, just below the peaks of Corno Grande, the Calderone glacier owes its fame to the fact that it is the only glacier in the Apennines and the southernmost glacier in Europe(42° N. latitude). It achieved this status in the 20th century when the glacier of Corral di Veleta in the Spanish Sierra Nevada vanished (it was found below 38° latitude). The Calderone glacier may also vanish. It currently covers an area of 4.5 hectares (it covered 7 hectares in 1916) and is 400 meters long and measures 250 meters at its widest point. Situated between 2680 and 2850 meters a.s.l. , it has an average inclination of 26° and a maximum of 35° and is 15 meters thick. It contains transversal and terminal crevices (visible during the warm seasons) and lateral and terminal moraines. Below the terminal moraines, which form a barricade around the glacial cirque and appear over the steep slope of debris, there is a solid 10 meter high block of ice. Near the terminal moraine, at the base of the glacier, a swallow-hole collects meltwater. In years when there are heavy snows the swallow-hole gets blocked by the great flow of water (which carries airborne dust forming silt.) and forms the picturesque little lake called "Sofia." Systematic measurements, made by Guido Tonini between 1929 and 1960 on behalf of the Comitato Glaciologico Italiano (The Italian Glaciologic Commision), showed that the glacier was gradually loosing volume. In 26 years (between 1934 and 1960) it shrank 420,000 cubic meters, an average of 16,000 cubic meters a year. More recently Claudio Smiraglia measured the amount of melted ice using a series of metal poles to measure the decrease in thickness. Applying the results of these measurements to the entire surface of the glacier and considering its density, he was able to calculate the volume of the lost water. In 1989 there was about 1 meter of melting, and 1.5 meters in 1990. The Calderone is therefore steadily shrinking, like all the other glaciers in the world. This shrinkage is caused by several factors, including the greenhouse effect triggerd by the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The glacier has survived in such a southern location due several local factors such as its northeast exposure (it is protected from the sun's rays by the rock face which rises above the glacier) and above all, the protection afforded by a layer of debris covering the glacier (for this reason it could be called the "little black glacier").

The Spring at the Top
De Marchi describes the Calderone Glacier in 1573: "All those who have never been to the top say that there is a fountain there. I tell you that there is no fountain, but only a great valley between Monte di Santo Niccola and Corno Monte where there is always between 15 and 20 feet of snow, and even more at some points where the snow and ice remain all year round. And the area, which is always covered with snow and ice, is over a mile long and more than half a mile wide. Only a small fraction of this snow field melts, and the water runs down forming springs at the base of the mountain...". The glacier once extended from the eastern peak of Santo Niccola mountain to the western peak of Gran Sasso (the Corno Monte). De Marchi describes how it served as a giant water tank. As a matter of fact, water from the melting glacier eventually runs into the springs of the hydrographic basin of S. Niccola canyon and also contributes to the enormous amount of water circulating underground jeopardized by the boring of the mountain. Despite its modest size, the Calderone also has an impact on the local climate acting as a cooler and condenser of atmospheric humidity. Left over from the great glacier of the Quaternary period, which filled the whole valley of the Cornacchie , the Calderone has undergone a series of modifications which have changed its size. During the "little ice age," between 1550 and 1850 it expanded. At the end of the 19th century, it arrived just above the Franchetti shelter. Rovelli tells us that during that time it reached the terraces found below the Central Peak and the Forchetta del Calderone. The glacier began to shrink starting in the middle of the 19th century. The height of the glacier has dropped by 60-80 meters over the past 100 years. And even the though it has survived while other much larger glaciers have vanished, it is shrinking so rapidly that we must be concerned about its survival.

