Prof. Bertinetto Bartolomeo Davide

lunedì 16 giugno 2025

Travel Trail of 40.2km in Brianza – From Lake Pusiano to the Stepped Pyramids of Montevecchia – Weekly Single-Workout Technique

While waiting to 'expand' my Travel Trail adventures abroad with the Weekly Single-Workout Technique, I propose this beautiful route in Lombardy...

Monday, 03-03-2025. I present to you this new Travel Trail-style walking adventure in Brianza, starting from Lake Pusiano (a satellite of Lake Como) to reach the "stepped earth pyramids" in the Montevecchia park. They are said to be the only ones of their kind in Europe, though many earthen mounds with burial chambers exist in northern countries. It is unclear whether these Lombard pyramids are truly pyramids or if they served a religious function in the distant past. However, they are fascinating, and I must say they sparked my curiosity so much that I had to go there myself to verify their authenticity firsthand!

I will write about my impressions later; for now, let's talk about the journey...

Wake-up call at 4:00 AM, though I actually rolled around in bed for a few extra minutes—it's been months since I finished my osteopathic studies, and I've lost the habit of early morning wake-ups.

Still, by 4:20 AM, I was already up and preparing the last few details, having breakfast, and jumping into the car for the trip to Lake Pusiano (the starting point). The drive included my usual stops at Autogrill, which I love. It took quite a long time, mainly due to the heavy traffic on the highway around Milan—I was crawling at a snail’s pace! Once the traffic jam cleared, I headed toward Brianza, where I spent another hour searching for a free parking spot near the planned route.

A quick on-foot survey of the first kilometer to align with the GPS itinerary, then back to the car to change into my sports gear. Changing in the car is always a struggle, and of course, someone always walks by at that exact moment! In the end, I just ignore it and carry on.

I set off from the parking lot at 9:50 AM near Casletto, following the lake's edge.

I then ventured into the small urban centers of Rogeno, Costa Masnaga, Borzago, Borzano, Sirtori, Lissolo (where the highest peak reaches 522m above sea level), and many more... The route was a continuous up and down across several moderately elevated hills. However, adding up the elevation gains, the total reached 890m of positive elevation—and just as much in negative elevation!

Overall, it was a smooth route, entirely on asphalt. In this Travel Trail, the various towns seemed to be connected by a dense network of secondary roads. In fact, I only had to cross the train tracks once and later a busy main road—fortunately, there was an underpass!

Once deep into Montevecchia Park, I began observing carefully, trying to spot these curious "stepped pyramids" from a distance. However, I couldn't make them out until I got much closer!

At one point, near the entrance of the path leading to the middle pyramid, I noticed a raised formation emerging among the cultivated fields. From afar, it truly resembled a real square-based pyramid with a triangular peak! The view from this spot was absolutely magnificent

However, as I climbed the path, I began to notice endless cultivated fields all around, each with their own terraces still used today for agricultural purposes.

Getting even closer, I saw that there were no substantial differences between the terraces of this supposed pyramid and those still actively used! It quickly became clear to me that this is not a true pyramid, as one might mistakenly assume by comparing it to Egyptian pyramids.

Rather, it may have been partially "built" by reshaping the pre-existing hill, modified over time by past agricultural communities. However, aside from its shape, it does not differ from the surrounding terraces located further down the valley.

In 2001, an architect—credited with bringing them to light—noticed this peculiarity and managed to clear one of them from the overgrowth.

Thus, the shape we see today, with its respective earthen terraces, emerged. However, this demonstrates that it was used for cultivation rather than for burial purposes, unlike the African pyramids (in fact, the true purpose of the Egyptian ones remains a mystery to this day) or the mounds found in Northern Europe, which contain inner chambers.

Here, in all likelihood, if excavation were carried out, I believe no internal chambers would be found!

Apart from the surprise of not finding any real pyramid comparable to the famous Egyptian ones, it was still a wonderful walking adventure—full of discoveries in Brianza, both on the way there and back.

I also note that these pyramids have an additional curiosity: their position aligns in all three cases, just like the African ones symbolizing the sword of the Orion Constellation. This is certainly an intriguing detail, though in this case, it may very well be just a rare coincidence!

