Autumn is the season when nature turns into a palette of vivid, saturated colours, and for mountain and MTB enthusiasts like Max Marisoli, it is the ideal time to venture out on new routes. This time, Max decided to explore the gullies of Bagnaria, a fascinating and still little-travelled area, made even more evocative by the low clouds and light drizzle accompanying the landscape.
‘Every bike ride becomes special with the autumn colours and low clouds,’ says Max. The grey sky threatening rain, the intense scent of wet earth, the smell of humus permeating the air: these are the elements that make his mountain tours a unique experience. ‘I love not knowing what I will find along the way. It‘s a challenge, a push to push my limits. I always love to push myself a little further.’
Today‘s route takes him through the folds of the gullies, eroded clay formations that seem almost hand-carved. Max is drawn to these surreal landscapes, resembling papier-mâché or sugar hills, framed by yellow flowers that stand out against the grey of the clouds.
Leaving Bagnaria, Max follows his instincts and decides to take a fork that leads him towards Casa Massone, a stretch of road he already knows. Despite the tall grass covering the trail, he recognises a familiar landmark - a lamppost - that guides him across the field to a small pink chapel. From here, the signposted path splits towards Livelli and Monte Crocetta, but Max, intrigued, follows a small strip of dirt road that leads him to the gullies.
But there is no time to contemplate too much: instinct drives him forward, and so, immersed in a trail that winds its way through colourful plants, butterflies and ungulate tracks, he reaches the junction for Monte Bagnaria and Costa della Mula. This is exactly where he wanted to be.
The low clouds and light rain create an almost mystical atmosphere as Max continues his ascent. He could close the loop and return to Bagnaria via Path 144, but that is not Max‘s style: you never go back! So, he recognises his favourite path, the one that takes him to Costa della Mula. The climb is demanding, both for those who ride it by mountain bike and on foot, but it is worth it to reach his ‘balcony of thoughts,’ a vantage point overlooking Bagnaria and offering a breathtaking 360-degree view.
The effort is rewarded not only by the view, but also by the beauty of the surrounding flora and the signs of wild animals, which seem to be watching the intruders in the woods.
Despite the drizzle pressing down on him, Max decides not to take the easy route. Instead, he opts for a ‘jump’ to the Madonna dell‘Endurista in Sagliano, a magical place that reminds him of the forests of northern Europe. ‘It is the navel of the Oltrepò,’ says Max, ’a fairy place that deserves a quick prayer before setting off again.’ From here, the climb becomes even tougher, with loose and messy stones, similar to the rough paths of the Ligurian hinterland.
Once he has overcome this challenge, Max arrives at Sagliano, a crossroads of paths, from where he continues towards the cemetery to take a dirt road that leads him back down between fields and farmsteads. Along the way, he also spots a few roe deer crossing the path, a small gift from nature that completes the adventure.
After the descent, Max reaches Crenna, where a stop at the Camerini bar for a beer or a coffee becomes the closing ritual of each tour. From there, he heads towards the greenway, the cycle path that takes him back to Bagnaria.
And so, amidst low clouds, light rain, gullies and nature trails, another memorable adventure comes to an end. Max‘s motto remains: ‘Turn that passes you by,’ an invitation to all hiking and MTB lovers to never stop, to explore and embrace each new adventure with passion and curiosity.
