New Year's Eve on Etna

December 29, 2016 to January 01, 2017

New Year's Eve on Etna. Because an Etna experience is always a guarantee of great trekking and fun. This year, we are celebrating with high-altitude itineraries, between 1000 and 2500 meters, combining our classic routes with "off-piste" variations to better explore and enjoy this beautiful mountain. We will spend the last days of the year as guests at Casa Etnea, a rural tourism retreat in a magnificent position on the southern slope of the mountain, welcomed by true connoisseurs and lovers of the volcano. Before or after dinner, we will have meetings with Giuseppe Riggio, a writer and journalist who has authored several publications dedicated to Etna and the emotions that the Mongibello has to offer.

Fee: € 70.00 - Includes trip organization, guide service, and insurance.
Other expenses: € 200.00 in a room with a private bathroom; € 180.00 in a room with a shared bathroom – Includes: Three nights in a rural tourism retreat with accommodation in double and triple rooms, two dinners and breakfasts from the evening of the first day until the morning of the last, packed lunches for December 30th/31st, and a New Year's Eve dinner featuring typical local specialties, with a selection of wines and sparkling wines, all strictly "made in Sicily".
Costs do not include: round-trip travel expenses to reach the meeting point.
Local transfers: own car or rental minibus. For the latter option, the cost will be split among all participants.
Deposit: € 100.00 at the time of booking.
For health insurance, I need: full name, date and place of birth, and place of residence.
Max number of participants: 14
Meeting point: Thursday, December 29 at 14:30, Piazza Sant’Alfio - Trecastagni.
End of trip: Sunday, January 01 at 17:00, Viagrande (CT).
Travel style: stationary with a light backpack.
Difficulty: medium
Daily walking hours: 5 to 6
Required equipment: trekking clothing, hiking boots, wool hat, gloves, trekking poles, shower sandals, rain poncho, sweater, flashlight, winter waterproof jacket, water bottle, and personal toiletries.
Duration: 4 days / 3 nights
Booking deadline: December 04, 2016
Notes: the excursion may be subject to changes due to unpredictable natural events; in such cases, an alternative route will be taken if possible. In the presence of snow, we will hike using snowshoes.
Guide: Salvatore Cappello in collaboration with Giuseppe Riggio. Contact: 3333301289
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

PROGRAM

December 29, 2016 – Meeting at 14:30, Piazza Sant’Alfio – Trecastagni.
15:00: Check-in at the rooms.
15:30: Approximately 2-hour excursion near the rural retreat (Contrada Cicirello) through holm oak, chestnut, and broom forests. Possibility to see a lava flow tunnel. Dinner and overnight stay in the evening. Photo/video screening of the volcano by Giuseppe Riggio.
Loop route: walking time: approx. 2 hours, marked trail and track.
Elevation gain/loss: 100 m ascent, 100 m descent.
Difficulty: easy

December 30, 2016 – Valle del Bove - Serra delle Concazze.
From Rifugio Citelli (1750 m.), we climb a path through birch, beech, and pine forests up to Serra delle Concazze (2090 m.), where we can admire the Valle del Bove from the North-East side. Along the first part of the route, it is possible to visit a cave (a lava flow tunnel from the 1971 eruption). From here, we climb the ridge up to 2200 m. before rejoining the path heading towards Monte Frumento delle Concazze, then descending through birch and pine forests back to the starting point.
Loop route: walking time: approx. 6 hours, marked and unmarked trail.
Elevation gain/loss: 450 m ascent, 450 m descent.
Difficulty: medium

December 31, 2016 – Sentiero delle Ginestre.
From Casa Etnea/Monte Ilice (approx. 940 m.), we walk a section of the Sentiero delle Ginestre, designed and created just this year by the Etnaviva Association with the support of the Parco dell’Etna, which stretches for about 60 km from Nicolosi to Linguaglossa.
From the Dagalone area of Zafferana Etnea, we reach the magnificent multi-centennial holm oak "Ilice di Carrinu", continue to Piano Bello, and then descend to the hamlet of Caselle di Milo. Return in the early afternoon to rest before the New Year's Eve dinner.
Route: walking time: approx. 3.5 hours, marked and unmarked trail.
Elevation gain/loss: approx. 300 m ascent, 200 m descent.
Difficulty: medium

January 01, 2017 – Monte Serra – Viagrande (CT).
After breakfast, we leave Casa Etnea to head near Viagrande to Monte Serra for a gentle, beautiful, and scenic walk.
Monte Serra is the Etna volcanic crater closest to the sea, characterized by a horseshoe shape and covered in Mediterranean scrub. It features an oak forest, trails, and an area equipped for environmental education.
Route: walking time: approx. 3 hours, marked trail and track.
Elevation gain/loss: 50 m ascent and descent.
Difficulty: easy.