After a hundred meters or so this plan was dashed- a huge avalanche had wiped out the road. I doubt it will be reopened anytime soon. So I went with Plan C, driving down to the settlement of Pozzis, fording the river on foot and hiking along the Arzino to the falls. The river was moving swiftly, filled with snowmelt and the flat rocks of the ford were very slippery, so I went upstream a few meters to cross on rounder cobbles. I was carrying a dog under each arm and only had one sharp-edged rock that gave me cause for concern. Afterward, I put my shoes back on and headed along the river bank. This would be a decent gravel path for a mountain bike. There is also a gravel road higher up the south bank, extending all the way down to the Pordenone province line, where a bridge crosses the Arzino: may try that someday.
Soon you reach the beautiful cascades which are quite full of water in Spring. The river roars over 4 or 5 consecutive falls, separated by short stretches of flatter water. The forestry corps has built nice bridges and wooden guardrails on the trails along the falls so it's safe for families.
The pups set a blistering pace back to the ford, where they enjoyed being carried as I hobbled over slick pointy stones. Good hike!
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| Huge avalanche on Val Preone road |
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| The lighter material in the avalanche is dirty ice |
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| Some pretty wildflowers along the riverbank |
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| This is Torrente Arzino above the falls |
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| Two plunges in close succession |
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| Close up of upper falls |
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| Two of the middle falls |
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| From the bridge on the middle falls; strong low-pitched rumble here |
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| Lower falls |
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| Pool and rapids below lower falls |
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| Honey and Teddi enjoying the cascate |
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| Teddi is fascinated by white water |
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| This is the ford; I crossed the wider rocky area on the right to avoid the slippery surface of the flat ford stone |
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