Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug  Greetings Francis,
We too appreciate this information on the hiking groups. We'll be living there fulltime by March and will have to get involved. It would not surprise me if I end up doing volunteer maintenance work on trails for the Parco di Pollino (if they seek help) given my background with national forests and recreation in the states. A pensioner should not just lie around on beaches and sip wine fulltime right?
Learning the language thru the scuola, like Lesley and Brian have been doing, will be our top priority but I can imagine how a good hike with the locals would be a valuable learning experience too.
Here's a question for you all. Does anyone understand the land status situation in Italy? Some of the trails I see go off across what appears to be private land. I found this in the Papasidero area when exploring last winter Dermot and you might remember my reports of the trails above the town as well as the one following Fiume Lao. As near as I can tell, the National Park is a protective designation overlaying private lands and the park is not owned/managed by the government like we are used to in the US. So does all this mean that (unless posted closed) one can take off walking anywhere?
Saluti, Doug |
Hello Doug
Thanks for the interest in the local walking group. Keep checking in on site but I am keeping off the forum there till I talk to them about it on Wednesday at the fornightly re-union. I have photos yet to upload to the site but unfortunately I had to go back for a week to Liverpool to sort some things out with my little business. We will be stopping here till first week in Dec and then back for Christmas but hoping to come long term from March. Easter should be good in this area with all the religious ceremonies.
Like you I have been involved with footpaths etc as my previous work was a Highway Eng in England so had plenty of experience there in the field. I have already found out that the Cosenza group go out regularly to maintain paths and put signs up. If you look on the home page on the website the presentation that I attended was about a project to identify all the paths in parts of the region and have them all signed as we are used to them in England at least.
You are also right about the Italian language experience. It is fantastic how quickly you can make yourself understood once the necessity arises. I also attend the scuola and that is a great help. However I woud suggest do a bit by yourself if you can before you go there. It can be a bit difficult as some of the teachers do not have a word of English.
Re designation of paths: I have found out there is a system of laid out and identified paths on maps but not necessarily on the ground (hence the project I mentioned above). Some of the paths are also unidentified on a map and the situation is a lot more complicated all round. Hence my opinion for all of us 'foreigners' is to join a local group and the CAI of course is the recognised national organisation like the Ramblers in the UK and you must have your own in the States.
Anyway keep in touch and will keep updating the site with further info in the future.
Francis