Mount Etna: Everything you need to know about hiking up one of the world’s most active volcanoes

Mount Etna, the volcano on the east coast of the Italian island of Sicily, has been within the information greater than ever this 12 months. It has erupted 50 occasions, sending rocks and lava spewing into the air and offering a spectacular mild present for the 1000’s of residents who reside within the many surrounding villages.

This may all sound like a harmful setting for a Sunday hike. However I’m right here to reassure you that mountaineering right here may be very protected so long as you propose forward. Experiencing the vitality that emanates from the ‘Mom of Sicily’ isn’t to be missed.

What to pack to hike up Mt Etna

Like most vacationers, I assumed you possibly can solely see Mt Etna from a cable automobile. But it surely turns on the market are lots of of mountaineering trails all around the volcano. If in case you have half a day free, a hike is the easiest way to rise up shut and private with the volcano.

You aren’t allowed to hike up Etna alone above a sure altitude, so I joined an 8km group trek with Trails of Sicily.

8km won’t sound like far, particularly as we have been strolling for 4.5 hours. However we ascended 400m and most of it was uphill so it appears like for much longer. Be sure you put on correct mountaineering boots and lengthy trousers for when there’s brambles to stroll by means of.

Having heard a number of the tales of vacationers who determined to go it alone, I’m glad that hiring a information is obligatory. Extra on the advantages of utilizing a information later.

From Rifugio Citelli as much as a belvedere

We began and completed our trek at Rifugio Citelli, a gathering level and resort 1740m up (the best level is at 3,300m). It was set to turn out to be the landmark we may look down at to gauge how far we’d come or, when the going obtained powerful, how far we needed to go.

The entire stroll took 4.5 hours and took us from 1750m altitude to 2150m up. Our vacation spot was a ‘belvedere’ or a panoramic level within the valley of Valle del Bove.

Whereas strolling, a lot of the path was lined in small black rocks, much like gravel. It was extra nice to stroll on than a tough path and the satisfying crunch underfoot turned a meditative sound I may deal with when the route obtained exhausting.

We had two guides, Asia Pioro and Luigi Cutore. Their ardour for Etna shone by means of each time we took a break from mountaineering and learnt in regards to the spot we’d reached.

My favorite line of the day was from Luigi. When one of many group requested when you can hike all the way in which as much as the highest he mentioned, “We’re in Sicily so permission is an idea open to interpretation.”

Born and raised in Catania, the town on the foot of Etna, he’s certified to remark. He went on to make clear which you could solely hike as much as altitudes decided by the native authorities. Verify these on the time of your journey as they differ relying on current volcanic exercise.

The Sicilian sense of humour

Alongside the volcanic rock we have been strolling on, there was a shocking quantity of flowers. It seems issues can develop as much as 2600m. Past this level, nothing can develop due to the atmospheric strain, altitude and damaging eruptions.

On the way in which up we noticed ‘ginestra’, a big shrub, and many birch bushes. However my favorite by far was ‘astragalo’. Its identify in Sicilian, which is a separate language from Italian, is ‘cuscino da soggira.’ This implies ‘mother-in-law pillow’, named as such as a result of it has spikes however you may’t see them. Basic Sicilian wit.

What number of craters does Mt Etna have?

I had no concept that Etna doesn’t have only one crater. It has 4 lively summit craters plus greater than 300 lateral craters. These 300 have been shaped throughout lateral eruptions however at the moment are dormant.

Mt Etna has been within the information for its frequent eruptions throughout 2020 and 2021, however the exercise truly intensified again in 2018.

There appears to be a pleasant rivalry between volcanologists and mountain guides. Luigi informed us.

“Volcanologists suppose they’ll predict her however us guides know she is unpredictable. She’s going to do what she desires. All we will do is respect her.” I beloved this view of nature – that we have now to reside in service of it, slightly than the opposite means spherical.

Mt Etna reminds airways of the necessity for respect pretty regularly. Catania airport, one among Sicily’s worldwide airports and solely 32km away, usually has to shut following an eruption due to volcanic ash within the ambiance.

Is it protected to climb Mt Etna?

So long as you stroll with a professional and skilled information, it’s protected to climb Mt Etna. Guides know if it’s protected to go up, based mostly on eruptions and climate. However final minute cancellations are literally fairly uncommon – hikes usually nonetheless go forward even when the volcano is erupting. It is because when eruptions are from the summit, you may hike a protected distance away.

If you happen to’re an individual who likes to know the exhausting information, I’ll give it to you straight. Mt Etna has killed 77 individuals in its historical past. This will sound like rather a lot, however the final critical incident was in 1979 when 9 individuals died throughout a hike to the summit crater. Consequently, you now must have a information with you to hike as much as this crater.

Molten lava is the most important risk, however this hasn’t reached a settlement since 1928 when the city of Mascali was destroyed. Even then, the residents of Mascali had loads of warning as a result of lava strikes slowly. So though it destroyed roads and buildings, the residents had already left so nobody was damage.

Security is way from the one cause to make use of a information, in fact. Not solely will you be taught all in regards to the volcano however they’ll share anecdotes, previous experiences and native tit bits that you simply couldn’t discover in a guidebook.

What’s the greatest time of 12 months to hike up Mt Etna?

To keep away from winter circumstances, autumn or spring are greatest. Sicilian summers are extremely popular, however treks do nonetheless occur. Simply be ready for an early begin to beat the warmth.

As with all hike you’re taking to understand the view, visibility makes a giant distinction. I used to be excited firstly of our trek because it was a extremely shiny and clear day. Although, fortunately, that’s most days in Sicily. Clouds descended about an hour into our trek however we may nonetheless see rather a lot and benefit from the views. So don’t be disheartened you probably have unhealthy visibility if you set out as it will probably clear in a matter of minutes.

You received’t remorse a trek up Mt Etna

Sicily could also be identified for its seashores, historic outdated cities and limitless meals, however there are many mountaineering alternatives right here too and this is likely one of the most spectacular.

As a method to get beneath the floor of Sicilian individuals and the magnificent pure surprise many reside subsequent to, Mt Etna is ideal.

Subsequent time, I’d prefer to hike up nearer to the summit. However for my first volcano journey, this journey was good. It was undoubtedly a bodily problem however not less than I burnt off a number of the granite and cannoli.