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The Resartico river valley, which extends to the base of Mounts Lavara and Plauris, is a place of rugged and hostile beauty, and undoubtedly counts amongst the wildest regions in the Alps, with distinctive geological and botanical characteristics. In the high valley of the Resartico, at approximately one thousand metres in altitude, on the slopes of Mount Plauris, the vestiges of a moderate mining industry are still visible. This activity was aimed at extracting oil shale from the main dolomite, from which various oils were obtained, such as ichthyol.
To transport the mineral, which was processed at Resiutta, the mine had recourse to a cableway, the remains of which are still visible. Moreover, on the riverbank there are numerous traces of fossil prints and remnants of bituminous material which was extracted from the mine.
Next to the ruins of the workers’ accommodation, the Park authority has built a comfortable refuge containing a dozen beds and a well-equipped kitchen, an excellent base for hikers.

The track (CAI trail no. 702), which until the first few decades of 1900 was used by the miners to go up to the mine, follows the valley from the village of Povici, passing beyond the Sasso del Diavolo (Devil’s Rock) and joining the refuge (1,050 m) and the mine entrance. Currently, entrance to the mine is prohibited. On the return trip, about halfway along the route, it is possible to walk along the old aqueduct which leads back to the valley, using safety ropes for the first stretch.
From the mine refuge, there is the possibility of continuing along the path (CAI trail no. 702) which climbs to Forca Slips (1700 m), on to Casera Ungarina (CAI trail no. 702) and then to Malga Confin (CAI trail no. 726), or of climbing to the summit of Mount Plauris (CAI trial no. 701).