In 7 hours and 37 minutes, I completed this walking adventure, covering 40.2 km with 890 meters of elevation gain. I didn't feel tired at the end, but I must admit that during the return drive, at one point, I had to make an unplanned Autogrill stop because the early 4:00 AM wake-up was finally catching up with me!

Perhaps on another occasion, I will challenge myself with a trek around the perimeter of the small lakes in this beautiful area near Lake Como.

It's a fairytale-like place that, with its rolling hills—aside from the lakes—closely resembles the Roero of Alba, a region I came to know well during my tenure as a professor a few years ago.

To conclude, I note that this walking adventure was carried out thanks to the Weekly Single-Workout Strategy, explained in the book published by Fusta Editore, UltraTrail con il Monoallenamento, which I authored.

LIVE YouTube Video:

Mappa GPS dal sito Komot:

https://www.komoot.com/it-it/tour/2079159122

domenica 15 giugno 2025

Envie - Busca, solo walking adventure at the alabaster quarries - Weekly Single-Training Technique

A few weeks ago, I heard about this unique place, the alabaster quarries in Busca, and over time, my curiosity grew immensely. Taking advantage of the holiday break, I finally brought the adventure to life! Once again, everything was carried out using the Weekly Single-Training Technique: http://www.bertinettobartolomeodavide.it/ultratrail/index.html.

I'm not sure why, but Busca seems to be a recurring place in my life—and now I'm here to share this incredible walking adventure.

I set off leisurely on the morning of December 30, 2024—I was on the road outside my house by 9:30, so not particularly early. However, this was exactly what I had planned, considering the nightly frosts that are common in the Envie area. The temperature was likely a few degrees below zero, but the sun was beginning to rise, promising to warm up the day soon.

I reached Saluzzo shortly before 11:00, though the stretch near the Po bridge after Revello always adds quite a few kilometers to my journey, as I have to follow the river for a long distance before reconnecting with the road. This results in a significant loss of kilometers—at that point, I might have already entered the municipality of Saluzzo, but that’s just the way things are.

In any case, I realized too late that the Po was dry, meaning I could have waded across—but by then, the decision was already made!

I passed through Saluzzo fairly quickly and stopped by my school for a quick selfie in front of the gym entrance, where I teach my students. It's always great to reconnect with work—especially since it's something I genuinely love.

Perhaps I've been fortunate in life, as I’ve always pursued activities that fully fulfill me. For me, it's more than just a profession—it's a true calling.

Returning to the journey, I can say that I took the bike path to pass through Saluzzo, Manta, and Verzuolo. Then, I followed the road toward Piasco. The Piasco stretch felt endless, not due to fatigue, but purely because of its long distance—I hadn’t remembered that crossing it on foot would take so much time!

Upon reaching the roundabout, I headed toward Rossana, taking the road that passes in front of the Bitron company. For several kilometers, there were houses on one side and hills to my left, as I ascended into Valle Varaita.

Keeping an eye out, I searched for a bar before tackling the climb toward Busca, and fortunately, one appeared. A quick coffee break, though I chose to sit at the table rather than stand, and then I shouldered my backpack once more, continuing along the sidewalk and later back onto the roadside, finally reaching the entrance of the anticipated climb.

A gentle climb for a few kilometers, with many cyclists crossing my path—it was understandable, given the beautiful weather. In fact, the temperature had risen enough that I had already removed my gloves and headband back in Verzuolo—even rolling up my sleeves to the elbows!

At the top of the colletta, I got 'lost' via Eremo, completely absorbed in the scenery, to the point that I stopped paying attention to the GPS directions on my Fenix. As a result, I descended for several kilometers before realizing my mistake!

In fact, my watch kept sounding alerts, but my thoughts at the time drowned out every warning

I turned back and climbed up toward Via Eremo, following the GPS directions onto the dirt path through the woods. I ventured along a desolate trail through the thicket for about 500 meters, and then—there it was, the first quarry!

It was stunning, but I chose not to enter, wanting instead to enjoy the warmth of the sun for a 10-minute snack break. At 14:41, I gazed into the winding cavity, stripped of alabaster, no more than 1.5 meters wide, with walls rising steeply—I only peeked inside, but I estimate it reached perhaps 30 meters deep.

