Beautiful routes to the lake on foot or by ski lift.
The mountains of Pistoia offer many opportunities for a little cool air in the hot summer months and a wander around the forests of the Abetone and its high peaks to enjoy to the full the wonders of a landscape which, whilst Apennine geographically speaking, is decidedly Alpine from the point at which its tall trees give way to blueberry pastures. And then, as you gradually climb up to the peaks, the panorama opens up towards the horizon taking in the sea and the islands of the Tuscan archipelago to the west, the Alps to the north and Florence to the south.
But it is not only the far off vistas that are such a joy. From the peak of Mt. Gomito, in fact, or from Alpe delle Tre Potenze, you get a wonderful view of the numerous lakes at the foot of the mountains, the leftovers of a glacial age stretching back millions of years, custodians of secrets which are lost in the mists of time – Lago Piatto, Lago Turchino and Lago Nero, the largest and most famous of the three. The trekking route which links these three lakes is one of the most famous and popular walks with those who visit our mountains.
There are many different routes to the lakes and they are suitable for everyone however fit because you can get to the lakes from the Sestaione, Val di Luce and Abetone valleys. And these are the most challenging routes because the altitude gain is all to be done on foot but, as I said above, the ski lifts mean that even the less fit can enjoy the beauty of these places. Thus the easiest and quickest way to the lakes is the Abetone cable car which takes you up to the summit of Mt. Gomito at 1890 metres in only 8 minutes. From here, a wonderful footpath takes you to the circumnavigation of the lakes ending up at Lago Nero which owes its name to the dark colour of its waters resulting from the way they reflect the rocks overlooking the lake.
It is a gem, set between Mt. Gomito and Alpe della Tre Potenze at 1730 metres, a veritable panoramic terrace at the apex of the Sestaione valley whose Norway spruce and silver fir forests make it the southern most part of Europe where both species can be found bearing witness to the unusual climate unique to the Apennines but often difficult to find even in the Alps. An animal which highlights this unique climate is the Alpine newt, a very brightly coloured (yellow and orange) primordial amphibian which is present in our lakes and makes our route a sort of journey through time.
It is a journey which can be gastronomic too if you do it in the summer in particular thanks to the large quantities of blueberries to be found around the lake which can be picked with a little patience. And if you like the idea of stopping a while to admire a sky which is completely free of light pollution, perhaps for the night of the falling stars – you can also stay at the Pistoia CAI (Italian Mountaineering Club) refuge which is just a few metres away from the lake.
Anyone looking for more detailed information on the routes to Lago Nero can find maps and information on this site:
www.abetoneapm.it/pdf/trek10_LAGO_NERO.pdf
TEXTS
Rolando Galli
PHOTO
Carpe Diem
Abetonesport
