Climbing the Sibillini mountains, how to choose

11 June, 2011
If you have just one day to climb a mountain in the Sibillini chain, which should you choose?  I have climbed a representative sample, so let me help you decide.  1st question: do you like to climb the highest mt. in a certain region? A: Mt. Vettore which is a nice climb with about 950 meters to go up and then down and views of the coast, parts of distant Umbria and Abruzzo, Lazio and the Marche.  2nd: Would you rather have a beautiful hike?  Try Cima del Lago with the same starting point as Vettore at Forca di Presta, but amazing views of the Lago di Pilato and the altopiano (plateau) of Castelluccio.  If you want to bag 3 peaks continue on to Mt. Redentore and Pizzo del Diavolo, all listed at above 2400 meters.  3. If you want a safe, short period with a rope to assist you and views of the Gola dell'Infernaccio from above, try Mt. Sibilla and you can easily add the next peak Cima Vallelunga and descend via an unused road.  Here are some photos of all of them with my favorite being the 2nd option.

Looking back at Cima del Lago from Redentore, this is the ridge you walk along.

One of the views of Lago di Pilato from Cima del Lago

From Cima del Lago, the tallest mountain in the Marche, Mt. Vettore with Lago di Pilato which you can not see from Vettore in the lower left.

Altopiano of Castelluccio where the famous lentils grow and the parasailers glide over the fields of mustard, poppies and lentils.  This view is from near the top of Mt. Redentore.

Looking down on the eastern most part of the plateau of Castelluccio and into Lazio in the distance.

Bacco is looking at Lago di Pilato while above his head you see the top of Mt. Redentore and the prominence to the far right is Pizzo del Diavolo.

On top of Pizzo del Diavolo looking back at Redentore to the right and the crest you walk across to get to Cima del Lago to the left.

The crest from Redentore behind me to Pizzo to Bacco's left in the near distance.

A view from Pizzo del Diavolo to the Z-shaped scar of the road on Mt. Sibilla with Cima della Vallelunga to its left. Below right, you see the town of Foce where you can start the hike for Lago di Pilato.

Bacco, happy as a clam on a little snow remnant.

 Last look at Lago di Pilato before descending.

I have a pace which is close to 1.5 mph going up steep inclines, so I took 1 hour and 15 minutes to arrive at the refuge where you choose whether to hike right up Vettore or left up Cima del Lago.  To arrive at the latter was another 30 minutes and to continue on to Redentore and Pizzo del Diavolo was an hour.  the return took me about an hour and a half.  I figure the hike I took was between 7.5 and 8 miles round trip.  Happy climbing!

Birthday peaks through Bacco's eyes. Mt. Sibilla and Cima Vallelunga

20 Agosto

Man, I'm bored here at Nascondiglio di Bacco. papa' promised  me we would hike up a mt. for my birthday and it's been a month and a half now.  He is always telling me about the 14,000 foot peaks he's climbed in Colorado, but here we have to be satisfied with little ones just over 2000 meters.
Ok, let's go dad!

This one looks good, Mt. Sibilla, about 2200 meters and famous as the home of a famous Sibyl or prophetess who lived in a cave here and predicted future events.  She must be why the mountains around here are called the Sibillinis.  After a steep start from a refuge at about 1500 meters, we have arrived on the ridge and will start our quest for the summit.

Wow, I've never seen Gola dell'Infernaccio from above before!

Dad had to carry me up this 4 meter cliff using the rope,  I'm glad we didn't both fall, I am 33 kg now!  I bet we take another route back down.

Here's the cave where the prophetess lived, I think my room at Nascondiglio di Bacco is a lot more comfortable!

We made it!  Here I am atop Mt. Sibilla with my padrone who luckily brought enough water and a bit of prosciutto for me to have a picnic.  Now I am seeing another mt. calling my name in the distance.  We can scale that one and then take the road back down that scars the side of this mountain and has never been used except by hikers and shepherds with their flocks.

Here's a view of Cima Vallelunga from the top of Sibilla and then a photo of the mouth of the Gola looking towards the sea.

Both of us have our tongues out because it is 85 degrees, I 'marked' this mountain top and now we can "hit the road", literally.  I hear the descent is twice as long this way, but there will be no cliffs to climb down.
Man sure can make a pristine place more ugly with their roads to nowhere.  I take one last look back at the sheep who graze here in the mountains and are responsible for one of the best pecorino cheeses in Italy, Sopravissana.  Thanks for sharing my adventure!  Bacco