We know that MTB is our favorite way to discover the world, be it combed like a bike park rather than wild and extreme like the descent from the 3A refuge in Alta Formazza.
An epic ride where you don't have to suffer from vertigo and portage doesn't have to scare.
The departure
I left the car in Riale, a small Walser village, where in the summer we meet to seek refreshment from the heat and in winter we delight in cross-country skiing.
It is a well-known destination, with an image that immediately identifies the territory, the small church leaning against a hill that stands out against the wall of the Morasco dam; invaded that at the beginning of the twentieth century submerged the old town, then rebuilt in its present position.
From here we leave for the Bettelmatt plain, made famous by Raspelli for its sublime scented alpine fat. I have already described the homonymous descent that you can find HERE; in fact today this plateau is only a passage point for a much more difficult destination, namely refuge 3A, an eagle's nest located at about 2999 meters, on the edges of the Sidel ice.
As I said, a climb with a lot of portage, especially in the central phase, the one that leads to an intermediate refuge, the Città di Busto. Then from there a bit 'you pedal a bit' you push up to the summit.
You cross a lunar landscape, the meadows gradually give way to stones, for what could be well described by the dream stories of HP Lovecraft.
I always gladly go up to this refuge; the hospitality of the volunteers of the Mato Grosso association immediately makes you feel at home. A warm welcome tea is the best business card on a gray day and colder than expected.
The views are wonderful, both in the evening and especially when you wake up. a world apart, where everyone can imagine his perfect world. A place where it is nice to meditate, relax and regenerate mind and body before resuming 'normal' life.
The downhill
All this effort to make one of the most beautiful alpine descents. Compared to previous years, the slightly more bumpy surface has made this trail more difficult. But driving between glaciers with a lake always in the background remains a good vibration experience. I was not in the best shape, a little tired and the ailments of the initial fall did not allow me to enjoy the ride to the fullest.
Natural trails are always my favorite. here you have to find your own rhythm, we are far from the artificial flow of perfect and smooth banks, everyone has to look for their moods in improvisation. like a jazz suite, or a solo at a rock concert. I let you carry you off the ground and travel.
There are still three descents to be done, if the September weather is good I will be able to show you at least one more of these, then the snow should force me to descend until next summer.
