Rigantoca

SIGNAGE: this guide details the entire march route and indicates the FIE trail markers to follow. In addition, the march has specific signage consisting of a white R. Red Hut (START) After stamping, exit to the road, go left, then after the large parking area, take the paved path on the right (alongside the low wall) and follow the red X; continue straight on it (downhill-uphill-flat). IGNORE the turning up on the left to Osteria delle Baracche. Continue straight for a long stretch on the dirt track until you reach La Baita del Diamante (on your right) and shortly after, you cross the paved road of the Trensasco pass. Red X 0.0 350 Stamping START Trensasco Pass Cross the road and after about 10 meters take the paved road to the left in front of you (Via dell’Acquedotto). Follow the red X marks and continue to the Pino Sottano Chapel, then continue on a wide flat dirt road ignoring the few side paths. (After Pino S., a solid red circle is added to the red X). Continue a long way on flat ground; shortly after passing a pylon you will find a fork on your left marked by a cairn and many red Xs; you must turn sharply left (CAUTION: turn left uphill and follow the red X signs and NOT the solid red circle which continues straight to Creto). Red X Fork for south ridge monte Alpe The ascent is steep at times. When you reach the top on the grassy ridge CAUTION: take the flat path left with red X signs that then continues into the woods; DO NOT turn right onto the obvious path nearly parallel that climbs the ridge (gas pipeline). Continue for a long time in the woods on the path with red X; further on, the AV path descending from monte Alpe will join from the right. Follow both signs until the Sella Church Red X Sella Church Leave the church on your left and continue on the asphalt for about 50 meters (CAUTION: abandon the red X). Cross the road (arrow for Avosso + yellow R) and take the path on the left marked with AV poles and 3 yellow dots (not the one with black X). §note: the uphill dirt road parallel to the path is also fine because it joins the path near the base of the former wind turbine§ Continue for about 150 meters ascending lightly, then the path passes to the left of the former wind turbine (see its base on the right), curves right and climbs briefly. At the next fork, marked with AV pole (placed left), take the path to the right and follow: 3 yellow dots - R - arrow for Avosso (CAUTION: leave the AV that goes left towards Crocetta d’Orero). The right path you take shortly does a sharp U-turn and goes into a long descent through the woods to the ruins of Assereto AV poles then Avosso arrow R 3 yellow dots 13.8 718 CHECKPOINT REFRESHMENT(*) Assereto Pass through the ruins and continue slightly uphill, then descend into the woods to a fork (3 yellow dots and yellow writing: to Avosso) where you turn sharply right downhill 3 yellow dots Fork for descent on rio Assereto Going down, after a while you pass a low wall; always descend. You are on a very steep trail with a very unstable surface, especially if wet!!!CAUTION - PROCEED WITH CARE: DANGEROUS DESCENT!!! D – 220 m. 3 yellow dots Rio Assereto ford At the bottom of the descent, go down into the riverbed and immediately turn left for a few steps, then turn right, cross the river and you are on the right bank. Always staying on the right, continue in the riverbed (3 yellow dots) for about 250 m, then take the rough path on the right that climbs steeply and then flattens. Go on flat terrain for a long time, then after a steep descent, a concrete bridge and passing 2 houses cross a road. Go left and you are at Pratogrande 3 yellow dots Pratogrande After the checkpoint turn right, cross the bridge over the Scrivia and continue left on an asphalt road (SS 226) to the Avosso church whose bell tower is visible in the distance (CAUTION: the road is busy: for your safety stay on the sidewalk, where there is one) 3 yellow dots in view 17.6 431 CHECKPOINT (*) gate at 11 a.m. Avosso Church In front of the church cross the road (CAUTION: the road is busy - cross at the pedestrian crossing) and enter via Antica di Avosso following 2 solid yellow squares. Ignore the 1st left turn and after about 250 m turn sharply left into the alley that goes up and then becomes a path. Then turn left again and follow the very steep path that climbs into the woods; at the top, the path flattens and then crosses a paved road Go right and after a few steps you reach the clearly visible Gorra Chapel D + 253 m 2 yellow squares Cascinette Continue climbing on the paved road for about 600 m. At the fork (sign for Cascinette) go left on a slight uphill for about 150 m to the few houses of the hamlet of Cascinette or Cassinetta. Cross the group of houses to the trough on your left and take the mule track that you immediately see after, always on your left, which goes slightly uphill 2 yellow squares 20.24 656 CHECKPOINT REFRESHMENT (*) St. Bernardo Chapel On the mule track go uphill for about 200 m to St. Bernardo Chapel, pass it and take the path on the right that goes slightly downhill then flat in the woods until it emerges in the middle of a hairpin bend of a paved road 2 yellow squares Crossing with paved road At the crossing go left uphill on the paved road to a group of a few houses 2 yellow squares Fasciou Houses Pass the houses (farmhouse “Il Pero”) and continue on asphalt uphill with switchbacks to the shooting range; walk alongside the range fence on flat ground (DO NOT climb the Banca mountain slope) and continue on the dirt road, which then becomes a wide path, to the Banca Chapel 2 yellow squares

