Monti Caucaso e Albareto

Very rewarding itinerary with a long but beautiful climb and an amazing descent very scenic and a bit adventurous. Starting from Ferrada we take Via dei Barbieri and begin the long climb (22km) that will take us to the top of Mount Caucasus at an altitude of 1250 meters. Shortly after Moconesi the road becomes unpaved and stays that way until it joins the Provinciale del Passo della Scoglina. The climb remains steady and beautiful. Arriving at Piani di Struvega we could leave the dirt road for a bike-over-shoulder section headed for the summit but today we decide on a totally pedaled ride. As we progress the roadway narrows to a nice single track and begins to descend, with a few technical passages.

When we reach the Scoglina Pass we follow the signs for Mt. Caucasus continuing the ascent on asphalt on a beautiful mountain road through a beautiful forest. Just before the Barbagelata refuge we turn right on a wide path and finally reach the summit of Caucasus with attached refuge. The view from the summit is amazing, too bad that today despite the beautiful day there is a slight haze typical of hot summer days. Before tackling the descent we stop at the refuge for a drink and a piece of cake welcomed by Maurizio, its very helpful manager, whom I had already contacted the previous days to find out about the condition of the trail.

The descent is amazing always on the ridge on a rocky bottom and super panoramic. At the Croci Pass we abandon the path to Monte Rocio in favor of a nice traverse that takes us back to the dirt road we made in the morning, and then back up to the Piani di Strufega to embark on the second and long descent of the Panchine, which passing by Monte Albereto and the village of Cornia descends to Cicagna. This descent is also immediately interesting, very challenging butch and does not let up until the end.