CAI 113a & CAI 53 da Orsigna

Taking the dirt road leading to the Orsigna sports field, we are forced to leave the car near the small bridge, since the road has been closed by a bar. Little harm we find a shady clearing,and prepare to get on our bikes. We ride along the dirt road toward the sports field, which we pass and at the height of the Tognarino Mill we recover the asphalt road for a more comfortable and shady climb. Soon the asphalt gives way to the beautiful forest road that leads to Pian Grande where we abandon it in favor of the Cai 235 that leads to the Portafranca Refuge.

At an altitude of about 1510 we turn right on the MTB variant and without reaching the refuge we head towards Rombiciaio with the combination Cai 225/205/101 to then continue on Cai 143 to the Passo dell'Innamorata where we intersect Cai 111 which a few dozen meters we abandon to begin descending on the Martinaia Cai 113a trail. The descent is really beautiful and varied and although it does not compete with the better known Cai 121, I must say that it is an excellent alternative. Arriving near the creek, the idea was to continue toward Pianaccio, but since we already know the trail we decide not to lose further altitude and recover the Segavecchia forest road. Via a short path that cuts across the road we descend to the refuge to eat and refuel with fresh water.

Once refreshed we resume the ascent by the forest road to Passo del Lupo, then following the Cai 111 first and then the Cai 205 in the direction of Uccelliera, we reach the Portafranca Refuge passing above it and at elevation 1645 we descend on 00. We walk along the ridge passing Passo della Navaia and Poggio dei Malandrini and at elevation 1635 we turn left abandoning the path in favor of a clearly visible track that on a steep slope takes us directly to Rifugio Montanaro. At the hut we pause just long enough to have a bite to eat and then continue our descent on Cai 203 until we reach the Devil's Pedal Pass from where the most challenging and enjoyable section begins on Cai 53, baptized by myself as "Devil's Pedal." Of the trails that descend to Orsigna is the one I prefer without detracting from the more classic Cai 5 and Cai 33 very beautiful and worth doing, but Cai 53 as well as long is very varied and in some sections very steep.

The descent ends on the bed of the stream where we can help ourselves with the help of a small ladder in order to descend, and after crossing the stream the path comes out on the road taken in the morning that passes by the sports field where a little further down we find the car again.