CAMICIA MOUNTAIN (Mt. 2564)

The imposing rocky face of Monte Camicia (Mt. 2564), the easternmost peak of the Gran Sasso Massif, was long believed to be inaccessible. Its southern slope rises from the Campo Imperatore plateau, gently sloping up towards a rocky peak. The summit is easily accessible form this side of the mountain. On the contrary, the northern side is characterized by a majestic vertical concave face, which dominates the village of Castelli below, and contains the Fondo della Salsa and San Rocco. If every range has its Eager, this is certainly the Eager of the Apennines. As for the climb, it offers routes with degrees of difficulty up to VII %. It is a difficult climb up this complex face, which is typical of the Apennines with its crumbly rock. The vastness of the face and its complexity create orientation problems and its technical rating doesn't truly reflect the difficulty of the climb.
GRAN SASSO 3-Fondo della Salsa In order to reach the base of the northern face, you leave the village of Castelli and take the road for Rigopiano. After 3.7 kilometers you will get to a clearing just before a curve to the left and here you will find a yellow sign that marks the beginning of the trail (770 meters). You then follow the footpath until you reach the pebbly banks of the stream that runs down from Fondo della Salsa (not recommended in spring due snow and rock detritus avalanches). Climb along the stream until you get to the bottom of the face.

CENTO FONTI VALLEY "Fosso dell'Acero", "Cento Fonti" Valley and Summit of Laghetta (Mt. 2369)

This is one of the most beautiful itineraries, particularly in the spring, when the water runs copiously. The walk along the peak gives the sensation of being suspended over Campotosto Lake. The Acero Canyon trail has red markers, but higher altitudes is not evident. The excursion is easy but you must be careful walk along the bed of the torrent even when dry.
LAGA 3-From Cescastina you follow the road that leads up to Colle della Pietra and on to the Piane, past the sports field turn left and nearby we reach the over the Acero Canyon bridge. You continue another three kilometers beyond the bridge where you can park at mt. 1320. You can then set out on foot from Cesacastina, taking the trail to the west of the village that runs past the charming old fountain carved out of sandstone (mt. 1157). The trail continues along the right side of the Acero Canyon and eventually comes out on a road which you will follow for 300 meters towards the left. A short driveway on the right leads to an ENEL shelter (mt. 1352). You then proceed up a narrow path through a small grassy valley. In the upper valley the trail curves to the right passing through meadows and leading into a forest. You will then cross over a small canyon and continue along a ridge that runs between the small canyon which you crossed and Acero canyon. The path gradually leads away from the canyon and into a dirt road near a hairpin turn. You then take a wide trail on the right that leads to a scenic clearing overlooking a waterfall. Continue along the stream parallel to a very large rock slab that the stream runs over and you will come out of the woods after crossing a small brook on the right. Walking over grassy mounds you will reach another waterfall, and just above the falls, after crossing a dirt road, you will reach the Mercurio Spring (mt. 1800). You can then proceed up the wide Valle di Cento Fonti, with its many canyons, moving towards Sella di Gorzano. You will eventually reach the head of the valley where it curves sharply to the left(west). Walking along a wide ridge you will get to the highest point of the Laghetta (mt. 2372).

GEMELLI MOUNTAINS

The "Monti Gemelli" or Twin Peaks, as they are known for the geomorphologic analogies they present, Mount Foltrone (or Fultrone, mt. 1720, also called "the mountain of Campli") and Mount Girella (mt. 1814, also called "the mountain of flowers") are two of the most lovely and impressive peaks of the Laga massif. The slow flow of the Salinello torrent has deeply grooved the rock and finally split it to form some of Europe's most beautiful and breathtaking gullies, named after the torrent itself. The water's slow erosion has modelled the rock and created a "canyon" that is about a kilometre long and about three metres wide, with sheer rock faces plunging over sixty metres. In November 1990 almost 800 hectares of territory were embraced by a "guided" nature reserve, founded to protect the valuable beauty of these gullies. What is more, other splendid testimonies of early human settlements were brought to light on the Gemelli mountains. As a matter of fact the slopes of Mount Fiori were especially fruitful as there are thirty or more grottoes, which include that of San Michele Arcangelo and its neighbour, the Salomone grotto, where Palaeolithic and Neolithic relics were recovered. To these items we may add those of the Middle Ages, a period in which the grottoes were the refuge preferred by countless hermits. Some of the loveliest itineraries for a complete exploration and appreciation of the Gemelli peaks start in the Ripe di Civitella district.

