An Elephant for a little girl...

Tuesday, 10 June 2008

For a couple of weeks Italy has been at the mercy of moist westerly currents. Our good Weather Oracle has confirmed that June will be a disaster as far as sunny days go...
- In short – says Oracle - there won't be a single clear day for the next two weeks; nothing major, but you should know that the earlier you go out the better. But I certainly don't need to tell you that, it goes without saying for you expert trekkers...

In fact I had guessed as much; I follow the forecasts day by day, waiting to seize the right moment and keep a promise made to a little girl.
Elisa wants to see what her dad's mountains are like, so I make up my mind and take advantage of a window of sun which, according to the forecasters, will hold steady all morning.
In the evening the rucksack is already packed, the little girl is terribly excited, she is sent to bed early to rest in view of the crack-of-dawn start and the demanding walk.

We arrive at the Rifugio Angelo Sebastiani at 6 in the morning; we want to catch the first light of day and make the most of the clear sky, if possible avoiding the likely rain. We get ready, taking care not to wrap up too much, even though the humidity makes the morning unusually cold for a June day.

It takes very little to fire children up; Elisa feels she is setting off on an epic mission. I point out the summit to her... in her excitement she can't help letting out a cry of joy mixed with amazement. All this gives me great satisfaction and more than repays my effort. I have to teach Elisa everything, even simply how to put one foot in front of the other. I know that this effort of bringing her step by step towards her first summit will stay with her as a wonderful memory of an exclusive day spent ... (and to put it the American way) for having spent quality time with her dad.

When she says - Daddy, let's talk, I like talking while I walk... - It makes me happy, because she seems to have grasped the primary spirit of this hike. It's the two of us walking, holding hands, and that means much more than simply conquering a summit.

My pace would obviously be faster, which is why I choose to stay behind her, so as to keep an eye on her every step and, if needed, lead her by the hand along the less dangerous points of the path.

In fact this path is not exactly simple; perhaps in the mountains no path is simple for a child. You have to bear in mind that children's legs are shorter than adults' and a small stone can be quite a big obstacle for them to get round. Her little trekking boots hold her ankle firmly, saving her from the constant twists caused by the stones.

- Watch where you put your feet, always look for the safest spot to put your feet down... – I tell her again and again, as if urging her to weigh up every move carefully, hoping that from this way of walking another, wholly psychological attitude may arise that she can carry with her through life as a habit of prudence.

But the therapy is mine too: unlike the banal daily routine in which I lose myself in “duties” and “things to do”, I am forced to pay attention to her movements, to the things she says... Elisa is methodical and counts the red-and-white waymarks along the path.

We move along the Pratorecchia ridge, always following the CAI waymarking (path 434), which, it must be said, is in excellent condition. At the foot of Monte Elefante we stop for a quick breakfast, drink a little water and set off again for the summit. The last hundred metres of ascent are a bit tiring for Elisa, who in spite of everything allows herself only two breaks, in which she stops to sing funny songs learnt at school. In moments of tiredness she still manages to be enthusiastic and happy...

Reaching the summit is a great emotion for me; I leave her the privilege of setting foot on the summit first. I take photo after photo to freeze it in one perfect instant: my daughter and the wonderful, springtime, moving landscape.

We take the usual ritual photos,  but a damp wind is already bringing clouds over the whole east side of the Terminillo, so we hurry down, heading straight for the cart track that leads from the Rifugio Sebastiani towards Micigliano. Zigzagging down the open grassy slopes of the west side of Monte Elefante we reach the little road that will quickly take us to the hut.

Elisa is happy, I am over the moon... a short hike, a one hundred per cent success!

Hiking information

This route is suitable for children (from 5 years old) who are already used to the mountains, to paths and to walking, as long as you watch where they put their feet, holding their hands at the trickiest points and where the path becomes narrower and exposed. Only one stretch is more difficult; just be careful and never in a hurry to reach the goal

For a quiet Sunday stroll it is certainly easier to choose the cart track towards Micigliano, avoiding the ridge route. Once at the foot of Monte Elefante, near a small erosion gully, you can climb up to the summit.

If, however, you prefer the ridge route from the Sella di Pratorecchia, always pay the utmost attention to the north-east side, which is rather steep and at times exposed, and never let children go near it.

Walking times and overall assessment

Way up: 2 hours (bearing in mind the children's pace)
Way back: 1 ½ hours.
Height gain: about 200 metres
Minor ups and downs