A Walk on Mount Subasio

Yesterday provided near perfect hiking weather, so I started up Mount Subasio with the first signs of daylight. Stopped for a visit at the Eremo delle Carceri before heading into the woods, finally moving above the tree line a little before 9:00 a.m.

Here's a view of Assisi before heading to higher elevations.

No one else was on the trail, and eventually I set off cross country on a steep section heading toward the summit. There's a dirt road a little below the summit, and there I encountered not fellow walkers, but flyers, more specifically a group of paragliders. This fellow was preparing to attempt a flight.

He was off to a running start, lifted off, dropped down, lifted, dropped, then eventually set down to regroup and try again.

Others were more successful on their first attempts.

Once underway, they could look forward to sailing all the way to the valley floor.

A long ways below.

From there it was on to the summit, on this day a fine place to lunch and give my walking stick a break, leaning against the marker.

There were excellent views of the Apennines from the high country.

I met few other hikers on the way back down, but did come upon a group of bulls and horses grazing together peacefully... perhaps setting a good example for the donkeys and elephants in Washington.

Hmmm. Was a little concerned about how that fence post got knocked down. A little further along I came upon a mare and her colt, who somehow ended up on opposite sides of the fence. They were moving along at a good pace, apparently searching for an opening.

Finally, with Spring arriving there were some nice wildflowers to enjoy along the trail.

So, it turned out to be a fine day for wandering and exploring on Mount Subasio. Ciao.