Punta di Elgio (quasi)

I will preface this with the fact that this is a route under construction, in the sense that I could not make it all the way to the top because the final gully was snow-covered. Next summer I promise myself to do it, and maybe descend to the Maria Luisa refuge. It is designed for ebikes, with a bike it becomes an ordeal.

Start from All'Acqua in Val Bedretto (the tour is also doable starting from Riale in Val Formazza), immediately on trail built for bikes up to the San Giacomo pass. This trail is partly steep but always easy and well-maintained, and takes us up 700 meters of elevation gain. From the San Giacomo pass we freeride across the meadows looking for a line that is doable on an ebike, in fact you see from the trail that some of the times I turned back. Staying toward the ridge you can do pretty much everything in the saddle. Arriving at elevation 2650, I raised the white flag because the final part of the climb (where there is actually a trail) was snow-covered. Looking north, I didn't feel like going up, partly because it is quite steep.

The descent completely traces the ascent. The terrain is sodden and requires, as during the ascent, finding an ideal line. Arriving at St. James Pass, it is all fun on the beautiful trail we have already taken on the ascent.