Banca Chapel Pass in front of the chapel entrance (do not take paths left and right of the chapel) and climb for about 100 m, then turn left alongside an old stone wall (CAUTION: do not take the right path that climbs to monte della Croce). Continue in the woods (you see a ruined house on the left, then another house also on the left). Do not deviate, go straight until the Piani houses 2 yellow squares Piani Cross the entire village, exit and continue to the two water tanks (refreshment). The path then turns right slightly uphill and continues until it merges into a drivable dirt road. At the fork, go right and continue to Crosi 2 yellow squares 25.2 851 CHECKPOINT REFRESHMENT (*) Crosi Cross all the few houses completely and flat, without turning right or left. After the houses continue on the flat path in the woods and continue until it merges with a path that climbs from the left. At this fork (signpost), continue right and climb for a long time towards the ridge 2 yellow squares East ridge pass monte Penzo On the ridge always follow two solid yellow squares until the fork (location: Ballo della Gallina) with Parco Antola signpost; here turn right, flat, towards the now visible Madonna della Guardia of Pentema. CAUTION: leave the two solid yellow squares signs and follow the path (without signs) to the large chapel of Madonna della Guardia of Pentema. Parco Antola towards M.G. Pentema Madonna della Guardia of Pentema Climb the path to the left of the church marked with yellow ticks (CAUTION: the path to the right of the church goes to Pentema). Proceed first uphill then downhill until merging with the main path abandoned previously (two solid yellow squares) Yellow ticks 30.3 1022 CHECKPOINT REFRESHMENT Gallina ridge fork At the fork go right. Resume following the two solid yellow squares in the woods to the Colletto Chapel 2 yellow squares Colletto Chapel (or dei Bucci) Pass on the right side of the chapel and follow the path turning left with two yellow squares signs, ignoring other detours near the chapel indicated by Parco Antola signage. Continue until you reach the ridge path that from Torriglia goes to monte Antola (two yellow balls). At the fork, a Parco Antola signpost indicates different directions; CAUTION: go left towards monte Antola, (right goes to Donnetta/Torriglia). Turn and after a few steps reach the ruined Casa del Piccetto with a large landslide below (CAUTION: the path narrows because of the landslide and house debris) 2 yellow squares 34.0 1266 CHECKPOINT gate at 3:30 p.m. REFRESHMENT (*) Casa del Piccetto Pass the ruin and now follow the two yellow balls signs until reaching a three-way junction of paths near a shelter with tables (on your right). Ignore the right and left paths and follow the center one which after the shelter goes slightly uphill (two yellow balls and now also a yellow cross). Continue for a long time with stretches flat alternating with ascents until a signpost indicating the way to Antola refuge 2 yellow balls yellow cross Fork to Antola refuge At the fork, go flat on the right path (CAUTION: leave the two yellow balls signs and follow the yellow R letter to the refuge. Yellow R Antola refuge In front of the refuge entrance, take the path that climbs steeply for about 100 m until crossing the main path left earlier (two yellow balls). Go right and continue climbing following two yellow balls and yellow cross (passing the ruins of former Musante refuge then abandoned Bensa refuge) until the Antola chapel 2 yellow balls yellow cross 36.7 1468 REFRESHMENT Antola Chapel Monte Antola summit Take the path behind the chapel that climbs with a clear trace towards the Cross, clearly visible, at the summit of monte Antola. From here go right on the ridge, always with a clear trace, descending towards the Antola plains (east saddle monte Antola). In view 37.5 1536 1597 CHECKPOINT Antola Plains Il Ciuffo Arrived at the plains (signpost “east saddle monte Antola”) continue straight towards Casa del Romano for a few meters, then leave the main path and turn right towards the meadow between two small hillocks (ribbons and signs). After passing a hillock the path becomes more evident and descends (3 yellow dots). Pass Il Ciuffo (group of trees on ridge) and go on a long descent through meadows and then woods. The path passes some easy fords (often dry) and always descends. After the first ford, ignore the dirt road on the left and keep descending; now you also see the red mark of the "Ciaspolata di Caprile" that will accompany you to the village. Continue descending (sections with many loose stones) and reach a wide grassy clearing with few trees (locality big beech) where the path merges into a dirt road descending from your left 3 yellow dots After the 1st ford also red mark Caprile (FINISH) At the fork go right descending on the dirt road now very stony following 3 yellow dots and red mark to which a yellow triangle is now added; continue until passing the water reservoir (on your left) and shortly after, the large gate that bars the mule track (CLOSE). After the gate, immediately turn right descending on the narrow path that then becomes an alley and shortly (in view) leads to the village and the finish (take the asphalt descent on the right after the Berto restaurant) 3 yellow dots red mark then yellow triangle 43.2 1017 FINAL CHECKPOINT REFRESHMENT