Ai piedi della Grignetta, Rifugio Rosalba!

An extreme and decidedly unconventional mountain biking route, born out of curiosity to see if it was actually possible to ride down from the Rosalba Hut on the opposite slope from Piani Resinelli. The answer is yes. And in my opinion, this route has enormous potential, but you need to be fully aware of what you’re getting into: a lot of carrying your bike on your shoulders, a challenging climb, and an initial descent with gradients that are truly extraordinary.

Piani Resinelli – Rosalba Mountain Hut: 600 m of elevation gain carried on your shoulders. After climbing to Piani Resinelli, the mountain biking section toward the Rosalba Mountain Hut (1,730 m) begins. From here, you’ll need to account for about 600 meters of elevation gain, practically all of it with the bike on your shoulders. And be warned: these aren’t 600 meters of portage on an easy trail. The route is classified as a hiking trail, but with a mountain bike on your shoulders, the experience changes significantly. The trail features continuous rocks and steps, is often relatively narrow, and in many places you’ll need to choose your path carefully because the bike becomes cumbersome.

I wouldn’t call it mountaineering-level difficulty, but when it comes to carrying a bike, I consider it significantly more challenging than a normal hiking trail: in several spots, it’s almost halfway between simply walking with the bike and a technical portage. The 600 m of elevation gain therefore feels long, physically demanding, and above all, uncomfortable. With a lightweight MTB, it’s doable for those accustomed to mountain biking. With an e-MTB, personally, I wouldn’t even consider it.

Rosalba Hut – first 400 m of descent: S5 From Rosalba, you crest the hill and immediately begin the most delicate part of the entire loop. The first 400 meters or so of descent are extremely steep. The difficulty doesn’t stem primarily from large steps or trial-style sections: in many places, the trail, taken on its own, wouldn’t even be that technical. The problem is just how steep it is. You descend through a long series of switchbacks and small hairpin turns on dirt, humus, and gravel, with a surface that isn’t always compact enough to guarantee traction. That’s why I rate this section as S5. It’s not a classic S5 made up of extreme obstacles: it’s an S5 resulting from the combination of steepness, bike control, and precarious traction.

In some spots, you can ride very well; just a few meters later, the same type of slope can become nearly impassable simply because the surface doesn’t provide enough traction. Be aware of the consequences of a fall. There are also some exposed sections, but exposure isn’t the main problem. The real problem is the steepness. In several spots, even without being directly above a jump or a precipice, a slip can quickly turn into a long fall, because the terrain is so steep that stopping immediately might not be easy. It’s therefore essential not to confuse the absence of an obvious precipice with the absence of consequences. If the terrain doesn’t feel right or you’re not completely sure of the line, it’s better to get off the bike. This is not a descent on which to try an S5 for the first time.

Everything changes at around 1,300 m After about 400 meters of this extreme descent, you’ll reach an elevation of roughly 1,300 m, and the trail’s character changes completely. And this is where the most fun part begins. The difficulty initially drops to S3, then S2 sections appear, and even long, very flowy and fast S1 stretches. Finally, you can let the bike run free. The trail continues, alternating between descents, climbs, and guided sections, with a few new technical surprises that can reach S4 difficulty. The best part is that you stay almost entirely on the trail until you arrive practically right back at the starting point. A ride with enormous potential It’s an unusual trail. You really struggle to haul the bike up to Rosalba, and during the first 400 meters of descent, you might find yourself wondering several times whether it makes sense to be there on a mountain bike. Then the terrain changes, and you’re faced with a very long, extremely varied descent that ranges from vertical S5 to S3, S2, flow sections, and new technical passages. With the trail in the right conditions and knowing exactly what to expect, I think this ride has tremendous potential. But it should absolutely not be underestimated.

Difficulty: What to Really Expect

Ascent to Rosalba: about 600 m elevation gain, practically all carried on your shoulders, on a rocky, narrow trail with numerous steps. The portage is much more strenuous than the elevation gain alone might suggest.

First 400 m of descent from Rosalba: S5, mainly due to the extreme steepness. The trail surface consists of dirt, humus, and gravel and isn’t always stable.

Risk of falling: Some sections are exposed, but above all, the steep slope can make it difficult to quickly stop a slide.

From about 1,300 m: difficulty decreases significantly, initially S3 and then S2/S1, with some nice flowing sections.

Lower section: generally smoother, with a few localized S4 sections.

Technical Details

Style: Mountain biking / Extreme AM

Elevation at Rosalba Hut: 1,730 m

MTB: Yes, a lightweight bike is recommended

E-MTB: Strongly discouraged

Carry: approx. 600 m elevation gain

Portage difficulty: very difficult, rocky, narrow, and with numerous steps

Method: primarily carrying the bike on your shoulders

Ascent difficulty: very high with the bike, both in terms of distance and trail characteristics

First 400 m of descent: S5, extremely steep

Upper section surface: dirt, humus, and gravel; traction not always predictable

Middle section: S3 → S2, with progressively smoother riding

Easier sections: also includes some very flowy S1 sections

Lower section: S2/S3 with some S4 sections

Maximum difficulty: S5

Exposure: present in some spots; however, the greatest risk remains the extreme slope

Physical exertion: Very high

Technical difficulty: Extreme in the upper section

Important to know: A loss of traction in the first 400 m can quickly turn into a serious slide; do not attempt sections while riding if you are not completely confident