2 days / 1 night on Etna

Ciao,

We are a young French couple who will travel to Sicily in July and August with our van. We are lovers of nature, we love to discover new flavors, landscapes, make beautiful encounters but especially be amazed.

We want to make a trip for 2 days early August on Mount Etna either from the refuge of Sapienza or through the Schiena dell'Asino and down by La Valle del Bove with a night in a tent next to La Montagnola.
You can see the plot on the attached map : in green and red the 2 variants for the climb, in blue the descent.

What do you think of our journey, is it possible to sleep next to La Montagnola and finally is it possible to hitchhike on the SP92 road to reach our vehicle?

Thank you very much for your website which is a mine of information!

Saluti,

Alex & Olivier

Hi guys,

your plan is feasible, although I have never risen from the red path to reach the Montagnola, so I don't exactly know how difficult is it due to ash on the ground or sharp rocks on the path.

Green Path is more or less this one:

www.etnatracking.com/en/schiena-asino-montagnola

Sleeping next to the Montagnola is possible, of course beware from strong wind, place your tent properly.
Inside the Bove Valley you must stay next to the south edge, don't try to walk on the cold lava in the center as there are many holes under the cold rocks and if you break the surface, you can fall inside these dangerours cracks.

You can enjoy this Relive Video of the Bove Valley, although the descent is on a different path (your choice is better):



Hitchhiking is a lottery, you know. You can try, but the result is unpredictable

Have a nice stay

Bruno

Bruno,

First of all, I apologize for my late response.

Thank you for your return and your stuff, for the climb we will go through the Schiena dell'Asino.

For the descent I still have to think about it, but I hesitate between 2 possibilities: park to Piano del Vesco, hitchhike in the direction of the Schiena dell'Asino, hike and return by the Sentiero Acqua Rocca or park to Sapienza refuge, hike and return by the Schiena dell'Asino through the peaks between the Sentiero Acqua Rocca and the Schiena dell'Asino.

One last question, is it dangerous to leave our van for 2 days to Piano del Vesco or the Sapienza refuge ?

Have a nice stay

Olivier

Hi Olivier,
I think is a bit better to park your van at the Sapienza Refuge Area. Bye the way, there are no guarded parks. now and then I've heard about theft and broken glasses on some cars parked ad the Sapienza Refuge area. It does not happen every day, but could happen and I cannot claim about security of any place on that area. You can park next to the refuge, but at night time the area is almost unguarded

Bye

Bruno

Ok, thanks for your advice.

Bye,

Olivier