canyon exploring with Michele Angileri

Gola del Gàlatro

Deep and tight canyon cutting the eastern side of Monte Caramolo. Unfortunately the deepest narrows are full of trash thrown by the road bridge above, called Ponte dei Colombi. The authorities of Lungro and Acquaformosa (the two villages near to Galatro's canyon) do nothing to prevent canyon from pollution: it's not a problem for them! Galatro's canyon lies inside Pollino National Park, where Nature should be protected ... but no one does something for Galatro's canyon, one of the most remarkable natural monuments of this area. This is absurd, a scandal!

Luckily 85% of Galatro's canyon is upstream of Ponte dei Colombi, and so upper Galatro is free from trash and pollution. It is possible to do upper Galatro only, exiting from canyon by Ponte dei Colombi.
Last two photographs show the beginning of narrowest part, the one where trash accumulates.

I remember ...

The canyon was beautiful, better than we thought. But under Colombi bridge, inside the most spectacular narrows we faced an unbelievable amount of trash of every kind: things, bread, remains of animals, a car fitting in above us. I couldn't wait to exit those narrows. Then an unexpected meeting: a little dog, inside the narrows, fallen down at 30 meters (maybe 50) and still alive!! without water and food since some days (how many?), with no strength to stay up, but still alive. Unbelievable!
We give him some food, then put him in a box (plenty of trash, remember) to abseil down last 3 or 4 dry waterfalls. But the dog has fear, and uses his few energies to jump down the box. Stefano then keeps in his arms, saying "it's ok, it's all right", while making himself abseil down by me.
At the end of narrows there is a spring, and the dog drinks. We give him some food ... Good luck, our friend!

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