Eating is not the only viable activity in Calabria. Indeed, despite what the fantastic web series (and let's face it also the experience) "Fiore Calabro" has taught us, in Calabria it is also possible to practice sports. However, we all know that after sports there is a need to integrate liquids (I'm talking about water of course…) and sugars. And so on with the cheeses and cured meats.
Considering therefore that I will talk to you about regional delicacies in other posts, I now wanted to tell you about some sporting activities that you may decide to do during your visit to the Pollino National Park. In the days spent in Calabria thanks to the Trip Adventure Blog, we tried the Canyoning, a classic trekking and an off-road excursion, thanks to several guides and Raganello Tour, a specialized agency for the park area.
I mention the agency because for most of these activities, it is mandatory and highly recommended to rely on expert guides, considering that most of the paths have no indications and that it is often very difficult to reach the starting points if you don't have a suitable car. In fact, many roads are not exactly in conditions of easy practicability and despite this makes the experience very wild… it is better not to risk the skin by going there alone and without suitable equipment!
Canyoning in the low Raganello gorges
The Canonying in the lower gorges of the Raganello valley was all an emotion! And there are various scratches to prove it.
This sport consists of descent of gorges (canyons) dug over time by streams and can be practiced by crossing the stream on foot, without the aid of a rubber boat or canoe, facing jumps, dives, slides (called toboggans) and, in the more technical routes, abseiling on a rope below thundering waterfalls.
There are two itineraries, both lasting around 4 hours (also depends on the speed of the group): the upper section (Gole alte or Gole di Barile), more wild and less man-made, starting from S. Lorenzo Bellizzi; the lower one (Gole Bassi), more technical and equally suggestive, starting from Civita.
We novice rambo citizens have faced the path of the low gorges. We left Civita with our guide Roberto De Marco and an off-road vehicle that took us to the entrance of the path. Each of us was given one wetsuit, an approved helmet and a belt with hooks.
We walked a short distance until we reached the entrance of the gorges and then we started dressing to transform ourselves into small rambo on boarding. A little note about dressing… you will have to wear your pants and shirt under or over the wetsuit .. always choose to wear them under… unless you want to throw everything in the garbage. Word of those who made the first serious mistake even before starting !! Trekking shoes or trainers with good quality soles and swimsuit are also required.
Once the armor is on, the discovery of the low gorges and above all the adventure begins!
Il landscape is breathtaking (the canyon is in fact dominated, for almost its entire extension, by the high and overhanging rocky walls of Timpa di San Lorenzo, Timpa di Cassano and Timpa del Demanio, which in some points reach 600-700 meters in height), 'very cold water, you slip, get up, look at the other companions thinking: but the wetsuit is also so bad for me? The answer is always yes. Even those who are not convinced sportsmen can enjoy this experience, which is fun and exciting and which I absolutely recommend!
Trekking
Trekking high gorges and off-road tours "the world from the Timpe"
Tried by canyoning but eager to get to know the area, my adventure companions and I (between one meal and another) have dedicated ourselves to various activities including a off-road trekking to get to know the Timpe (or even rocky spurs) accompanied by the speleologist Nino LaRocca and the archaeologist Carmelo Colella (together with Giuliano di Raganello Tour, the mayor and the councilor for agricultural policies of San Lorenzo Bellizzi), who told us about the history of these mountains through archaeological finds and natural features. Our guides, in addition to being very well prepared, are also actively committed to protecting the areas from building speculation and are part of the project that would like to make the National Park of Pollino Unesco heritage.
We walked and admired landscapes, listened to ancient legends (first of all those of Marsilia), discovered the ancient mule tracks. We climbed to better admire the Timpe and watched as Nino climbed to the ancient custom of the shepherds who not so long ago were the only guests of these isolated places.
For this type of trekking it is advisable to contact one official guide or a specialized agency such as the one that accompanied us (due to the absence of signposted routes and services). Much of the tour takes place off-road, but there are still some parts that require the use of the legs .. and they are steep! So it is not recommended for those who just prefer to put their feet under a table.
The Grande Porta del Pollino and the centuries-old loricato pines
I had always heard of this tree, the Loricato plane, but alas, I hadn't had the opportunity to see it live until last week!
It is a kind of pine found only in the mountains of southeastern Europe and which has a thick bark that splits into large scales giving the tree the appearance of the skin of… .. a dinosaur. I know, this last statement is really unorthodox… but my imagination suggested this similarity to me!
Especially those that are now dead are spectacular and still transmit their strength and grandeur.
Also for this trek we advise you to contact official guides even if it is the only trek we have observed marked routes.
The trek lasts about three hours and allows you to immerse yourself in a beautiful beech forest, before arriving at the great door of pollino and the Loricati pines. The starting point is about an hour and a half from San Lorenzo Bellizzi and the road alone is an adventure!
However, once you have passed the off-road route and the walk (it is not particularly difficult even if there are steeper points) you arrive at the great door (so because it is a natural pass located at 1971 m asl) and you hold your breath for the natural spectacle we stand before us.
Sky, mountains, trees and silence.
Ah! At one point there was even the signal for Internet connection. Twitter also had us from up there.
Here are all the contacts
Raganello Tour (for all three activities we tried)
www.facebook.com/RaganelloTour
Nino Larocca - official guide
www.marsilia.eu
Pollino National Park
www.parks.it
