An itinerary colored deep pink, ideal for those who love the blooms and are also well trained.

From the parking lot of Pescegallo (1,455 m), a small ski resort in the municipality of Gerola Alta, in the valley of the same name in the province of Sondrio, we set out, heading west, along path number 148, which bears the sign pizzo Tre Signori-lago Zancone-lago di Trona. Arriving at the hut located at 1,575 meters above sea level, we ignore, on the left, the detour that goes up to Rifugio Benigni, remaining on the trail to Lago di Trona. Higher up, at the end of the so-called Calvary, here is another trail junction, and again we disregard the references to Rifugio Benigni and Salmurano.

When we reach what is called Pozza rossa (1,835 m), we change direction and follow a section of the Gran Via delle Orobie heading southwest along a nice flat section. A short climb brings us to an obvious fork where, leaving the Gran Via delle Orobie, we veer left and keep Lake Zancone as a reference. From here a steep series of switchbacks, the marker is always 148, takes us up to the middle of large boulders. A sign shows the path to Round Lake, but we do not take it in. We continue having as our goal, which requires overcoming a small climb, the Valpianella pass (2,212 m).

We find and follow the signs for Rifugio Benigni (2,222 m). The trail is now number 101. First downhill, then a traverse, and here we are at Lago Piazzotti, where the alpine house stands on the border between the provinces of Bergamo and Sondrio. We drop south again, through a steep crag and a subsequent gully on which to be careful, to the fork for Passo Salmurano (2,017 m). We are about to close our hiking loop, arriving, in short order, at the top station of the Pescegallo ski lift and descending to the Salmurano Refuge (1,848 m). We rejoin the Gran Via delle Orobie and walk along it reaching, in about forty minutes, Lake Pescegallo. We return to the parking lot on the convenient dirt road that descends from the alpine body of water.

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Ph: Roberto Ganassa