Croce della Conocchia and Molare-Canino-Caldara from Montepertuso

Premise

This route was walked on December 31, 2019, and all subsequent observations and considerations are fully valid only for that day.

It is all on trails mapped on the local hiking maps, both the CAI map of the Monti Lattari and those of the Amalfi Coast "cart&guide" series.

The entire route is included in OpenStreetMap and its derivatives.

Given all this basic documentation, a bit of attention is enough and you won’t get lost even if it’s your first time, as in our case.

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Below I detail my impressions of the key points of the hike, leaving out the better-known and obvious sections of the trail.

Ascent to the Croce della Conocchia

Easy and trouble-free (clear and well-marked trails) all the way to the summit with some tiring sections if you want to "push hard" on the higher steps.

Ascent to Monte San Michele or Molare

Moderate difficulty in the final valley-channel that leads to the small depression between the two peaks that makes this mountain’s shape truly distinctive, just like a "molar" tooth.

This valley is quite steep but there is a ground trail that is not difficult to follow for any experienced hiker.

Connection between Monte San Michele or Molare and the saddle dividing Monte di Mezzo or Canino and Monte Catiello or Caldara

After an initial stretch on a wide CAI trail descending, you exit right at a left-hand hairpin bend, where you immediately find a wooden sign nailed to a tree trunk indicating a dangerous trail in Italian, English, French, and German.

On December 31, 2019, the trail could be defined as dangerous without supplementary equipment for some stretches where the ground was nearly icy or very hardened.

The exposure is always north, fully in the shade at this time of year with low sun and not ideal visibility even on a perfectly clear day like today (photos in these conditions are useless unless you have very bright and quality lenses).

Luckily we had crampons in our backpack, otherwise, we would have turned back.

In warmer periods, I imagine the route is much easier.

Anyway, it is a long traverse with slight ups and downs except for some brief, quite steep rock jumps but with good holds.

Sometimes the trail is quite wide and protected, but other times it’s not when it looks like an almost wooded ledge.

I found it always quite well marked with small red dots and some arrows, as well as various ribbons (which clearly cannot last over time like the red paint).

You thus reach the base of the valley leading to the saddle between Monte di Mezzo or Canino and Monte Catiello or Caldara: here the footprint of the path on the ground is always noticeable.

Ascent to Monte di Mezzo or Canino

It is not marked and there is no ground trail, but it is very logical.

You go up stepping stones and small rocks, helping yourself with your hands in various points with some single passages reaching (or almost) first grade difficulty.

Ascent to Monte Catiello or Caldara

Definitely easier than the ascent to Monte di Mezzo or Canino: I would say medium difficulty.

The steps and small rocks of Monte di Mezzo or Canino become "small steps" and "small rocks".

The transfer from the saddle to the start of the ascent can be "annoying" in winter conditions like today.

Return from Monte Catiello or Caldara to the Sentiero Alto degli Dei

You continue descending along the ridge towards Capo Muro, with the same characteristics as the ascent to the summit.

When descending, watch your ankles.

End of the hike

All easy and very beautiful with the first section still to be enjoyed on the Sentiero Alto degli Dei.

Due to the low grass of the winter season, we took a shortcut otherwise not very visible in the upper part even if the path is quite wide.

Alternatively, with a slightly longer walk, you can follow the normal trail that passes again by the Forest Barracks.