Dal Forato al Croce Alpi Apuane

An intense tour that will take you to the conquest of two of the most frequented peaks of the northern slope. Unfortunately, as very often happens in order to be able to turn on this wonderful territory you have to pay with stretches of bike on the shoulder also very challenging.

Departure from Fornovolasco, a characteristic village right at the foot of Mount Forato, and through a steep climb we reach the Casa del Monte. From here immediately a first taste of biking on the Cai 12 that with its beautiful views of the Panie group leads us right to the foot of the Great Arch of Mount Forato, a beautiful window on the coast of Versilia.A little further up you can reach the summit and after admiring the surrounding panorama you can return to the foot of the Arch passing right over the great vault, taking due care (strictly on foot).

We resume the walk on Cai 110 in the direction of Foce di Petrosciana, again mainly accompanying the bike and attempting here and there a few pedal strokes and a few difficult passages. From the Foce we finally have a short but enjoyable downhill section on a rocky and technical surface. We resume the ascent on Cai 109 also here alternating between pushing the bike on the shoulder with very suggestive passages between rocky bottlenecks until we reach near the mouth of the Porchette.After refreshments we resume the path on Cai 108, a trail that takes us to the foot of Mount Croce passing through the equipped section of the Scalette. The climb to the summit is very steep and having done it several times already I face it with due calm. Even from the Croce the views are superlative.

For those who have never been there and want to witness a true miracle of nature I recommend coming between the last days of April and early May when the daffodil bloom creates a white carpet on the grassy slopes of the mountain. The descent is easy and beautiful, and in the blink of an eye we are already at the foot of the mountain. Still following Cai 108 we arrive at the Termine delle Baldorie where we take CAI 135 initially uphill and then descend having reached an altitude of 1200 and popping up later on the road to San Pellegrinetto.

The village made of a few houses has a very special charm, we pass by the characteristic loggia and take the path that leads to the ghost town of Vispereglia.The path starts with a few relaunches and then descends becoming moderately technical on a rocky and uneven surface a bit ruined in the final part where a little improvisation and a careful eye are needed but despite the neglect all doable in the saddle with good skills. Arriving at the gates of the small abandoned village aimé the fun ends and we have to descend on the dirt road since there is no other alternative.