Trail no. 33: Passo delle Lame - Passo della Spingarda

Here, you cross the broad ridge of Monte Aiona (1701 m), where the Alta Via reaches the highest altitude along the Apennine chain. There’s nothing particularly difficult in the climb or descent of Monte Aiona, but it’s necessary to remember that the mist can rise quite suddenly,out of the blue, making one lose all sense of direction. Thanks to the nature of this rock, the Aiona plateau is an area with strange magnetic forces making a compass totally useless. Should you come across mist or fog, you are therefore advised to only follow the sign–posting, which is clear and frequent for this reason. In winter, in the presence of snow and ice, it is advisable not to take this trail unless you are expert excursionists equipped with rampons and ice axes.