Hiking - Bisalta

The classic ascent route to Monte Besimauda, much better known simply as Bisalta. Two-thirds of the route follows dirt roads or trails, often with a steep gradient. The final section, however, is a long and very steep ascent up a slope of boulders and scree, with no defined trail.

It is not a particularly high peak, yet Monte Besimauda - known to everyone as Bisalta - is remarkably famous among mountain enthusiasts, especially in the lower Cuneo area. It perhaps owes its fame to its distinctive forked peak and the way it juts out towards the plain,
making it visible and recognizable from wherever you look at it. That's reason enough to climb it at least once. The view is well worth the effort.

Shortly after the Le Meschie picnic area (1090 m), ignore the dirt track on the right for Stalle Artondù and follow the paved road south-west towards Gias Morteis. The road crosses a concrete bridge, becomes a dirt road, and climbs straight up through the woods. Continue to a three-way junction near Fontana Giraud, where you keep to the dirt road that turns left here and crosses the Rio Grosso over a concrete bridge.
A few dozen meters past the bridge, leave the road and take the trail on the right. The trail makes a long, steep climb through the dense woods, crosses a forestry track, and finally, after a few switchbacks, rejoins the dirt road from Le Meschie that you left earlier.
Follow it to the right and you will soon reach the panoramic Sella Morteis (1450 m, 1:10 hours from Le Meschie).
Ignoring the various trails branching off from the saddle, continue on the dirt road and, at the only hairpin bend, ignore the trail on the right to Stalle Artondù and Fontana Cappa.
On the very long traverse that follows, you will pass Funtana 'd Camilu and then reach the small col near Cima Pravinè. Here, ignore the dirt track on the left to Gias Pravinè sottano (where a shortcut from Sella Morteis arrives) and also leave the dirt road that continues to Gias Pravinè di mezzo.
Instead, climb to the right, on the trail that goes very steeply up the bare, grassy ridge dotted with small rocky outcrops. The strenuous, almost straight trail soon reaches Gias Pravinè soprano (1819 m, 1:10 hours from Sella Morteis), which is situated on a flat shoulder of the steep mountainside.
The trail passes the 'gias' on the right and immediately resumes the climb up the steep ridge until, almost suddenly, you find yourself at the foot of a very long slope of large boulders. The trail ends here, and you continue from boulder to boulder (they are quite stable), guided by the red and white trail markers. From time to time, you will also need to use your hands to keep your balance.
Unfortunately, both the red and white markers and other yellow markers split to indicate different routes up, complicating the ascent slightly, even though they are only a few meters apart.
The challenging ascent effectively ends right on the summit of Monte Besimauda (2231 m, 1:05 hours from Gias Praviné soprano), a mountain much better known simply as Bisalta.