Punta Mesco e Monte Focone

Starting from the town of Levanto we head in the direction of Monterosso until we reach Colla di Grinta from where we will follow the Cai 591 that passing under Monte Focone will take us back to Levanto again. The trail is a succession of steep uphill and technical downhill scrambles until we reach Sella Bagari crossroads of many trails. We continue along the trail until we reach Sant'Antonio del Mesco but we push on to the point where the remains of the same Hermitage lie. After refreshing ourselves we set off again in the direction of Levanto and what I feared comes true. The trail begins to be heavily frequented by hikers who in a way make me feel like an outsider, a fish out of water in an environment where the presence of bikers can be a nuisance.

As we continue, we give precedence to those who walk and thank those who instead stop to let us pass in the trickier spots where good riding technique and sometimes a tiny bit of recklessness are needed. We continue in continuous eating and drinking that take us longer than the time I had estimated already knowing that I will have to modify the tour I had planned. We finally get out on the road and after a brief summit proceed with the program to decide later depending on strength and timing. We climb back up to Sella Bagari via a steep CAI 571 cemented climb that turns into a trail near a cultivated area. Fortunately, the trail has been cleared and in a little over a half hour of backcountry biking we are at the summit of Mt. Focone. From the summit we descend to the saddle by an unmarked but also recently cleaned trail. The section is very steep but all doable in the saddle with a couple of really difficult passages.

At the Saddle the descent to Levanto via CAI 573 awaits us in a very atmospheric setting on a continuous rock garden in the first part to then soften further down the valley and again harden in the final part until we arrive just below the Clock Tower. The loop although short and with little more than 1000 meters of elevation gain is however physical so we decide to postpone the last ascent and respective descent to another occasion preferring a nice snack with pizza and Cecina at the edge of the beach.

All in all, the Punta Mesco loop in my opinion is not ü an advisable route for mountain bikes at least from Sella Bagari onwards where the possibility of crossing with hikers on foot ü high furthermore the circumnavigation takes quite some time. From the above aella there are multiple alternatives without going further. Certainly at least once deserves to do it taking into consideration, however, that priority should be given to those who frequent the trail on foot.

Tour to be done in the period from autumn to spring both for the temperatures and for the influx of tourists, unless you are part of the latter in summer vacation.