Lake Maggiore is synonymous with enchanted islands, some of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world, dream hotels and charming residences. All this is undoubtedly true, but the nature that surrounds it can offer wonderful landscapes that must be discovered on a MTB.
PIANCAVALLO ZEDA AND RETURN

When the mountain calls it is difficult to pretend not to hear it. Then we begin to climb in altitude, Mount Zeda, 2150 meters.
This is THE TOP of Verbano. From here the view is deep and the view is lost on the horizon. Getting there is not easy. The more daring can start from Cannero or Verbania, while the recommended tour is to drive up to hill and start pedaling from here.
A wide gippabile takes us up to the foot of the ascent, again in this case we pedal on the Cadorna line with a flat pace up to the Folungo Pass, from here the real climb begins, but always on a wide road that can be pedaled. Near the Pian Vadà bivouac the road becomes a path that can only be ridden in parts, then when you reach the Pian Vada pass, a wall appears in front of us, the last 300mt of difference in height, the ones that separate us from the summit.
Let's face it right away, wild portage, here you need head and legs, but even the most uncomfortable situations can be useful, in fact this climb becomes useful to check if and where you can descend, in fact if climbing is tiring, descending is certainly not a pleasure walk, stony ground, trialistic sections , very exposed areas and some points where it is best to push the bike are what awaits us after reaching the summit.

But the boundless panorama, the silence of the mountain and the opening of the mind in front of nature are priceless. As we said, At the top the panorama is impressive, lakes, glaciers, steep walls and green meadows, everything a person can imagine observing from a peak can be found here.

But then the descent begins. forget the soft focus and without firm nerves and a bit of technique forget it, everything could become a bad ordeal. There are exposed passages, stretches of loose stony ground and much more. The satisfaction of having succeeded is still great, let's take a bath, it is not a rampage, but to have fun you have to go down calmly and with mastery of the vehicle. From the step of Vada onwards the situation changes, everything returns to normal and enjoying the views is part of the game.



Technical detail:
MOUNT ZEDA Distance: 27km Estimated time: 3h-5h Max height: 2150 Total difference in altitude: 980m |
For information: mtb traveler
website: www.tagliaferri-mtbtraveler.com
Facebook: Marco Tagliaferri Mtb traveller
photo: Edoardo Invernizzi