GORZANO MOUNTAIN (MT. 2458) (Laga Mountains)

"Leave us a piece!" ...begged the relatives of a poor old dead man during the famine of 1729 as they came upon a group who had gone to fetch the cadaver for burial and were now eating it. This story, told by a shepherd from Cesacastina, is part of an oral tradition, which is so respected that even stories like this are considered true. What is certain is that the life of the inhabitants of this area, which was already difficult, was made unbearable by numerous horrific famines. Palma recounts that after the famine of 1764, "the habit of planting corn spread among farmers." It is likely that farming spread higher and higher into the mountains. Before World War II grain, rye, and barley were grown at altitudes of up to 1600 meters on the southeastern peak of Gorzano while potatoes were grown at altitudes of up to 1800 meters. Wild boar, which were probabaly attracted by these crops, used to be common in this area as attested by the so-called "Costa delle Troie," which owes its name the female boar that used to pass through the area with their young.

MACERA DELLA MORTE (Mt. 2073)

If the name Macera calls to mind images of desolation (in dialect macera means "pile of stones" ), "morte"(death) and the nearby "Monti dei Morti" (Mountains of the dead) clearly suggest that a bloody battle took place here. But who fought in this battle? There are two different traditional accounts. One talks about a battle between Carthaginians and Romans, a version which is supported by the place-name Romicito, deriving from Romanicidio (Romanicide) and by nearby "Guado" and "Strada di Annibale" (Road of Hannibal) . It is known that the Romans pursued and attacked Hannibal in the mountains, fearing him on the plain. According to another traditional oral account firmly rooted in the Valle del Castellano and supported by the place-names "Piana Cavaliere" (Plain of the Knights) and "Valle della Corte" (Valley of the Court), a battle between the Papacy and the Kingdom of Naples took place here. Indeed, Macera della Morte was situated on the border between these two states, and given the expansionistic aspirations of the two powers, tensions along the border were always very high. In this case, the battle would have taken place after the 12th century, most likely in the 15th century when so many battles of this kind were fought. Macera della Morte is one of the most enigmatic places in the Laga, but also one of the most beautiful with its spectacular sweeping views.

MARTESE FOREST (Laga Mountains)

Martese forest has a rich history starting with the origin of its name, which derives from the god Marte (Mars). Numerous travellers passed through the forest along the via Metella many centuries before Christ. Then there were the monks of the "Cavallaro" monastery near Pascellata who, beginning in the 14th century, used this road to reach the forages and cultivated field of Morricana, which sustained the monastery until the 19th century. The forest served as a hiding place for bandits in the Middle Ages and during the 19th century. It was also the site of a heroic battle between Captain Bianco's partisans and Nazi-fascists which took place in September 1943. The Martese forest boasts numerous botanic wonders including extraordinary silver firs that tower over beech-woods. Some of these firs measure over 5 meters in circumference. You will also find little streams , springs and waterfalls including the splendid 40-meter high Morricana Waterfall, one of the highest falls in the area.