I couldn’t help but think about the hazards of that area—if anything had disturbed the ground above, it could have sent rocks tumbling down. At the same time, I reflected on the element of discovery—had I not found the quarry immediately, I might have approached it from above and stumbled into that dangerous crevice in the terrain!

If anyone decides to visit, they should exercise maximum caution!

I’m not quite sure about the current state of the area, as it appears abandoned, with vegetation slowly overtaking the site. It’s unclear whether these quarries are privately owned or municipal, since I didn’t find any signs or access restrictions from the direction I entered. However, I believe it would be wise to mark and regulate access, allowing entry only under the guidance of a professional.

There are several veins, though I only came across the first one I found—especially since it’s advisable to wear a helmet in that area, so I chose to hold back.

I think about how many artists must have been inspired by these now-barren yet fascinating quarries, once filled with precious alabaster that shaped remarkable works of art in various churches—even in faraway places. Perhaps the most famous example is the Basilica of Superga.

Today, we witness a vanished wealth, yet it leaves behind a breathtaking landscape reminiscent of the Grand Canyon. I once read somewhere that Busca alabaster was so highly valued in the past that its patterns were replicated on wooden panels, making it affordable for a wider audience.

I met other visitors in that area while descending, so I took the opportunity to gather some information about the best route toward Busca. With that, I was ready to head down and complete the adventure, reaching the town center at 15:29.

A moderate walking route, considering it was 'only' 38 km, covered in 5 hours and 57 minutes, with a very light elevation gain, except for the Rossana colletta section.

Update (17-01-2025): I later discovered that there’s a great online description, complete with GPS track and hiking details, which I’m sharing here: http://www.museoappunti.it/il-museo/appunti-di-geologia/alabastro-di-busca.

ALMOST FORGOT—HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!

P.S. If you get the chance, check out my website: www.bertinettobartolomeodavide.it or visit my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Bertinetto.BartolomeoDavide76.

Prof. Bertinetto Bartolomeo Davide
Osteopath D.O. - Iridologist - Sports Trainer at Any Level

VIDEO LIVE ADVENTURE:

An outing achieved with the mind, 29km from Boves (San Giacomo), Bisalta, Limone P.te and back - Weekly Single-Training Technique.

I had been planning this walking adventure between Boves (San Giacomo), Bisalta, Limone P.te, and back for several months. However, due to my studies, I wasn’t able to fit it into my July schedule, so it had to be postponed.

In July 2024, I intended to complete it using a hybrid bicycle/ultratrail technique, but things turned out differently because of the final commitments related to my osteopathy training. Now, though, the hardest part is done—next weekend, I will finally complete these six years by defending my thesis!

But let's focus on today, Sunday, December 1, 2024, and talk about this beautiful route, undertaken after about five months of training hiatus

Everything was accomplished solely through mental strength, rather than recent training sessions. In fact, this walking achievement is the result of a training approach focused on both ultra and non-ultra distances over a couple of decades, with preparation ensured by the Weekly Single-Training Technique for ultratrail.

It is fascinating, through this walking journey, to discover how deeply ingrained one's preparation can be thanks to the Weekly Single-Training Technique—especially when practiced for nearly two decades in the world of Ultra-Distances. Let's delve into the details...

I deliberately started late: I arrived at the location (San Giacomo di Boves) at 10:18 in the morning, considering the freezing temperature of the area and the towering peaks nearby, which cast a shadow that struggled to fade.

Step by step, I gained altitude towards Bisalta, and the first rays of sunlight began to warm me. At the first opportunity, I removed both my gloves and the headband.

I reached the watershed, just above Rifugio Peveragno (or at least I believe that's its name, as I've always found it closed). Once there, I treated myself to my first snack, sitting on the grass of a sunlit meadow. The view from that spot was breathtaking!

Then began a long descent through trails covered in leaves, with stones underneath in some sections, making slipping quite easy. At times, I lost my way—not due to my new GPS watch, the Fenix 7, but because I had mapped out the GPX route rather roughly on my computer.

Despite that, I was guided towards my destination with remarkable accuracy. In fact, I used WikiLoc as additional support only when I had doubts about the actual trail.

I didn't encounter many people—just three hikers along the entire route, despite a few cars being parked at the starting point.

At higher altitudes, the temperature was perfect, and at times, I even felt sweaty. On several occasions, I improvised various snacks. I moved at a steady and relaxed pace, also to avoid exhausting myself, as my physical condition, as mentioned earlier, is quite fragile at the moment.

