We'd not been through the rock garden on the single du Champ Bertin since it rained a couple of weeks back (too greasy) but today the approaches were dry which was a good sign.

We decided to cycle to the Climbing Rock to take the technical descent down. It is still pretty tricky for us but getting a bit better on the easier top section.

No ski this weekend so I decided to use a spare hour and a half on Saturday afternoon to ride up and look at the snow conditions on the road to the Col du Coq.

I wanted to ride the H4 road from Brovello but it is unsurfaced just outside Brovello, I was suprised as people have a VAM of 1600 m/h on it, hard on a MTB or gravel bike.

Quick spin in the heat on arrival in Baveno. Climb is pretty stiff and the road uninteresting but rewarded with lake views at Someraro. Lost pump on the descent but went back to find it this evening.

General DescriptionStarting this route in Pettenasco (it has to start somewhere despite being a loop) head south. There is s small climb up to Orta then along the lake.

Rode up to Levo. Down to Stresa then returned via the climb to Someraro for a fairly quick and efficient 850 meters of climbing. You can find water at Levo on the main road.

From the Reservoirs of the Fontaine Bonnet on the St Nazaire -> St Hilaire road follow the Chemin de la Communeaux unsurfaced road downhill for a couple of hundred meters.

No Name: From St Ismier climb to the Tour d'Arces (medieval watch tower) then take the Pierre Grosse trail. After the Pierre Grosse the "No Name" is on the left.

DescriptionClimb from Baveno to Levo and then to the end of the surfaced section of the Via Mottarone.