canyon exploring with Michele Angileri

Fosso Moneta

Monti Prenestini rise east of Rome like a bastion above Roma's flat. Though they are near the metropolis, they preserve a beautiful and wild natural environment, defended by a dense mediterranean bush. As years pass they become wilder, home of wild boars, because a lot of people has given up the works tied to mountain. So the ancient paths are being canceled by the bush.
The villages in Monti Prenestini are very nice, ancient, rich in historical evidences.

Some deep valleys going down Monti Prenestini are interesting to canyoneers.

Fosso Moneta is a tributary of Rio di Genazzano, which collects the water coming from the south-eastern part of Prenestini Mounts. Fosso Moneta lies in the same fault than Valle Cupa but in the opposite side of the mountain

The part of Fosso Moneta which is interesting to canyoning is much shorter than Valle Cupa, but it's steep and tight. All around a beautiful mediterranean environment.

I remember ...

The first time I went to descend Fosso Moneta I was alone. A short canyon with a little difference in height, I thought it was simple to go through.
I was wrong: after 3 little rappels I stopped on the edge of a dry cascade deeper than the length of my rope. Moreover, rock was bad for a belay in the middle of cascade. Better to turn back and come again with longer ropes. So I exited the canyon by climbing the 3 little walls I had rappelled.

I went again to Fosso Moneta a few weeks after, with the right ropes and 2 partners.

Photographs in this website show ultralight ropes (6 mm ropes made of high tenacity fibers). Read multimedia book Ultralight ropes canyoning technique to learn how to use them.

Copyright © 2002- Michele Angileri. All rights reserved.