Gemelli, discesa cattivissima x Branzi

Get ready for a superlative ride that lacks nothing, views, traverses and spectacular descents! The proposed trail has a significant elevation gain of 1600 meters. Physically challenging ride with some pushing or backpacking parts. This tour has the part up to the Gemelli refuge in common with this one but descends from 212 towards Branzi, a fantastic but very technical, long and physical trail that if taken without energy or technique becomes an ordeal.

Start from Isola di Fondra, you pedal through Branzi with part passage to a beautiful waterfall and then continue to Carona. Here begins the cemented carrale road that with very challenging gradients takes us into the beautiful valley of Carona, continue to the Calvi refuge (eventual stage that I avoided so as not to add more elevation gain).

Now helmet on head because after a short descent, a beautiful linkage awaits you that will take you away towards the Gemelli refuge. It starts with a beautiful traverse that is all pedalable with several technical passages that never get boring. After about 100 meters of not overly challenging push/shoulder ride you arrive at the Sardegnana pass. Protectors on we launch ourselves on a beautiful trail that in 150 meters will take us to Sadegnana Lake.

You cross the dam and here low saddle, trail 213, this is a trail largely carved out of the ridge, very beautiful, scenic, overhanging. The trail is protected with a steel rope handrail which could however be loose in some places, best to avoid relying on it with the proper attention of does but I personally happened to pull up one hanging on the rope from the opposite side who took it too lightly so low saddle and maximum concentration . Alternatively hand bike that after 15 minutes you can go back to pedaling without these risks

After a few meters push you arrive at Marcio Lake with moon style rocks. Continue with technical uphill to the Gemini Refuge.

You continue pedaling to the Columbus Lake dam. From here the rest of the ride is all downhill and pure enjoyment. First long S2 midslope descent with a few S3- passes to Lake Caesar flat. Now mega-descent of about 1000 meters of elevation gain on a beautiful S3+/s4 megatechnical and smashing descent that will give you no respite. Descent that if you like it is a spectacle, if you are too tired or don't have the technique for this genre it becomes a real ordeal, Arrival directly on the car.

As an alternative to the calssic descent on 212 you can also descend from Sirena(this track)

Trail style: AM

Personal rating: Views 10/10; Descents 10/10

Cyclist: Medium-Low

MTB: Yes

EMTB: Yes (about 20min of push/shoulder sections)

Duration about 6h (in Mtb)

Portage: Yes about 200m push/shoulder in Emtb, in Mtb there are more push sections

Difficulty ascent: Challenging

Difficulty descent: Mostly S3+/with many sections S4

Exposed: Yes but protected

Drainage: Done the day after a very heavy rain held perfectly

Water points: Departure, Pagliari, Rif.Gemelli, Arrival