Lago di Pratignano CAI 409 passo del Colombino Monte Mezzano di sopra

Leaving from the locality of i Ponti near #fanano we climb up the paved road following the signs for Pratignano Lake. Arriving at Ca' del Vento the road becomes unpaved and remains so until the Lake where it ends giving way to the footpath. Today we decide to pass along the left side of the lake even if the path is not entirely rideable and forces you to descend in several places, so should you decide to come here I recommend passing on the opposite side, all rideable without problems.

Past the lake we get dressed to make the first descent on Cai 409, a beautiful trail nestled in an equally beautiful forest that leads to La Piana. We followed the 409 in its entirety but from an altitude of about 1040 at a junction the path becomes very hard, forcing us to descend in several places due to the presence of some rock jumps, reasoning that if I were to return I would opt for the variant to the right of the junction that leads to La Sega, certainly more rideable, but which forces us to lose a little more altitude. Having resumed the climb we pass Osteria Nuova to arrive near Capanno Tassoni. After a stop at the hut we face the last stretch of the climb with the destination of the Colombino Pass.

The ascent on a forest road alternates between very steep stretches and flatter ones and also a couple of short descents until we reach the Villa Rossella bivouac where the road narrows becoming a path keeping it rideable with good legs except for a few passages up to the pass. Wearing again the protections we start to descend on the Cai 425 today made hostile by the grass cut made on the occasion of "Tauffi Trail", which makes the path slippery for the dry residues of paleo. Going down one must be very careful not to miss the entrance to Montemezzano because the trail being no longer frequented is not even marked or indicated.

Already done a few years ago I remember it immediately bad and steep and memory does not betray me and despite not pouring in good clean condition it is well evident and fun. At an altitude of 1040 we cross the junction for Monte Mezzano di sopra so we leave the main trail to tackle this section that should join the one coming from below near the abandoned village. This part of the trail is definitely the most adventurous since it is no longer practiced you have to be very careful not to lose the trail.

Past the group of houses, however, the trail becomes visible again and enjoyable not particularly difficult but be careful because in some places it is very exposed. At the end of the trail we find ourselves on a wide dirt road where the path from where we came down is well indicated, for those who want to reach it to and visit it on foot.

After spending some time on the road we take the last trail, Cai 411/425, near Ca' Traleo, a very enjoyable last stretch that ends on the bridge over the Felicarolo Torrent, where of course at the end of a perfect day we take a nice cooling and cryogenic bath. Nice and regenerated we finish the ride on a nice little trail that comes out at the Eco Day Campground.