| VanSims9. 11. 2011 19:06:28 |
Sentiero degli Alpini is a circular trail that starts and ends at Cola Melosa pass (Via Michelin: destination "Cola Melosa") in the Ligurian Alps, running along the Italian side and back on the French side. Access to this pass is from Ventimiglia via Dolceacqua and Pigna, also accessible from the Sanremo side. At the pass is the Rifugio Allavena hut, where I stayed overnight (price with breakfast: 29 EUR, with PZS card 20 EUR).
There are lots of descriptions of this trail on the internet (google: "Sentiero degli Alpini" but don't confuse with the path of similar name in the Dolomites), unfortunately most in Italian. Among Italians it seems very popular, almost no foreigners. Here's one description in German I found but it skips the most interesting part - ascent to Monte Torragio: http://www.gps-tour.info/de/touren/detail.38064.html
From Rifugio Allavena I first go along the road about 10 min, where the trail branches off towards Gola dell'Incisa saddle. The trail first goes through the forest, then becomes exposed and up to the saddle runs above a cliff. The trail is quite wide, cables just for belaying and not for progressing - no technical difficulties here.
From Gola dell'Incisa (where I peeked onto the French side by which I returned later) the trail is exposed a bit longer, then starts ascending towards Passo di Fonte Dragurina, where the final ascent to Monte Torragio (1973 m) begins. It is marked with red dots and requires easy climbing not exceeding grade I.
From the top you can descend back to Passo di Fonte Dragurina, from there continue on French side back, more interesting though is direct descent to French side (mark "Passaggio Nord Ovest"), which then leads to the trail from Passo di Fonte Dragurina.
I choose the latter and no regrets. At the start of the descent I meet two ladies who obviously changed their minds and came back. The trail too hard and slippery, they complained. Gotta admit, you scared me a bit. Since most of the day is in shade, it is really a bit damper. Well, it turned out to be a secured trail, at the start with ropes then over a rock step (max about B difficulty) with cable, but I think for someone with experience on at least easy to medium via ferratas, the descent shouldn't be an issue. Then comes a slightly more demanding orientation part. The trail to the junction with the trail from Passo di Fonte Dragurina goes along an exposed (but technically easy) ridge marked with poorly visible sporadic red triangles. Typical poor French marking. The Da Vinci Code sentence comes to mind: "Frenches cannot be trusted!" 
When finally with some improvisation I reach the trail from Passo di Fonte Dragurina, I head back to Gola dell'Incisa, called Pas de l'Incise on the French side. While the Italian side is more barren, the French glowed in nice autumn colors. From Pas de l'Incise I continue back to Rifugio Allavena. On the way, detour to Monte Pietravecchia (from the trail good half hour). Since from the Italian side it looked mighty and inaccessible, I didn't think a nice easy path leads to it from the French trail. Then back to the Italian side and to Rifugio Allavena, where I stayed.
Timeline: without stops about 5-6 hours (without ascent to Monte Pietravecchia).
DIFFICULTY:
Easy - if go only to Gola dell'Incisa and back on French side (but Italian side quite exposed)
Demanding - if extend to Monte Torragio. Ascent to Monte Torragio is grade I climbing, direct descent to French side on ropes and secured rock jump max B difficulty and end bit orientationally demanding.
Helmet recommended on the trail, though I was the only one wearing it! 
If anyone wandering around there or heading to Azure coast or Spain, do stop. Might be somewhat hot in summer (enough water!).
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