Pania Della Croce, East Ridge - October 2003

Following the path from Levigliani, up to the Passo Dell'Alpino and then Foce Di Mosceta brings you to the west side of the Pania Della Croce.
From here one can take the usual path up the west slope to the top or cut across the south west face on a path that verges on scrambling in parts. Then across the 'Costa Pulita' (clean slope) the path takes you over the east ridge. Leaving the path at this point, the ridge is a fairly easy scramble to the top.
I got lucky with cloud building up as I crossed the Costa Pulita but it stayed low enough that most of the cloud tops were about 300M below the summit. I guess that visibility was around 200K to distant tops.
The best of it was a bloke from Carrara who was dissapointed with the weather! Apparently he wanted to watch the sunset. Given that they apparently had had no rain since March, the clouds must have been a surprise.

Levigliani catches the morning sunshine. Above Levigliani on the quarry road. Morning sunshine on the ridge near the Passo Dell'Alpino. Corchia from the Passo Dell'Alpino.
From near the Passo Dell'Alpino, M.Procinto casts a ghostly shadow. Monte Corchia from near Foce Di Mosceta. The South West face of the Pania from near Foce Di Mosceta. Under the SW Face of the Pania.
Under the SW Face of the Pania. Under the SW Face of the Pania On the Costa Pulita (the south face of the Pania). On the Costa Pulita.
On the Costa Pulita. On the Costa Pulita The East Ridge. Pania Secca from the Esat Ridge.
More cloud from the East Ridge. View north from the summit. Sagro, Cavallo, Tambura and Pisanino. View west from the summit. Corchia and Altissimo View South.
View north from the summit. Sagro, Cavallo, Tambura and Pisanino (again). North over Pizzo Delle Saette Looking South descending. Another view north (take your pick).
Corchia and Altissimo (again). Foce Di Mosceta towards Pizzo Delle Saette Monte Ceto above Levigliani
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