Mount Etna summit trail from Sapienza hut

We leave by cableway from Rifugio Sapienza. It could be possible to rise by walk, but the section from here to Montagnola could show us just volcanic ash, so we decide to bypass the first section using the cableway: one way ticket to the Montagnola, ask for a return ticket if you don't think confident on the steep final descent; one way ticket is approximately 24 euros, 30 euros return trip.

We leave the cableway and go right, on the off-road track towards Mount Escrivà, a crater of the 2001 eruption. Before we reach the mount, we turn right, leaving the off-road track so that the mount stays on our left.

There is a hole on the crater side, some gas is still coming out of it (10 years later!); we also look at the shining minerals on the ash. There are some volcanic bombs, under those stones we find a lot of ladybirds.

We are going toward the Bove valley viewpoint, from here is possible to look at both norh and south valley sides, entirely covered by cold magma.

We go back in order to quickly browse on Mount Escrivà, just a quick walk on the crater edge. From here is possible to look at the "Cisternazza" ("the big water container"), a huge depression that becomes a small lake during snow melting season. We also go inside the crater, there are some hot iron and sulphur gas emissions.

We descend from Mount Escriva, aiming the Central Craters, walking on the off-road track or cutting somewhere the corners. It's August, the are many off-road vehicles on the track but we feel comfortable (no risk due to the traffic or the dust). It takes 2 hours and half (from the cableway landing point) to reach the "Torre del Filosofo" area: just 6 km walking, 500 meters difference in height. We can't go further, mount Etna is not sleeping.

Here you can walk on the 2002 craters (similar to Mount Escrivà) or you can try to go further toward the central craters, according to security conditions. We just have some rest before the descending path. We walk close to 2002 craters, leaving them at our right. We meet the off-road track close to mount Escrivà, crossing it to pass behind the mount, so that we can get the Montagnola's peak.

Here starts a really steep downhill slope, potentially dangerous but also extremely funny. It's a huge sandy path, you'll sink softly in the ash (it will reach you knees!), it seems to float on it. We suggest you to wear trousers in order to cover your shoes and avoid them to be filled by the ash.

Don't be to enthusiastic during the descent! You must pay attention at this point in the picture, you don't have to go straight on but you must cross the rocks you can see on the left, so that you can keep descending toward the "Crateri Silvestri".

From now on is really easy, you'll pass next to the north "Silvestri Crater" and then you'll get the "rifugio Sapienza" area.