On bear's trail

Day dedicated to the observation of presence signs and traces  as well as to increase your bio-ethology  knowledge  of the Marsicano brown bear, Ursus arctos subspecies that lives exclusively in the central Apennines.

It is an important  "umbrella" species of the fauna in Italy and especially in Abruzzo. At the end of the excursion we'll have a guided tour in the wildlife area.

Program:

9:00am meeting and introduction to M.O.M. – Museo Orso Marsicano of the Majella National Park in Palena localityà Sant’Antonio. We'll reach with your own car the departure point of the hike: Capo di Fiume (close to the Source of the Aventino River) (about 860 m above sea level). The hike has a escursionistico grade (paths consisting of ground of various kinds: earth, debris, rocks that require a good hike workout for  a few hours as well as a minimum sense of orientation).

During the hike, we'll arrive to the Hermitage Sanctuary of the Madonna dell'Altare  (1,278 m above sea level)  with aerial view over the valley of the Aventino and the eastern side of the Majella and Monti Pizzi; there we'll have the opportunity of sighting wildlife and birds of prey of the main ungulates like deer and deer and you will be given knowledge and information on the biology, ecology, ethology and projects for the conservation and management of the Marsicano brown bear  in Abruzzo, as well as learn as if we were little detectives to know how to locate and read in the environment tracks and signs of presence that can leave this nice plantigrade during his passage.

At the end of the hike, transfer to locality Colle Veduta in Palena and visit to the wildlife area where you we'll see  a few Marsican brown bears under conditions of semi-freedom.

Self provided Packed Lunch at the eremo celestiniano della Madonna dell’Altare at 1,300 meters of altitude.

Ore 16:00 End of activities and greetings