MORRICANA FALL

This is another very beautiful excursion that will take you through the Martese Forest to one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the province of Teramo. The majestic 40-meter waterfall is among the highest in the area. LAGA 1 From Ceppo take the road that enters the forest in front of the Julia Hotel. You will then get to a crossroads about 800 meters down the road. You can leave your car here (mt. 1364). Take the road heading to the right over a flat area and into the Martese Forest. After about 5 kilometers, as you approach the bottom of the valley, a steep dirt road descends from right. Take this road down to the Castellano Stream. Cross the stream and then turn left through the underbrush. The trail is poorly marked at first but improves a little further on. Follow the trail as it heads up towards the left side of the valley until you find another trail running up from below, after passing over a long stretch of flat terrain. Turn right onto this trail and follow it until you get to a vast grassy clearing (la Piana). Follow the narrow path through the grass, which is sometimes quite high, cross the little stream and continue up along the right side of the stream which you will cross again moving towards the left and re-entering the forest. You will then begin a gradual ascent which soon becomes steep and leads out of the forest to a point where you can see the head of the valley. After crossing a canyon (mt.1756) you walk down , crossing Cannavine Canyon (with a beautiful waterfall about 100 meters below) and reaching the other side (the Folds of Morricana with a small farmhouse). From here, moving along the right side of the valley, you will pass several waterfalls which originate from branches of the Fosso dell Morricana. From the folds you can go down into the forest below, moving towards the left (the terrain is very steep to the right). When the terrain becomes less steep you should move to the right crossing a canyon and descending down a path. Turn right where the trail leads down to the Castellano Stream (mt. 1580). Here you can admire the great Morricana Falls. Avoid descending to the canyon before or after this point because the slopes are very steep.

PIZZO DI MOSCIO (Mt. 2411)

Looking at the Selva Grande Valley from the west, it appears to divide the Laga Mountain Range into two parts. The range, which would otherwise extend in a long straight line, curves around from Cima Lepri to Gorzano. The valley is the most direct route between Aquilano and the province of Teramo, and, as a matter of fact, Sella del Solagna is the most important mountain pass in the range. A mule-track used to wind through this pass from Montorio and Cortino through Macchiatornella and then down through Selva Grande (the Italian version of name in dialect, Selva Ranna) until it reached Armatrice. The path was 30 kilometers long between Montario to Sella and 13.5 kilometers from Sella to Amatrice. Another equally important mule-track led to Sella da Pascellata , stretching 13.5 kilometers through Ceppo and the Martese forest. The shepherds used to call the section of the track that passed through the valley the "national road" because of its importance. It was a major trade route for livestock, particularly cattle, and many trails branched off from this main route leading to numerous folds on both sides of the valley. This beautiful itinerary, crisscrossed by numerous streams, also offers spectacular views of the slopes of Cima Lepri and Gorzano.
LAGA 2-Take the dirt road from Ceppo that leads up to the right (on foot as it cannot be undertaken by car-the dirt road on the left leads to Morricana Falls). After climbing gradually for a few kilometers, you will reach the Lago dell'Orso clearing (mt. 1800) and from here you can admire the entire Laga range, in particular the peak of Monte Gorzano. Leaving the Lago dell'Orso clearing, proceed along the path that runs along the Martese forest, situated on the left. After a few kilometers of fairly level terrain, leave the trail and begin climbing up to the left towards Pizzo di Moscio. This is the most difficult part of the itinerary as you climb the gently sloping southeastern peak to the summit (mt. 2411).

PIZZO INTERMESOLI OR MONTE GRILLO (MT. 2635)

Once called Monte Grillo by shepherds (the col to the to the south of the peak still bears this name), Intermesoli may be the Monte Pizzuto referred to by De Marchi, and the Cornetto on Fritzsche's map. In any case, its name is now firmly established and derives from the village found on the northern ridge. As a matter of fact, it stands like a sort of island (insula, land between two waters) between (inter) two torrential valleys, Rio Arno and Venacquaro. The excursion to Pizzo Intermesoli is a popular classic with lots of ups and downs as you pass through some of the most beautiful valleys in the massif, lying between the rocky face of the eastern side of Pizzo Intermesoli and the first spurs of Corno Grande and Corno Piccolo.

