Mottarone Alpe Bertogna

Departure from Armeno, Coirmonte via asphalt, ascent to Monte Falò, Alpe Volpe, Alpe Calandra, little asphalt until the traverse that leads to the ascent of the little train that with 18/20% section leads to the arrival station of the tragic cable car. We reach the top going up a section of ski slope with residual snow, today partially frozen. from the top spectacular 360° panorama of alps, plains, various lakes, Borromean islands, val Grande.

The descent begins on the baby slope, then a stretch of small road to skirt the artificial snowmaking basin from where the real singletrack indicated direction Alpe Bertogna Omegna begins, it is about 1000 meters of negative elevation gain. WARNING: SOME POINTS WITH DANGEROUS EXPOSURE ARE PRESENT, WHERE IT IS NOT PERMITTED TO WRONG, part of these are very difficult passages that I consider S4/S5, nose press mandatory in critical conditions. We hiked them as they were out of our technical range. Few individual passages seem to me to be un-bikeable, mostly due to risk of damage to the bike.

That said, the trail is well marked and runs in wild and at times grandiose surroundings, Only one short section just before the alp, covered with dry leaves with a loose stone bottom, is unpleasant in the saddle.

Arrived in Omegna a bit of asphalt with passage on the lakefront, then thanks to the tip of two bikers met at the top we returned to Armeno for a pleasant traverse on well-maintained path and subsequent forestry. Traveled with emtb together with fede67 on 21/12/2023. Itinerary inspired by a MTB Cinghios Racing video that I thank.