After a poor week of weather, with some quite dreich days, and this brought snow to the high tops, and put further climbing of peaks quite out of the question. However, today dawned fine and bright and we set off for the hillsides below Monte Sumbra to explore a path which should lead to the village of Carregine, where we have never been.
However, the path markings were unusually scarce on this walk, and we became lost in the beautiful chestnut woods. At this point, hove into view a truffle-hunter and his dog, who modestly allowed us to watch them plying their trade. His dog was called Scylla ( pronounced "Sheila") - named as he explained, after the monster of greek myth with many eyes - although we all agreed that many noses would be more appropriate! He explained that it is a very bad year for the truffles, as it has been such a dry summer. He then put us on the right path to our destination. He was a lovely guy, and it was wonderful mini-experience!
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| Monte Sumbra - now unclimbable (for us!) for six months ... |
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| Lovely morning in the Garfagnana for a woodland walk ... |
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| Alpine meadow on the way up to our starting point |
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| Simple tools - a small dog and a small trowel ... |
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| A meagre haul (apparently) - and Scylla gets impatient to hunt for more! |
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| Off through the meadows to regain our path |
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| A metato (chestnut-drying kiln) just visible among a fine stand of sweet chestnut trees |
I'm impressed with the truffles, and the truffle hunter. I had never seen one in action before!
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