Key to reading itineraries and legend

All itineraries have been covered and checked right up to the publication date of this guide book. The information described can be subject to change due to external factors which are beyond our control and could happen over time and with changes in the passing of seasons. Intense meteorological conditions, rock or soil instability, or the interference of man could radically modify the conditions and characteristics of the itinerary. The information for each itinerary has been organized in the following way. Opening horizontal band: progressive number, province, geographical area, name of itinerary. Vertical left hand side band: province geographical area, title of itinerary, progressive number. Left hand side Vertical column: contains fundamental technical information to quickly understand the itinerary. Right hand side vertical column: contains a few technical notes, the detailed description of the itinerary and the elevation profile. Opposite page: Lay-out with the areas and the waypoints crossed.

With the data and information organized in this order, you will manage to understand the characteristics of the itinerary and verify if it suits your expectations, experience and the type of physical effort and time necessary to complete it. I encourage you to always check that what you are about to tackle is in line with your physical and technical preparation to avoid finding yourself in situations or environments which become difficult to manage.

NAMES OF ITINERARIES

Usually the name of the itinerary respects the place name of the territory and often indicates the line followed (e.g. ridge…) or else one of the areas encountered. In some cases, especially for the itineraries “created” by the author, the name of the path has been invented depending on historical facts, points of interest, etc. In addition, on all the CAI paths the land register reference number is included.

LEFT HAND SIDE VERTICAL COLUMN

Beauty

Probably the most difficult quality to assign to an itinerary; the evaluation is obviously personal and rewards the different views and the variety of environments encountered throughout the walk. The mountains and valleys of this sector all deserve five stars, however a categorization is necessary; do not be fooled by the opinion expressed, it is often fruit of an overall evaluation and obviously short itineraries offer different characteristics to a long traverse…always choose where to walk, always and above all depending on your experience.

Difficulties Indicates the difficulty according to the table on page 24

Total Vertical Height Gain To evaluate the vertical height gain all the uphill sections of each itinerary have been taken into consideration, collecting them directly from the GPS tracks; it is an indicative value which allows you to evaluate the effort required to finish the itinerary.

Total Length The total kilometres of the itinerary from start to finish are indicated here; if it is a circuit it is an overall total length, otherwise it indicates the distance covered during the uphill section. As for the vertical height gain, the total length is extracted directly from the GPS tracks.

Duration Time It is an average value which has been worked out taking into consideration the length and vertical height of the itinerary proceeding with a regular and steady pace; with the increasing difficulty of the itinerary a person in good physical shape is considered. As for the distance the estimate is overall only if it is a circuit. The duration time describing each itinerary has been calculated according to the average pace of an expert hiker, without taking into account any eventual breaks.

Water sources All water sources are indicated (fresh water springs, fountains, etc.) and not only perennial ones. In fact it is important to take into consideration that many of these, during some periods of the year, are dry; others, instead, offer water which is visibly undrinkable. The symbols on the map in fact are divided into two types. The symbol of a fountain was used for the more important sources and the ones that are easier to use, where it is usually easy to find drinking water. The drop symbol, instead, indicates water sources which are not as popular, where it is most likely to find them dry or undrinkable and often without a proper fountain.

Mountain huts or bivouacs You will find the names of any mountain huts/bivouacs found along the itinerary (or nearby). Not all of them are open, some are looked after by a warden, and it is best to phone the warden before hand if you wish to sleep overnight or eat something.

Trail signposts You will find the types of signs present on the itinerary indicated (often difficult to find since they are old or very rare). Best time of year to access The graphics used allow you to quickly evaluate during which period of the year it is best to tackle the itinerary. The majority of paths are often exposed to the sun, and keeping in mind the modest altitude, during summer time many of these itineraries can become unadvisable. Due to the high concentration of flies and horse flies during the hotter season, it becomes automatic to frequent only a small number of paths even in mid summer. The colour green indicates the best period, the colour yellow means it is necessary to be careful of the terrain’s conditions and the average temperatures of the period, red instead indicates the months where it is not recommended to tackle the itinerary. These evaluations though do not take into consideration the rare snowfalls which sometimes cover these mountains. In fact, many of these itineraries, even if recommended during the middle of winter, should be evaluated with a lot more care in case of snow.

