Alleghe trails

From a TrailForks cue, I wanted to try three descents in the Alleghe/Pecol area defined as "black" (one I knew but after Vaia I had not yet managed to do because it was impassable until last year). A preamble, these are challenging and at times even "alpin bike" trails so you have to accept even short pushing sections.

You go up from Alleghe to Piano di Pezzè and from there by the dirt road that goes up to Pra della Costa and at the end of the dirt road you take the path that cuts through Pian dei Sec and arrives just below Forcella Alleghe. Here by dirt road you reach Malga Pioda and start to climb up the mule track 556 that leads to Coldai, but at the first hairpin bend you take a well-marked path: Tap de le Parole.The first section is a narrow single track uphill with slight counter slopes and a few push jumps in particular a passage of a small rock jump, not very easy with e-bikes, then the descent begins, technical and steep, with a few raises. There are no high technical difficulties, but the trail is narrow and not easy to navigate. Then you enter the woods and the subject changes, gradually the trail becomes more and more a beautiful toboggan flow with a bottom in loam and pine needles, a real blast that repays the difficulties of the upper part. You come to a dirt road that leads to Pecol Vecchio.

Here by asphalt climb towards Palafavera and just before arriving there, turn left and take a dirt road that climbs towards Malga Pioda. Gradual and well pedalable ascent. Before the Malga and near the start of the cable car to Rifugio Coldai, there is the start of the second trail: Wild trail. The trail starts immediately downhill with some steep slopes (dirt and grass bottom), some technical passages between steps and roots, a couple of crossings of pratoni with mud and also here some (short) hand climbs and a passage of a rock jump. Then in the woods also here the trail becomes more flow in the style of the previous one and in the final stretch joins the Tap de le Parole, to get to Pecol.

Climb up to Palafavera and then continue on a forest road that climbs to Malga Vescovà and then right to Malga Fontanafredda. Continue on the forest road to Rifugio Belvedere, very steep scrambles on dirt road or grass. Once you get off the trail, follow Cai 566 and this is the last descent. High section with steep steeps and single track on rock, dirt, grass and loose rock and more technical passages, steep steps and lots of roots. However, the trail is clean and well cyclable. Some nice hairpin bends in the woods peppered with counter slopes.

When you reach Fernazza you turn right to descend to Alleghe and here you enter the forest devastated by Vaia and the signs are still very evident. The traverse section has been cleaned up and is now mostly cyclable (90%) a few passages still manual, but given the devastation around it is the least.Then begins the descent to Alleghe, the single track is always very narrow, no particular technical difficulties, but it takes balance to stay on track. Passing some tabià you get back to an old trail/muletrack that is wider and well rideable. The trail is still technical, with boulders and firm rocks, steps and more flowing sections. You arrive at Piniè (last stretch rocky) and from here by old trails to Col de Fontana and Peroncina. Here I left the original Tailforks trail as the trail that descended to Dorich is now closed and no longer maintained. Short asphalt climb to Coldemies and here you take the last trail down to Fontanive/ Alleghe