Passo del Lucese
I happened to find this little pass on the map, while
looking for a day loop possibility over the better known Passo
del Vestito. But then on the road, I couldn't find,
until a sign appeared in front of my face saying "Passo
del Lucese - this way" in Italian of course. I think
this would be one road I would ride a lot if I happened to
live here.
 |
1.(10m,00.0km)
START-END WEST: Capezzano Pianore: jctSR439 - Via
Italica
2.(174m,12.0km) profile turns left onto small road
from SP1
3.(547m,18.3km) turnoff to right goes to various small
villages and the valley
4.(580m,20.0km) TOP: point slightly before Passo Del
Lucese; pass elevation is 558m
5.(80m,33.8km) START-END WEST: SP32 terminates onto
SP2, south of Borgo a Mozzano |
Approaches
From West. The approach starts several
kms west of Camaiore, where a sign directs Lucca bound traffic
to the right. This is counter intuitive, but going to the left
leads to many dead ends in the mountains (according to my
limited experience)
The road to the right climbs up the lower hills of the Apuane
ridge, apparently heading for a low gap containing a group of
houses. Traffic here is still almost as heavy as on the
unpleasant SS1 in the valley. But climbing further, a sign in
the forest comes to the rescue: "Passo del Lucese"
it reads, and directs those that are interested up a very narrow
tunnel through thick brush forest up the hill. The turns and
switchbacks seem to take no end, even if they are all are very
short, tight and narrow.
It seems, that in this area every climb is under the scenic ban
of some hilltown, and this little pass is no exception. The view
here is more gentle and isolated than on the rugged Passo
del Vestito. Somewhere on a mildly rounded hill, between the
road and the important ancient town of Lucca, covering the top
of a rounded hill perfectly like a tablecloth, Migliano is
decked out. First it is at eyelevel, then the pass climbs above
it, and the valley becomes visible in the background. The eyes
look for big brother Lucca in the distance, but can't find it -
probably too hazy. The road traverses further along the edge of
the rounded hill. Before the summit is reached another appealing
tiny road leaves to the right direction Lucca. Curving through
the forest, and keeping the pass top in sight on the GPS on the
handlebar, the road seems to make very little progress to get to
it. Then finally a group of modern houses in the woods line the
road. The sign Passol de Lucese" is bigger than a pass
sign. It seems Passo de Lucese is also the name of a town.
From East. When I look at my
Belletti 1:300000 road map, there seems to be some confusion
which way this pass descends. It looks like there are options to
stay on the west side of the ridge, as wells as a descend
towards the valley of the Serchio. However, in reality most of
the descent happens before that junction. It happens in the form
of closely spaced switchbacks in dense forest.
Then in Convale, a junction with a crossing road would merit
more exploration, that I think would be very pleasant riding and
according to the map would yield much more climbing than this
pass (towards north along the Apuane ridge). This profile
descends straight as an arrow towards the valley of the river
Serchio, and meets it near Borgo a Mozzano.
A dayride with this point as intermediate summit is
on page: Passo del Vestito

|