However, I didn't experience any moments of weakness and even managed to complete the return journey faster than the ascent!

Some climbs, especially on the way back, felt endless. However, the long descents that followed were just as exhausting. I believe this is due to my overall lack of preparation at the moment, given my upcoming thesis defense.

I hope to get back on track soon and resume training regularly with the Weekly Single-Training Technique, just as I did a few years ago. I wouldn’t classify this trail run as hiking, since I ran on the descents and flat sections, walking only on the climbs.

I was slow, but this was also an experiment to assess my performance after a long break—a confirmation of what I have always maintained about the Weekly Single-Training Technique, as it trains you for infrequent activity (sometimes very infrequent!).

After passing through the many hamlets hidden within dense forests, I must say the trail above Vernante towards Limone truly feels like stepping back in time. These isolated and distinctive places evoke visions of a bygone era, where life was built on pure self-sufficiency. As I mention in my LIVE YouTube video (which runs parallel to this text), living this way would still be possible today—provided one embraces a simple lifestyle. You can view the entire route with the GPS track available on WikiLoc.

At a certain point, I realized it was getting late, and with some reluctance, I had to leave that beautiful trail behind, shifting onto the main road to reach my destination quickly. That said, I haven’t abandoned the idea of the hybrid Bike/Trail activity I mentioned earlier—I plan to repeat it fully next time, possibly in summer 2025.

I then ran a few kilometers along a steady, gentle ascent leading into the town of Limone, following the highway. Upon reaching the central square, I took a moment to look around, reminiscing about past years when I was ready to compete in various editions of the famous Cromagnon race.

I also recall a particular year—it might have been 2015—when I didn’t take part in the race but was there as a representative for Fusta Editore, temporarily promoting my book to the athletes present.

At some point, I made my way towards the bar for a coffee, a habit that has now become a ritual in every route I take.

There was beautiful sunshine in Limone, though it felt a bit strange to see that charming mountain town completely devoid of snow on the first day of December.

A few minutes later, I began the return journey (by then, I had covered just over 14.5 km), following exactly the same route: the main road, then the trail through the abandoned hamlets scattered along the path from Limone to Vernante, and finally the endless climb back up towards Bisalta.

Around 16:30, I was once again at the watershed, above Rifugio Peveragno. By that time, the ground was completely frozen, with darkness approaching.

I took advantage of the final stretch before the watershed to have one last snack, as hunger was becoming overwhelming.

A long descent on the final section of the trail—covered in leaves with hidden stones underneath (just like the climb)—required great caution to avoid slipping.

By 17:00, it was completely dark, so I switched on my LED headlamp, along with the Garmin’s built-in LED light, to ensure maximum visibility and prevent any falls or sprains (which, fortunately, didn’t happen). I must say, the light on the watch is incredibly bright and incredibly useful!

I arrived at my car around 17:30, seeing my breath turn to vapor in the freezing air—I'm certain the temperature was below zero, especially since the entire ground sparkled with ice crystals.

I must add that my new Garmin watch performed very well, just as my previous model from the same brand did. However, it was a huge relief not to worry about the battery running out—thanks to the solar panel integrated into the display!

This walking adventure was highly rewarding, both as an opportunity to explore my actual capabilities during a period of no training and as a chance to restart my outings, with the goal of undertaking more in the near future."

This keeps the essence of your reflections while ensuring clarity in English. Let me know if you'd like any refinements!

In the end, it was more than 29.5 km, with a total elevation gain of 3,600 m, completed in 7 hours and 26 minutes. I'm satisfied, as this marks a fresh starting point for resuming training with ease—laying the foundation for future Trail and Ultra-Trail adventures ahead.

A small unfortunate twist to wrap things up: as I was leaving the parking area, I realized I had a flat tire. That moment brought on immense exhaustion, given the demanding journey I had just completed.

However, to get home, I had to mount the spare tire, which—naturally—was completely deflated, as it had never been used. Thankfully, a kind herdsman was ready with a compressor to help. So, I found myself forced to work in the freezing cold and pitch darkness of the mountains—something that had never happened to me after a walking journey before.

