Another circular route on the Orobic slope from Piateda to Ponte, more difficult than the previous one due to its length and big differences in altitude. The tarmacked road from Piateda to Briotti has a feasible gradient; after Dosso del Grillo, instead of continuing on the level “tracciolino” trail, take the first right up the rough road. The gradients increase up to 15% with loose terrain in parts. You pass the baite or mountain chalets at Paiosa and continue into the woods, with lots of hairpins until you come out on the Armisola high pastures. The westward crossing starts on a long wooden gangway over swampy terrain and continues with a stretch of about a kilometre and a half of really bumpy trail, first slightly uphill, then steeply down to Le Piane. From here take the rough track down to Gaggio, then the tarmacked road to Piateda.

(texts and technical data by Federico Pollini)

Departure / return place: Piateda 310m

Arrival place / maximum quota: poco dopo Armisola 1650m

Total gradient slopes: 1340m

Total gradient descents: 1340m

Slopes’ total length : 17,4 km

Descents’ total length : 16,6 km

Plain total length : 0 km

Total kilometers: 34 km

Slopes’ middle inclination: 8 %

Slopes’ maximum inclination: 15%

Time taken: 3-4 h

Difficulty: difficult