PRATI DI TIVO

Prati di Tivo is located on the foothills of the Gran Sasso d'Italia massif and is the province of Teramo's most well-known ski resort. It is only three kilometres from the charming village of Pietracamela and has a large car park located in the northern slope of the Corno Piccolo peak, at an altitude of Mt. 1.450. There are 20km of ski slopes equipped with 6 ski lifts and 1 chair lift. For cross-country skiing fans there are further structures that include an excellent 2km circuit. Its excellent geographic position makes it a popular holiday resort, both in winter and in summer, as it is also the ideal starting point for wonderful nature hikes. Accommodation facilities include no less than seven hotels operating between Prati di Tivo and neighbouring Pietracamela. This itinerary will take you through the heart of Teramo's mountains where you can enjoy streams, falls and green valleys.
GRAN SASSO 1-From Prati di Tivo (mt. 1450) to the Garibaldi Refuge (mt. 2230), on to the Rio Arno falls, Val del Mavone and Campo Pericoli (3 hours on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback). This is quite a long and varied itinerary that crosses one of the loveliest of the Gran Sasso valleys. Part of this route is shared with Sentiero Italia. Take the dirt track that rises to the left at the Hotel Prati di Tivo, leaves the woods and reaches the crest that separates the Rio Arno valley from Prati di Tivo, continuing upwards and skirting the sheer Corno Piccolo rock face, we reach the Rio Arno falls. The road continues upwards and after the aqueduct intake, out of the woods it turns into a path. Cross the lovely plain beneath the Intermesoli face, with the dell'Orso grotto on the right and the Ginepri gorge on the left. As we proceed the Mavone valley extends to the east into the vast, soft and rippling peaks of Campo Pericoli (in the old days known as Campo Aprico - open field). On the right there is a path that climbs up a steep gravel track and in an hour of strenuous ascent will lead to the Grilli col (mt. 2220). Opposite we find the pyramidal spire of the Pizzo Cefalone peak (mt. 2533), immediately to the left there is Mount Portella and its pass (mt. 2385) and then the Duca degli Abruzzi refuge (mt. 2260). On the left a path rises that is a short cut, but tiring, to the Garibaldi refuge. Continuing along the bottom of the bowl, in the direction of Pizzo Cefalone, under whose slopes there are traces of ancient shepherd refuges known as "Le Capanne" (mt. 1957). These constructions are present in the Vasto valley and in larger numbers on the Montagna dei Fiori slopes. The origin of these simple spontaneous structures meets with various and contradictory explanations; the most charming hypothesis compares these stone huts to the tholos constructions, because of the resemblance in structures. Turn left and shortly afterwards, when the slope becomes less steep, on the right, we encounter a fork that leads to the Portella pass, which enables access to Campo Imperatore through Passo del Lupo (2156 metres). Continuing along the path through the meadows, gradually, negotiating the sink-holes, we reach the Garibaldi refuge (2231 metres). From the Garibaldi refuge you may opt for any of these itineraries: For the western peak of Corno Grande across Brecciaio col (mt. 2912 - time: 2 hours); For the Duca degli Abruzzi refuge (mt. 2260 - tempo: 1 hour); For Mount Aquila col and peak (mt. 2495 - tempo: 1 hour); For Campo Imperatore (mt. 2130 - hotel, cableway, hostel, observatory - time: 1.30 hours).

THE "CAVE OF SANT'ANGELO"

The Regional Nature Preserve "Gole del Salinello" boasts 45 caves which are a product of the karst phenomenon. The caves were first explored by a doctor from Corropoli, Concezio Rosa., at the end of the 19th century. Additional discoveries were made by the paleontologist Antonio Mario Radmilli during the 20th century. The renowned Sant'Angelo cave is the most famous of all the caves in the area. The cave's renown stems from the fact that it has been used by man since the Paleolithic Age. This cave was ideal for prehistoric man for its spaciousness and its very narrow entrance which made it inaccessible to large mammals. After pre-historic times, the cave was used as a place of pagan worship of the god Hercules Carino, considered a protector. In the age of the Longobards, it was used as a place of worship of Arcangelo San Michele, a tradition which is still alive today among the local population. In the Middle Ages the cave was home to many hermits. Inside the large cave (40 meters long, 20 meters wide and 30 meters high and connected to with an adjacent cave known as Salomone) you can admire a stone altar and a plaster altar, as well as a statue of San Michele Arcangelo slaying a dragon. Every year on May 1, the statue of the saint is removed for the cave and carried in a procession to the nearby parish church of Ripe of Civitella, where it is kept on display for the whole month of May, before being brought back to the cave.