QR-code In some pages you will find a QR-Code with indications for its use.

Wilderness symbol Indicates all the itineraries which develop in wild areas, solitary or not very popular. These itineraries do not offer any sign posts (or else they are missing for long sections) and often the tracks are difficult to interpret. These paths, therefore, are reserved for expert excursionists who are used to finding their way and progressing on this “particular” terrain.

RIGHT HAND VERTICAL COLUMN

Main text General characteristics of the itinerary Short description and introduction note to the general characteristics of the itinerary.

Description Complete description of itinerary. Variants: eventual variants to return. Elevation profile Quickly indicates the positive and negative gradients the itinerary offers.

OPPOSITE PAGE

Map Allows to visualize the total length of the itinerary with indication on the main reference points for orienteering, the waypoints which you will find in the description and the main areas and towns reached by the itinerary. The camera or (even the asterisk) indicates a panoramic point which is especially beautiful where its recommended to take a break. In the GPX files which you can download by registering the Guide with the distinct code you will find all the tracks and waypoints.

CLASSIFICATION OF THE ITINERARIES DEPENDING ON THEIR DIFFICULTY

TT =Tourist Itineraries which run along lanes, mule tracks or easy paths, with evident routes and do not offer uncertainty or orienteering problems. They are usually carried out below 2000m and usually consist of access paths to alpine pastures or mountain huts. They require some knowledge of mountain environments and fitness for walking.

EE = Excursionist Itineraries which almost always run along paths, or else along tracks on varied terrain (pasture land, debris, screes), usually with sign posts; can be short, flat sections or slightly inclined with residue snow, and in case of falling, the sliding down can be stopped within a short distance and is without dangers. They often develop along open terrain, without paths but not problematic, always with adequate sign posting. They may develop along steep slopes; the exposed sections are generally protected (barriers) or can be carried out in safety (cables). They may have single passages on rock, not exposed, or short sections which are not tiring nor difficult thanks to equipment (ladders, pegs, cables) which do not require specific gear (harness, carabiners, etc). They require a sense of orienteering, as well as a certain amount of experience and knowledge of mountainous terrain, fitness in walking, as well as adequate footwear and gear. EE EE = for expert excursionists Itineraries which are usually sign posted but that require ability to move along particular terrain. Paths or tracks on arduous and treacherous terrain (steep slopes and/or slippery on grass, or mixed with rocks and grass, or rock and debris). Varied terrain at relatively high altitudes (scree, short and not steep snow fields, open slopes with no points of reference, etc). Rocky sections, with slight technical difficulties (equipped routes, vie ferrate, the least difficult). Excluding itineraries along glaciers, even if flat and/or with no crevasses on appearance (because crossing them would require the use of a rope and ice axe and knowledge of belaying manoeuvres). You will need: experience in the mountains in general and good knowledge of alpine environments; a steady step and must not suffer from vertigo; equipment, gear and adequate physical preparation. EEA EEA = for expert excursionists with gear Equipped routes or vie ferrate, the use of self belay devices are necessary (harness, energy absorber, carabiners, Kevlar threads) and personal protection gear (helmet, gloves). F CAUTION: Any mountaineering difficulty must be considered superior to excursion difficulties. F = Easy, does not present any specific difficulties It is the easiest climbing grade, you have to know how to choose foot holds and often it is necessary to use hands to keep your balance; you can find moves of I and II grade and the progression could be not so easy for anyone suffering from vertigo. PD PD = Not very difficult, presents a few mountaineering difficulties on rock The single moves on rock can reach up to III grade and often mountain progression is necessary. You have to move one limb at a time and the use of hands is continuous on good holds.