Colle Ranzola Ospizio Sottile 2505 m - Valle Principi

Cyclo-mountaineering route to 8 with long portage and very technical descents in the afternoon.

We take advantage of the short days to go hiking two new trails in the hostile but rewarding Lys Valley.

Start from Gressoney S.Jean 1360 m, giant parking lot with RV parking and 5-star services.

With fresh legs the deadly climb of the Weissmatten goes off without a hitch compared to the intermittent returns from Ayas of other Christian-killing trails. From cable car arrival the recent snowfall gives wonderful views, pushes and pedaling up to Colle Ranzola 2170 m. The short exposed section secured with blue ropes to be climbed with caution given the snow but with absolutely no problems.

Descent ON: this section of 105 I had never mapped but as expected it turns out not difficult and fun. Blue skies, snow, Imperial Carpet and burning larches are already worth the day. From 1860 m trail becomes much more twisty and even more playful on absolutely perfect bottom. Very good warm-up finished. At the bottom of the valley buoyancy change and autogenous training in the short transfer to the start of the alpine route a few hundred meters upstream. Indeed, 1100 m of excellent vertical discomfort await us where the butts will rest on the saddle only for a few nanoseconds. Pessimistic palina indicates the day's goal at 3h25min. Unhurriedly, we enjoy the November warmth of the sunny slope and recognize the beautiful technical passages experienced on the descent on this same trail 3 years ago. Towards Cialfrezzo Superiore 2000m snow reappears, not disturbing the ascent but making everything even more scenic. Only in the last hundred meters the fatigue increases but by now we are there. Ospizio Sottile 2505 m ! Spacey day with even Valsesia without fog and in clear view. Local winter not to be missed. 6 degrees, zö de lè !

Descent ON2: excellent trail, well marked and rightly technical until the plateau then little slope and some rock garden settles vertebrae. Repassed from Cialfrezzo cent recall uphill on trail not pervious but with obvious direction to entrance of Princes valley. Secluded place and already sleepy for winter. Probably best visited in spring. At junction 11B we resume descent (if desired 11 and 11B are also connected further downstream). Golden hour and first difficulties briefly entertain us until the final precipice from 1990 m where the trail gradually gets more and more pissed off with only short moquetted connecting sections (even a few meters NR). Initially steep with various obstacles but to follow hairpin bends of death and pointed cliffs. Very very technical to be descended calmly and carefully studying the trajectories under pain of visiting the dentist friend or returning too fast to the car. If you like the genre you can't ask for better. Last 150 in common again with the climb but also not easy. We land for the obligatory kiss on the smooth asphalt with forearms and legs to lose. Maroo what a scarling !

In conclusion: concentrated itinerary without preliminaries but of sure interest to the uncomfortable doc.