Via del sale dal rifugio Don Barbera al rifugio Allavena

We start with a steady climb for about 2 km, photo op at Framargal pass (2,190 meters), long descent through the old Selle pass and shuttle forest consisting of larch and white spruce. Curious encounter with sheep, the shepherd and his 11 Maremma dogs. We pass the Lagone knoll (1,897 meters) and a basin with a small lake, followed by pian del Manzo and finally the exit tollgate of the Alta via del sale. Here is the last chance for water (small bottles for 1 Euro), coffee and some picturesque news about the continuation of the route, including an undefined tunnel (we will find it on the way down to the Allavena refuge, but it will not turn out to be passable).

This is followed by a long false-flat section, the Porta pass (1,823 meters) with views of Mount Saccarello and the statue of the Redeemer on the anticima, 3 km uphill to the Tanarello pass (2,040 meters). A long descent on uneven ground begins on the slopes of the Tanarello and Saccarello mountains, unfortunately also to be shared with numerous off-road vehicles (the regulations of the Alta via del sale prohibit motorized traffic only on Tuesdays and Thursdays). Downhill we reach the path that descends directly from Mount Saccarello and to follow the Collardente pass (1,600 meters).

With a long traverse, first uphill and then falsely level, we cut across the slopes of Mount Collardente. At a crossroads (pylon) we keep left reaching after a few hundred meters the Sanson low (1,697 meters, barrier). Past some ruins we enter the Gerbonte state forest and the Ligurian Alps nature park. After a couple of kilometers of ascent, at a fork just below the cime de Marta we turn left. After a few ups and downs the long descent begins, leaving col Bertrand (1,950 meters) to the right we go around the slopes of Mount Grai from the left. Suddenly the large artificial lake of Tenarda appears further down.

We continue on the rough-bottomed dirt road, partially dug into the rock, wide but very aerial, that cuts the steep slopes with long hairpin bends. Be careful of uphill off-road vehicles that leave little margin for those coming from the opposite front. Much further down we reach the asphalt road and the Melosa Pass (1,542 meters), where there are two accommodations, the bar-restaurant of the same name and the Allavena refuge.

From the Colle dei signori, long uphill stretch

Framargal Pass

The shepherd with his 11 maremmani

Poggio del Lagone

Gateway Pass

Crossroads, left Mount Saccarello, right Tanarello Pass

Tanarello Pass

Uneven downhill section

Lower Sanson, the road is still long

Below Lake Tenarda and on the left at the top the dirt road we are going to ride on

Allavena refuge and bike of the tentists