From Palanfré to Trinità across Mena Pass
- Trail Conditions: On foot
- Interest: Flora, Panorama
- Departure: Palanfré (1,379m)
- Duration: 5 hour/s 15 minutes
- Difficulty Level: E - Hiking (level)
- Difference in height: 850m
From the town square, take the road near the fountain and, after about ten minutes, abandon it turning left and taking the flat mule track entering the beech woodland. After crossing a small stream, you will find another junction: take the right branch, still flat, developing on the grassy slope, where you will have to cross further streams. After Gias Piamian (fountain and panel), the mule track enters the gorge closed on the left by Costa Lausea. The steep trail leads to the entrance of Vallone degli Alberghi, where the slope is limited and hikers will have the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful surrounding landscape characterized by the sharp silhouette of Mt. Frisson.
Go ahead on the main trail following the bottom of the gully (almost always dry, in this stretch), keeping left. Alternating short flat stretches with steep stretches, when you reach a junction (1,700m - 1.10 hours from Palanfré) leave the main branch leading on the left to Alberghi Lake and take on the right a trail climbing with short hairpin bends to a plateau with a "gias" (1,823m) literally covered by the characteristic vegetation.
Beyond the "gias", the trail starts climbing with some bends next to a rocky slope covered with rhododendrons, while if you look down, you will see the small Vilazzo Lake (1,870m). After 15 minutes from the "gias", along the trail you will find "Fontana delle Reine" (1,960m).
Taking a rather steep uphill trail, you are now headed to the summit of a rounded slope where a hut (private) stands out and beyond which you will find lower Frisson lake. Before reaching the lake, the trail divides in two: take the right branch cutting off the slope uphill the lake and reach Passo della Mena (2,201m) on the watershed with the nearby Vallone del Sabbione.
From the Colle, follow the downhill trail crossing the grassy slopes until you reach the bottom of Vallone del Sabbione. Keep right until you reach Gias Valera (1,517m) and Gias d'Ischietto (1,360m). From here, taking the dirt road, go down to Ponte Porcera (1,083m) and, after crossing it, you will reach the small asphalt carriage road leading to Trinità di Entracque.
Remarks:
The difficulty level "E" means itinerary for rather well-trained hikers. In particular, itineraries developing along a trail or a rather visible track, requiring experience and training. Sometimes, they can include short exposed or elementary stretches on rock.
