VId.6    Section San Severino Lucano - Colle Gaudolino   21 km

When starting out I decided to rather follow the river than hiking in the mountains. Soon I found out it was a good decision. The trail was only recently most of the way newly redone and easy to walk. It let me to Mezzana Salice. Here I found a small supermarket and had an early lunch. Continuing I headed uphill to Santuario Madonna del Pollino. Soon I started sweating. The Santuario was completely closed. A work crew was busy mainting the road. I continued to the nearby Rifugio Pino Loricato. As I had expected it was at end of May closed. Now a thunderstorm moved in. Luckily I had no rain only lightening and thunder.

From here I wanted to move on to Piano del Gaudolino at 1705m. I started of downhill along a steep trail with many switch backs. Once I reached the bottom I continued to Serra del Prete dai Piani di Vacquarro. I was greeted by some cattle which I avoided circeling around. Finally I arrived climbing up through a forest at the Piano. A couple of horses where grazing in the open. Up near the pass is a mountain hut, the Bivacco di Gaudolino. It is open for day and night visitors. After dinner I had a quiet night sleeping on the floor.

One of many murals in San Severino Lucano

Trail near Mazzana Cianci

Threatening rain while ascending towards Rifugio Pino Loricato

Of course Rifugio Pino Loricato was closed

Creek at loc Aquafredda (1310m), denoted as a spring in my map

Blooming meadow at Colle Gaudolino (1684m)