Venezia delle Nevi, Piancavallo e discesa sul 981

Starting point the village of Caneva (PN), immediately uphill you reach the castle (final ramp) and point in the direction of Coltura/Polcenigo through trails and paths (I recommend to follow well the track through the village of Coltura not to miss the nice technical path that departs from the village). Above Gorgazzo the trail joins the forestry -initially steep then more humane- that on a gravel surface leads to the first GPM at 400 meters.

This is followed by a sudden descent in an easterly direction until it joins the asphalt of via S.Tomè. Here a short downhill section with a left turn allows one to ascend along the Rujal stream through a pleasant and at times more treacherous (due to stones and roots) path flanked by a gully. We then find ourselves near the Lo Chalet restaurant, from where the ascent along the "Venice of the Snows" road begins (about 10km and 800 meters of ascent, with Tarabin fountain where to refuel at an altitude of 950 meters); the road, once reduced to a scree slope, was renovated a few years ago and, although weather and time play havoc with it, it is never challenging nor does it present any difficulties along its winding meander through the steep valley. The main climb ends in the village of Saùc, then it is still a gentle asphalt climb until it reaches Piancavallo, where adequate refreshments can be found (even out of season some hidden bars remain open).

Here a detour uphill leads to the winding path that follows the light poles until it rejoins locality Saùc. The road starts climbing again with wide views of the plain below, until you reach the panoramic spot at the GPM at an altitude of 1530meters, where your gaze is completely free to sweep from the Croatian coast to the Venetian coast on particularly clear days. Continue in the direction of Malga Friz, with another short GPM at 1540meters. From here it's all downhill fast, on rough asphalt, among huts set in fabulous surroundings. Quickly reaching casera Costa Cervera, be careful not to get carried away by the eagerness of the descent, as shortly after on the left begins the descent on trail No. 981.

If we let our legs, arms and eyes "rest" before, now it's time to put them back to work: the trail is not easy at all, due to always uneven ground, marked slope with some more enduristic sections with stones and tight hairpin bends; in short, technical difficulties are not lacking (faced with 120mm full, but once also with 100mm front). From an elevation of 1080 meters, the trail ends at an elevation of 350 meters at a hairpin bend along the road that leads to Mezzomonte (PN); instead, continuing downhill, 200 meters to the right we enter another trail, also with some more ruined but never challenging sections that flanks, avoiding, the paved hairpin bends to the village of Coltura. From here you return to Caneva along trails and, given the fatigue already accumulated, a few easier stretches on asphalt.