Above Rifugio Vallata

Cross the dam at Barcis and ride along the south shore until you reach Rifugio Vallata.  Don't turn into the rifugio though, ride past it 10 or 20 meters then turn left on the narrow paved lane.  This is a very cool climb because the road is constantly changing direction and pitch.  It's the opposite of those well- graded stacks of tornanti you see on other climbs: this thing is all over the place.

I was holding my own on the road bike until the junction with the dirt road from Rifugio La Pala at 766 meters, where I went into vapor lock.   I was comfortably hyperventilating when a heard some noise high above, looked up and saw a large John Deere tractor braking down the grade with a trailer full of large faggio logs.  So I'd unwittingly  chosen a good spot for my crisis, as this tractor was as wide as the road (which has no shoulders, only immediate forested slopes). 

Before long I was underway again and made it up to 927 meters, ending on a not too steep stretch of gravel road.  I remembered from MTBing up here a few years ago it gets very steep and rough right after this.  

The descent was dreamy if cold, even with full winter kit (except shoe covers).  Must repeat in late Spring after snowmelt.   

Reflective lake

View east

The steepness 

First time on Michelin Power Endurance,
great traction