Introduction: A round suited to springtime: once the thaw is over, the Monti della Laga are covered by a green carpet of grass. Given its geological make-up, the Laga drips with water, which runs on the surface and creates its own typical little waterfalls on both the eastern and the north-western side.
Route characteristics: The path winds across the hillside below the slopes of Pizzo di Sevo. Crossing shallow drainage channels and riding over high meadows. A pleasant and interesting route with no objective dangers.
Route description
This route has no particular technical difficulties but still calls for caution and good sense. In fact it runs for the most part over green high meadows, rather steep in some places. Never, though, steep enough to be dangerous.
From the end of the tarmac road leading to Macchie Piane, a marvellous grassy balcony looking out over the mountains of the Teatino, you head towards the pyramid-shaped bulk of Pizzo di Sevo. Past the belt of woodland you find yourself facing an erosion gully that comes down from halfway up the slope towards the valleys below. You skirt round the top of the gully, keeping to the hillside on the flank of Pizzo di Sevo but without ever climbing towards the summit. Gradually gaining height northwards, you meet the ridge that links Macera della Morte with the Pizzitello and Pizzo di Sevo. Keeping to the hillside, you are forced to go through the channels carrying the meltwater. These channels are typical of the eastern side of the Monti della Laga, yet it is easy to cross 3-4 of them on this side of the massif too (North-West). Usually getting down into these little gullies and climbing back out on the opposite edge takes no great effort; at most you get your feet wet. These water channels are lovely to look at, especially for their shape. The bottom of the little gullies is often made of rock slabs over which the meltwater trickles. Marvellous, especially in spring.
The summit of Macera della Morte is very rounded and lies at the northernmost edge of the mountain group. You carry on keeping to the hillside and cross the ridge coming down from the nearby summit of Monte Le Vene.
Numerous traces of path reach the summit of Macera della Morte; they are actually the tracks of the livestock that used to be taken up to graze.
On the way back, still by the same route, you can follow the crest of the ridge that leads first to Monte Pizzitello and then to the summit of Pizzo di Sevo.
Variants and alternatives
Along the route you come across the ridge that leads to Monte Le Vene.
On the way back you can climb towards the Pizzitello; from here, carrying on towards Pizzo di Sevo, you can drop down to Monte di Mezzo del Sevo (an isolated summit buttressing Pizzo di Sevo).
Notes on effort and difficulty
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to go up Macera della Morte?
Spring, once the thaw is over, when the high meadows turn green, the flowers are abundant and in the gullies below Pizzo di Sevo the meltwater runs over rock slabs, forming small waterfalls.
How long and how hard is the route from Macchie Piane?
It is about 14 km out and back in 7 hours, with 1100 m of total ascent. It is graded EE (for experienced hikers): there are no technical difficulties, but the length, the absence of waymarking and the rounded summit, hard to pick out, call for experience.
