SI L20

From the parking area, take trail 00, which runs alongside the garden of the restaurant, winding along the northern slope of Colle Ospedalaccio. Almost entirely traversing the hillside, it circles the hill until it emerges back onto the ridge amidst the wide pastures of Passo dell'Ospedalaccio at 1280 m, crossing which leads to a forest road. Turning right, we quickly reach the Napoleonic monument, and turning left, we enter a segment shared by trails 00 and 671, which begins to climb out of the forest on the slopes of M. Alto. Soon they split, and the SI continues to the right on 671, which ascends obliquely until Marinella's crest, at 1533 m. On the opposite slope, we enter the upper valley of Secchia, and after a few minutes on a level path amidst lush beech forests and charcoal piles, we emerge into the beautiful glacial basin of Prataccio. Now we traverse the entire plain, and still on trail 671, we begin to ascend through the beeches on the mountain's western slope. Soon, to the left, the Secchia Spring appears amid wet areas, formed by various springs arising from the sandstone layers at the foot of M. Alto. Continuing on trail 671 with a sustained ascent, we make several switchbacks to allow mule passage, eventually leading to Passo di Pietratagliata at 1750 m (0.40-2.20), which, according to legend, was opened by the army of Frederick I Barbarossa in retreat. Now we follow trail 673, which descends steeply and rocky from the pass into the Ghiaccioni basin, quickly entering the forest. A series of switchbacks tries in vain to lighten the descent, which remains relentless until the junction with trail 659. At this point, it's worth making a brief detour to Bivacco dei Ghiaccioni (1410 m) for a refreshing drink of cold water, before returning to the junction and resuming trail 659, which ascends through the beech forest to Lago del Monte Acuto, just a few steps from Rif. Sarzana at 1570 m.