SICILY  PHOTOS
TREKKING SICILY: to the Cave of the Ice - Grotta del Gelo (Etna)...
Reportage of day trip hiking. Giorgio's Trek Tour - GPS Waypoints 
November 18 - 2006 
ETNA NORTH - ETNA NORD
How to get the Grotta del Gelo. 
By Car: 
Take the motorway from Palermo to Catania and then Messina. Exit Fiumefreddo.Then go to The Randazzo.From Randazzo go to Pirao (around 4 Km).Then you'll find the entrance to the Park of Etna) where you'll park the car. 
Hiking: 
Start(Parking) at mt 1,164. Target (Grotta del Gelo) at mt 2,042. We didn't follow the normal trail but we prefered a trail without indications and a bit harder. The trail was Km 6.230 long (3 hours 35 minutes).Average Slope: 14.10 % (Between 10% and 45%) 
Way Back:We took another way. Km 10.400 (Time 3h 40 minutes)...We also took a wrong way (Errore - point 13) and walked in the night for 1h 30 minutes longer ;o) The total Trail (included the wrong way) was around 9 hours and Km 18.00. 
 
 
 
 
The Grotta del Gelo 
It's the most important cave of Etna.Since 300 years the Grotta del Gelo is icy all year long.
You need a bit of experience to go by yourself. It's not that dangerous but remember...ETNA IS A VOLCAN. Good to have a Compass, a Gps, good boots a jacket and  a map. 
For any information (for free) : 
 
Bed and Breakfast: 
GIORGIO'S HOUSE 
Palermo 
 
 
 
ETNA - The Start at t mt 1,164 - Photo: Giloc
 
 
ETNA - The trek to the Cave -  Photo: Giloc
 
The Trail 
 
 
 
 
ETNA : Climbing in the wood -  Photo: Giloc
 
 
ETNA North : Great Landscape -  Photo: Giloc
ETNA : The Wild Horse -  Photo: Giloc
 
A picture with the Giorgio's Adventure Team  
 
 
ETNA : Climbing in the wood -  Photo: Giloc
 
ETNA : Great Colors in the wood -  Photo: Giloc
 
ETNA : Climbing in the wood -  Photo: Giloc 
 
 
ETNA: 2 minutes of relax at POI 1-  Photo: Giloc  
Etna Gps Waypoints: 
 
Start Walking: Parking mt 1,164 :  
N37 50 28.7  - E14 59 31.2 
POI 1: A nice Belvedere: mt 1,628 
N37 49 35.1 -  E14 59 41.8 
Rifugio Santa Maria:  mt 1,640: 
N37 49 22.6  - E14 59 46.0 
Grotta of Hugues :o): mt 1,890 
N37 48 46.1 E14 59 21.7 
Grotta del Gelo:  mt 2,040 
N37 48 15.4  - E14 59 03.0 
 
 
 
ETNA : Climbing in the wood -  Photo: Giloc
 
 
ETNA: The Grotta del Gelo (mt 2,042) -  Photo: Giloc 
 
ETNA: The Grotta del Gelo (mt 2,042) -  Photo: Giloc 
 
ETNA: Climbing on the Lava -  Photo: Giloc
 
 
ETNA: The Grotta of Hugues (mt 1,890) -  Photo: Giloc
 
ETNA: Climbing on the Lava -  Photo: Giloc
 
ETNA: The Grotta del Gelo (mt 2,042) -  Photo: Giloc 
 
 
ETNA: Inside The Grotta del Gelo (mt 2,042) -  Photo: Giloc  
 
ETNA: The way back-  Photo: Giloc 
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