Monte Sant'Angelo a Tre Pizzi (Molare-Canino-Caldara) from Resicco di Pimonte

Introduction

This route was completed on August 8, 2023, and all subsequent observations and considerations are fully applicable only to that day.

The entire route is included in OpenStreetMap and derivatives.

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Ascent from Resicco di Pimonte to Monte Catiello or Caldara

From ... where you can park 😁 head towards Agerola, about 500 meters past the entrance of the driveway to Agriturismo La Quiete, until a hairpin turn to the left where another path branches off, initially with a somewhat broken concrete surface.

Ascend this path up to the "skeleton" of a large unfinished building.

Go around it on the left and pass over the "skeleton" with a big curve to the right, and just before a next curve to the left, the actual path to the higher area branches off uphill.

This is hardly noticeable and there is no signage, but it is right after a small dry valley (at least today).

The path rises clearly up to just below Punta Mezzogiorno (which is completely overgrown), where there is a junction (marked today with a construction ribbon) turning left over the ridge just before a beautiful panoramic point.

Consulting the maps, if you go straight at the junction you still reach the correct continuation but miss the only panoramic spot of this first section.

Continuing the ascent without difficulty, you join, for the first time on this hike, the CAI 300 of the Alta Via dei Monti Lattari with a great view of the Tre Pizzi and the entire side of the traverse connecting them.

Here turn right passing below Colle Garofalo and continue for a little over 500 linear meters to another junction: leave the Alta Via and go left on a path marked anyway with red spots and stripes.

Now advance to a junction with a faint path going directly right: there is only a "small black number 329" painted on a stone on the ground; if you miss this turn, you go to Capo Muro, extending the loop.

From here the path is narrower and initially winding, but there are faded waymarks that help, leading to the ascent connecting Capo Muro to Monte Catiello or Caldara.

The entry point is about 30/35 meters of elevation below the continuation junction for the traverse towards the other Tre Pizzi peaks, which itself is about 35/40 meters below the summit.

The ascent route to Monte Catiello or Caldara "immediately reveals a great panorama" and follows without doubt alongside numerous paint waymarks.

The ascent terrain is almost constant: rather steep with some rocks where hands are placed but only for balance.

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From Monte Catiello or Caldara to Monte di Mezzo or Canino

Descend about 35/40 meters in elevation and turn left onto a very faint path initially difficult to spot without the small red signs.

However, shortly after appears a well-marked true path which, with some exposed steps, leads to the saddle dividing Monte Catiello or Caldara from Monte di Mezzo or Canino.

Here the ascent is much steeper than before, and you need to look for the right lines to mitigate it if you want to avoid climbing moves.

In the first part there are still some red paint marks that help, then you go visually following the gentler diagonal ledges up to various points where it is easier to climb to the upper ledge: with "good eye at medium distance" you find the right lines.

We followed two slightly different parts of the slope for ascent and descent, staying more on the crest on the way back.

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From the saddle to the base of the final climb to Monte di Mezzo or Canino up to the junction with CAI 350 where the final part to Monte San Michele or Molare begins

This, in my opinion, is the most difficult part of the hike because it can cause serious problems if tackled when wet, icy, or snowy — and you can't always accurately predict beforehand, in case of recent bad weather, what you will find: today everything was perfect and "almost easy".

From the saddle to the base of the final ascent to Monte di Mezzo or Canino, you traverse gently downhill for about thirty linear meters, then descend directly into the valley following the narrow switchbacks of the path for about forty meters in elevation.

Keeping an eye on the rock band to the left, you approach by traces of paths and begin to follow it on sections resembling ledge walking.

Exiting the valley, the initial direction is north but often changes as you bypass various rocky ridges and cross other valley-channels: the direction changes, but the general exposure is always in a "very shaded north direction," so wet and ice here can be a problem even when not elsewhere on the route.

If visibility is good, orientation is not difficult because the trace is always visible if you pay attention.

However, in this direction, there is a "false junction" that can mislead.

You reach a point where the lateral rock band is interrupted by an indentation with a small drop of not difficult rocks that leads a few meters above to another path with sections of rocky base.

The path you are following here is clearer continuing on flat and then on slight descent - but you should not continue flat, you must climb.

At the base of this small climb there are a couple of clear red marks, whereas continuing flat no waymarks are present anymore.

After the short climb, following the waymarks, there is a first diagonal and then two switchbacks with a steeper section leading to the easy final part where you find a couple of wooden signs (better oriented for those coming from the other direction) fixed on tree trunks indicating (today very faded) dangerous path in Italian, English, French, and German.

The second sign is just a few meters before joining CAI 350.

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Ascent to the summit of Monte San Michele or Molare from the CAI 350 junction

The path is very wide up to the junction for Croce della Conocchia and shortly after crosses to the other side for a connecting section to the final valley-channel.

This valley-channel leads to the small depression between the two peaks that gives this mountain the appearance truly characteristic of a "molar" (molar tooth).

It is a fairly steep valley but there is a ground trace not difficult to follow for any non-occasional hiker.

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Return to Resicco di Pimonte from the summit of Monte San Michele or Molare

The first part is very well known and frequented: just follow the signs for the Sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo and for the Faito Cable Car, always along CAI 350.

Before arriving at the Sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo and just after the signposted deviation to the Grotta di San Catello, there is a junction with a wide trace descending with a right-hand hairpin, marked by a CAI 300 arrow sign of the Alta Via dei Monti Lattari.

Take the Alta Via with some steep ramps where hands are placed, and on a varied path you reach a junction where today the writing "LA QUIETE" was visible painted in red paint on rock on the ground.

From here on, you need to raise your attention level for orientation.

This final loop closing path is marked with red paint stripes, various construction ribbons, and cut branches.

However, in the first part, the path is stirred in some points and does not always "stand out clearly" from the rest of the forest floor, and then — in the season of greenery regrowth as today — many sections are covered by tall ferns and also broom shrubs: fortunately, there are no brambles.

We went very slowly and never lost the trace, but caution is needed: here a recovery from a mistake could be tiring and annoying.

In the initial part, there is also a steep section with a help rope next to a steel cable probably used for forestry work.

You reach an area indicated on maps as «o' pass é Catiello» with a spring just off the path.

From here you find a metal water pipe which partially follows, underground, the path.

Soon after, the location «o' cuoll é Maria» is indicated on maps, and you continue up to about 740/750 meters where the path becomes a wide mule track, and you no longer worry about the overly regrown greenery.

After the mule track, always heading downhill, you enter a real dirt road that arrives in the Agriturismo La Quiete area, and from here shortly return to the starting point.