Pelago MONTEMIGNAIO Heavy Route

Have you read the description of the Montemignaio SOFT route? Well, the HEAVY route adds quite a bit more!! Longer in distance (103 instead of 57) and higher in elevation (2900 instead of 1800).

Admittedly, the approach is easy: a descent to Pontassieve and then a stretch along the Arno upstream, good for about 20 kilometers of warming up...

In Leccio (well known by the ladies who go shopping at The Mall), we turn left and climb up to Reggello. However, a bit further on, it gets a bit more challenging over Saltino to the Abbey of Vallombrosa.

What follows is a shady path from Vallombrosa to Consuma, where you join the route of the SOFT route.

Even now, we descend again along Caiano, but instead of immediately starting the climb to Montemignaio, we first take an interesting detour along Cetica, a detour that takes a little while and includes an unforgettable (steep) section of ascent. Be surprised!

We descend a bit again, enjoy it, because soon the climb to Montemignaio begins, followed by the antennas (often visible along the route) of Monte Secchieta, the highest point of this region (1400 m). Until 1988, there was a ski resort here; now it is more of a starting or finishing point for a hearty mountain hike.

Unfortunately, the daring cyclist must turn back here; fortunately, the asphalt was renewed in 2010, so it is still a wonderful descent...

Congratulations to everyone who conquers this route!!