Sentiero Tanaro: Tappa 9 Ormea - Quarzina

Go up through the Valdarmella to the hamlet of Chionea and take the road, initially paved, which descends to the left looking at the church. Here, after a traverse in a wood, you enter a mule track which, with a flat route, reaches Porcirette Sottane (1094 m). Beyond the hamlet you come to a crossroads, to the right on a flat dirt road which shortly takes you through beautiful chestnut groves to Case Rian. Go down among the houses, admiring two frescoes, and then, on a path with a steep descent, you reach the course of the Chiapino stream, which you cross over an ancient stone bridge. Now you have to go back up the narrow mule track that leads to a flat road, you will soon arrive near the cemetery in the Chioraira hamlet. Go up, cross the Pian della Morra and reach the wide basin of the Colma, where the church of San Giovanni Battista stands (1515, 3.00 hours), near which there is a fountain and whose portico can offer shelter in case of bad weather . From the church you have to follow the road that points to the votive pillar and then with an easy descent, crossing the dirt road that from Quarzina goes up to Pian degli Archetti, until you reach the junction with the path that goes up to the Valcaira refuge and Pizzo di Ormea. Shortly after the crossroads you come across the dirt road again which you follow for a few tens of meters and which you leave for a path which, on the left, descends directly to the Brignacchi houses where the paved road begins, follow it as far as the houses in the Quarzina hamlet (1366 m, 3.40 hours) where the refuge is located where you can rest and refresh yourself.