Monte dell'Avvocata and Monte Finestra crossing from Erchie to Cava

Premise

This route was traveled on May 17, 2021, and all subsequent observations and considerations can fully apply only to that day.

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

The entire route is included in OpenStreetMap and derivatives.

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

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The whole path is actually on CAI trails.

After crossing Erchie with an exit through a "bucolic staircase," trail CAI 305 leads to the Sanctuary of the Avvocata.

The beginning is wide like a mule track and then becomes a trail always well marked on the ground more or less from the junction with the one coming up from Cetara.

From the Sanctuary of the Avvocata we continued towards the Monks’ Sauna Cave and Brigand Matteo Selese, and then to the summit of Monte dell’Avvocata.

From the summit, descent towards Cappella Vecchia until the junction with the trail leading to the Monti del Demanio.

Turning left begins a section that pleasantly surprised us due to evident signs of recent maintenance and clearing.

It is an up and down succession with short stretches also of good steepness.

In the initial part of this long sector towards Monte Finestra there is the only passage of the entire hike that can be defined as somewhat difficult.

It is a small jump on a rock taken sideways, with a couple of moves on not very generous holds, where you have to use hands and feet well not to lose balance – the CAI signs indicate exactly that line, and we did not check if there is an alternative; after the rock there are two pitons but in an useless position.

Having done this, you proceed with some crossings from one side to the other of the ridge edge, passing through Foce di Pucara and Foce di Tramonti.

Finally, a more decisive climb to the south summit of Monte Finestra.

The good thing is that everything is very well marked: in the finale – which we traveled for the first time – we were in total fog and had no problem following the path.

Also from the south summit to the north summit of Monte Finestra total fog and excellent markings.

Continue descending the left flank of the summit and traversing diagonally to the Forcella del Monte Finestra.

Here turn left just before the rock spur opposite, and follow a short stretch of ledge trail where there is a few meters with a safety cable.

It is exposed but the walking base always allows placing both feet fully with good margin.

Then turn right for an increasingly steep ascent over rocks and perform a kind of hairpin bend to exit onto the final ridge of the north summit of Monte Finestra.

Here on the steep part you have to use your hands to balance but the holds are always wide and solid and the markings leave no doubts: this section was also new to us, done today all in the fog without problems.

From the north summit of Monte Finestra – with Cross and shelter bivouac – descent towards Contrapone passing through Pietrapiana.