Monte Sant'Angelo a Tre Pizzi (Molare-Canino-Caldara) from Pimonte to Bomerano

Premise

This route was traveled on October 29, 2023, and all subsequent observations and considerations can fully apply only to that day.

The entire route is included in OpenStreetMap and its derivatives.

↓

Ascent from Tralia di Pimonte to Monte San Michele or Molare

From the parking lot near the stadium in the hamlet of Tralia di Pimonte, proceed briefly along a small road and then on wide paths among chestnut groves.

Attention is needed to the waymarks for the left turn that exits the "wider track" towards a narrow but well-marked path on the ground.

Following today, the path was almost always clearly visible with a sufficient number of waymarks.

Near some hairpin bends, it was slightly grassy, but the correct turning point was always seen after a few seconds of observation and reasoning.

There are many hairpin bends, and on the CAI Monti Lattari website it literally says → "The path was once called the 'path of 30 steps,' probably referring to the number of 'tese' between the hairpins leading to Faito."

Thus, on slopes never difficult, you reach Porta del Faito where you switch from CAI 334 to CAI 350 towards the Sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo, unfortunately closed today.

From the Sanctuary, you descend briefly cutting the hairpins of the asphalt road to continue on CAI 350.

After traversing, you comfortably resume climbing in the woods with various hairpins, pass the junction (without CAI arrows because it is not a CAI route) with the connecting path between Molare-Canino-Caldara and then another very well-marked junction to the Croce della Conocchia.

Always following the signs for Monte San Michele, you reach the final gully-channel beneath the small depression between the two peaks, giving this mountain its truly characteristic appearance, just like a "molar."

This gully is somewhat steep but there is a ground track not difficult to follow for any non-occasional hiker.

↓

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

From the summit of Monte San Michele or Molare, return to the above-mentioned junction without CAI arrows: however, a few meters inside the start of the connecting path, there is a wooden sign fixed to a tree trunk indicating a dangerous trail in Italian, English, French, and German.

The traverse starts with a long ups and downs on a fairly wide and visible track heading southeast, but the mountain slope faces northeast, so you can always expect some latent "humidity-slipperiness."

After the initial ups and downs, there is a not difficult drop followed by another few dozen meters of normal path leading to the section requiring greater caution.

You reach a double hairpin curve left-right connected by a steep descent clearly marked on the ground but exposed, where the main problem can be the already mentioned "latent humidity-slipperiness" in the event of recent rain and/or simple nocturnal humidity typical of autumn-winter which does not always evaporate during the day on the northeast slope.

After the double hairpin, there are still a few unstable steps leading to a varied rocky drop: here hand and footholds are generous, and if not wet, it can be passed with minimal care.

Then the path normalizes and with some changes in direction avoiding secondary ridges arrives, always with gentle ups and downs, at a final turn southward and with eastern exposure to the sun.

This last stretch leads beneath the steep gully that leads to the dividing saddle between Monte di Mezzo or Canino and Monte Catiello or Caldara.

From here, about 60 meters of elevation remain on ground traces fairly recognizable and solid to be climbed without great effort… if going slowly.

↓

Ascent to Monte di Mezzo or Canino

From the dividing saddle, ascend north aiming at a slope widening just right of a vertical rock drop on the ridge: in this first part, we saw a couple of very faded red waymarks.

After climbing the steep widening with some hand support (but never climbing level), there are two possibilities: 1) always follow the ridge ascending more steeply on solid rocks; 2) widen to the right and follow the natural terraces of the slope with hairpins.

Going up, we followed the right terraces, while descending we "rode" the ridge.

Next time we will do the ridge both up and down because it seems more fun: there is "more work with the hands" but it does not reach full grade I if you pay attention to the lines.

↓

From Monte di Mezzo or Canino to Monte Catiello or Caldara

Returning to the dividing saddle, continue almost flat on the path first east and then southeast.

In this stretch, relatively continuous red waymarks appear, helping in the few points where the ground track is not very evident.

Carefully negotiating some exposed steps, you reach the track ascending from Capo Muro about 30-40 meters below the summit.

From here, by means of not difficult "small steps" and "small rocks" very well marked, you reach the summit cairn.

↓

Descent from Monte Catiello or Caldara to Bomerano passing through Capo Muro and Monte Tre Calli

The descent towards Capo Muro is certainly over rough terrain and at times steep, but it is marked IMPECCABLY: if you pay attention to the various red marks and arrows, there is no problem going slowly.

Even among the final shrubs, you are well guided among the multiple tracks.

At Capo Muro, you take CAI 329 which very gently leads to Monte Tre Calli.

Then the final descent is always clear and very well marked up to the steps leading to the town of Bomerano.

Here we passed through Piazza Capasso where there is the SITA bus stop for runs towards Amalfi and continued to the other stop for runs towards Naples to return to the start in Pimonte.