Colonnata Marble Mine Hike Part 2

After walking to the highest point we started to go back down and the trail was more of a trail (though it was very narrow on the side of the mountain). While we were hiking up Raymond did say “this is like hiking in Norway, but safer” with yes, yes it was. Norway hiking was crazy, but this was fine. In the eighth photo the ridge in the foreground is what we hiked up!

The mines were fun to watch and I didn’t really notice as it fell into the background, but they were very loud! After the high point we started to head back down and went on the other side of the ridge and it was instantly so so so quiet! Only a couple birds chirping and you couldn’t see any signs of civilization. It was a very stark difference and we stopped to eat lunch in the valley because it was so peaceful.

The trail went by another, smaller mountain and the views from there into the valley were great! The clouds had cleared up so we could actually see once we got there! We took a break to enjoy the views…and I found a ton of tiny ticks on me! Luckily just on my legs, and we got them off quickly, but I think they were all where I was sitting as they kept coming! It was crazy so we didn’t stay there long (plus we kept hearing thunder in the next valley and couldn’t tell if it was coming towards us or not and the clouds were getting dark and we didn’t want to be caught in a thunderstorm on an exposed ridge) and kept checking for ticks after that (Raymond only found one in the zipper of his pant leg when we got back to the car). I don’t think any of them bit me, but it was a lot.

Before we headed back down to town we walked up to the picture of David on the wall above the one mine. That was what the guy this morning was trying to get us to go to (and the only people we saw all day, besides people in town, were three people hiking up to see David). It was not what i was expecting, but it was right above the one mine so pretty cool to see that up close.

We stopped for one last break to enjoy the views since the dark clouds had started to break up and the thunder stopped, and on the way down we saw a lot of those Owly Sulphur bugs flying around. They look so strange flying as you can’t see their full wings.

This was a really nice day. We both really enjoyed the hike and the views were great even if the clouds kept rolling in and out. Oh, one time on the way up we walked through a patch of clouds and they were moving so quickly! I thought we were going to be stuck in clouds forever, but no, a few minutes later it had cleared up again. Lots of fun! And the mines were fun to hike around and watch. Then back to the house to get changed (and do a more thorough tick check! Didn’t find any more luckily) and have dinner before going to spy on town a bit, but that is for the next post.Read more