VIDEO LIVE BY YOUTUBE:

PERCORSO GPS BY WIKILOC:

https://it.wikiloc.com/percorsi-escursionismo/san-giacomo-di-boves-bisalta-limone-e-ritorno-193609155

Hiking excursion from Rifugio Melezé (Bellino) to Bivacco Carmagnola (Maira Valley border) - Weekly single-training technique.

Today(14-06-2025), I finally embarked on a hiking adventure that I had been planning for several weeks but was forced to postpone until the snow melted, given that the highest altitude reached was nearly 2,850 meters!

The original idea was to complete the entire route from Rifugio Melezé to Acceglio (Viviere), but there remained the issue of retrieving the car, which would have meant a tedious return along the same path for many kilometers.

During the night (with little to no sleep!), I came up with the idea of splitting the journey and heading to the highest planned altitude to reach the beautiful Bivacco Carmagnola. After reaching this intermediate stop, I returned to my car. I will tackle the other part of the route from Acceglio to Bivacco Carmagnola on the next suitable occasion.

As I already mentioned during the adventure between Pian Muné and Sant’Anna, these routes will be part of a broader plan that I am gradually building… But I won’t reveal anything yet, as I’m waiting for all the trails to be completed to create one great itinerary!

I set off from Rifugio Melezé at 7:16 and followed the gentle incline to Sant’Anna di Bellino on asphalt. From there, the road turned into a passable dirt mule track. Though almost immediately, I took the wrong direction—perhaps due to the narrow valley, my Garmin acted up. After about fifteen minutes heading the wrong way (toward Rocca Senghi), a passerby pointed me toward the correct route...

I continued through flat pastures with a steady ascent. At a certain point, however, after passing Pian Ceiol and heading toward Le Barricate, the incline became truly demanding! The path runs alongside a rushing stream, a tributary of the Varaita di Bellino. Here, the trail follows the stone-lined edge, right beside some small waterfalls. Crossing the water requires great caution, as there are a few beams just 20 cm wide—one must step carefully, one foot in front of the other... or risk an unfortunate plunge into the water!

Moving forward, a new plateau opens up, with high-altitude pastures and a few old mountain huts—perhaps abandoned, but not in terrible condition. I wonder what it must be like to live up there, so far from everything! Grange dell’Autaret area.

There was no snow, but as I ascended toward 2,800 meters, I encountered many rocky patches mixed with scree. Some required caution, as small streams flowed beneath them, their murmuring sound constantly audible.

The scree consisted of thin fragments that slipped away underfoot, further complicated by the high presence of water on the ground, which made everything slick.

As I approached the watershed ridge, I started to glimpse a few structures. The most intriguing one, which I didn’t visit, was a large reinforced concrete bunker—a remnant of the war. Then, a clearly visible meteorological antenna and several scattered stone structures nearby.

From the Bellino side, there were no visible signs indicating the presence of the bivouac… which was quite alarming! However, once I reached the ridge and followed the markings toward the summit (La Colletta near Monte Faraut, trail S2), just a little further ahead, the bivouac appeared in all its glory!

At first glance, it seemed small, but once inside, the perception changed—it was entirely made of wood, with several bunk beds, a radio area, solar-powered electricity, some food supplies, various tools, and more. A place open to all, yet one that demands great respect from those passing through, as keeping it intact is essential!

After completing the exploration at an altitude of 2,840 meters, around 10:10 AM, I began the descent back. On the rocky terrain, I improvised, taking a more direct route compared to the ascent, especially since the path was only partially visible due to patches of snow.

It’s incredible how the return journey, partly because of the downhill slope and partly due to the eagerness to get back, is always noticeably faster than the ascent!

As the morning progressed, I started crossing paths with hikers making their way up while I was descending. The heat was becoming noticeable, though during the climb, I had occasionally encountered a light drizzle that had provided some refreshing relief.

I reached Rifugio Melezé just before noon, covering a total distance of 17.66 km in 4 hours and 28 minutes. A customary post-hike coffee at the refuge, a quick chat with the host, and then back home by car.

As is my custom, this adventure was prepared using the Weekly Single-Training Technique. Although it didn’t fully align with a trail-running style—except for the downhill running—I still completed the route in a hiking mode, following the principle of a single weekly training session, as this method teaches, to protect the joints and support recovery.

Video Live Youtube of adventure: