Between monte Tamaro (1962 masl) and monte Lema (1621 masl), in Ticino, there is a very famous path that goes along the crest between the Malcantone and the valle Veddasca. Half way of this path, there is the monte Gradiccioli (1935 masl), which can either be climbed or walked on the side. I tried 2 years ago to climb it with the trial motorbike, but it is very steep and rocky and moreover you are on a crest of the mountain, so a mistake can lead to fatal consequences.
After the traditional launch of Easter, it was such a beautiful day that I decided that it was the right day for try the challange. The weather was amazing, warm and very clear, so the views from up there would have been amazing. At 5 o'clock I was back home and I started getting ready. On the way back home I realized that the wind was increasing and that the insects where flying very low, so the first thing that I've done at home, was checking the weather forecast. Bad news, in 1 hour big raining clouds would have come down from north. I didn't care, I had already accepted the challange.
I got the bike ready, I pumped the tyres at 1 bar because I would have reached the bottom of the mountain by roads and easy paths.
I went up the Valle della Magliasina till the deviation for the Val Agario, where the challange was starting:
I let the air flowing out of the tyres to the right pressure and I started the climb. I had already ridden on this path but I was not remembering it at all: it was full of leaves on the ground and the path was always on the side of very steep slopes. Dangereous but not difficult.
The wind speed increased more, now it was already around 6 o'clock, so the rain was coming.
I've reached alpe Nisciora and I've followed the side of the Gradiccioli till Alpe Agario, where I went up to the crest of the Tamaro-Lema. There is an old military construction over there where there is the possibility to get some food and drinks (Yes, even beer!). I had a tea and I relaxed myself because I was on the crest and I could see very well that no clouds were coming...no rain!
Kind of sad because near Cannobio, in Italy, there was a fire and there were some helicopters going on and back throwing water on the fire.
The crest of the Tamaro-Lema, amazing colors. On the back you can see the summit of the Gradiccioli
Then I reached the intersection (around 1730 masl) or climbing the Gradiccioli or passing by the side. I went up, of course. I was believing on myself, I wanted to reach the summit at any cost.
I started riding on the crest which was alway getting smaller and steeper, on the path there were more rocks than dirt, even big ones which required some balance and full throttle for climbing them.
I've reached the point where I had given up 2 years ago. A pictures was a must:
Going by the side was impossible as the there is no grip on grass and actually it is very dangerous, because falling it means sliding down a lot of meters before being able to stop.
But this time I went on, I kept riding, in some points I had to go by the side of the bike because I was really afraid of falling. Then after climbing some rocky parts, I reached this point and I realized that the challange would have been completed:
Reached the summit, the bike was very happy and I was feeling invincible. A couple of Braaaps for commemorating the achievement. Blue smoke on the top of Gradiccioli for the first time ever.
The wind was very strong up there, I had bought a beer for celebrating the moment, but I decided to first going back down to the military building in order to still have 101% control of my skills.
On the crest Tamaro-Lema I celebrated my achievement by wheeling the bike while an helicopter was passing up on my side.
Kind of this feeling:
Differents bikes and different speeds, of course.
It has been a short and nice ride and I'm impressed on how my riding skills improved in the last two years. Stay tuned for more soon!
