Almese - pista tagliafuoco - sentiero delle Guardie

The route starts in Almese and climbs for about 4 km on paved road, then turns onto a wide, clay-based dirt road that follows the firebreak. The “Guards’ Trail,” which runs more or less parallel to the “Alpini Trail,” consists of two sections: an initial 2 km stretch to Borgata Prassero and a 1 km stretch beyond the hamlet. The first section is mostly trail-style riding—narrow, with many roots and loose soil. The gradient isn’t steep, but the hairpin turns are tight. The entire section is in the woods; there are no overhangs. Once inside Borgata, after a gentle descent, follow the blue markings on the rocks and ride alongside a boundary wall on a smooth trail free of roots. The section of the rangers’ trail near the Pis Gorge up to Fucinassa is again partly trail-style, especially the section descending to the waterfall marked on the map. The Messa Stream had eroded the Malatrait moraine, a deposit dating back to the last ice age over 10,000 years ago. The reddish color is due to the oxidation of iron concentrated in the rocks of the valley, from which it was mined as early as the 16th century. The route continues on asphalt to Almese. This low-altitude route should be avoided in summer.

Votive shrine at the start of the ascent

Start of the rangers’ trail

Loose terrain and a sharp bend

Tree roots

Loose terrain

Pis Gorge

Malatrait Moraine