The Ormea Balcony: from Chioraira to Valdarmella

Introduction

La Balconata di Ormea: Stage from Chioraira to Valdarmella, with descent into the heart-shaped village

Having the availability of two cars, you leave the first in Ormea and with the second you reach the remote hamlet of Chioraira. In this way, you can do a third, fairly easy stretch of the famous Balconata d'Ormea (a route of around 40 km at an average altitude of 1,200 m).

Description

In this case, it is not a long path, Chioraira - (with several monumental beech trees) Chionea  - Valdarmella, to which, however, you must add, once you have left the Balconata, the not-so-short stretch down to Ormea, with the path partly passing close to the Armella stream, through beautiful woods. Just before reaching the village, 10 minutes from Ormea, on the left is the Altramella river park, with some tables and benches near the stream under the cool shade of trees.
The day continued and ended with polenta Saracena della Val Tanaro... it's a typical dish only found in this valley (a pounded mixture of potatoes, wheat flour and buckwheat, seasoned with cream, leeks and mushrooms) after last year's break, the polenta is again that of the Garessio alpini, which is excellent value for money (6 Euro polenta with sausage), for a product that is made in the valley anyway...
Return to Genoa late in the evening; covered about 335 km in the day - fuel consumption on a mixed track: 4.8ltX100km !
All in all: Complete and very rewarding day. As with the other stages, already covered previously, we chose the development from west to east (easier to manage due to the discourse of the 2 cars, but which involves the lack of specific reports because always found in the opposite direction ...   Fair weather, but a little 'hot (however not excessive compared to that present in Genoa ...), Dif. T/E  -  total approx. 3h/3h30  -  displ. +200m -530m

Photo pdf file with various other info is at the link:
http://www.cralgalliera.altervista.org/BalconataOrmea018.pdf

Other 2018 outings:
http://cralgalliera.altervista.org/other2018.htm
http://cralgalliera.altervista.org/anno2018.htm

Trips to the Tanaro Valley and surrounding areas in the years
http://www.cralgalliera.altervista.org/GiteValTanaro.htm

Pdf photos and individual shots of the first lap on the Balconata (2014 - east side of the track), on the corresponding lines (6th and 7th) of the link
http://www.cralgalliera.altervista.org/anno2014.htm

Pdf photos and individual shots of the second lap on the Balconata (2016 - west side of the track), on the corresponding lines (11th) of the link
http://www.cralgalliera.altervista.org/altre2016.htm

Special Val Tanaro:
http://www.cralgalliera.altervista.org/49.pdf

NB: in case of an excursion, always check with FIE, Cai, eventual Park Authority or other Institutions, pro loco, etc., that there have been no changes that have increased the difficulties! No liability is accepted. The present text is purely indicative and not exhaustive.

Info Hiking Section Cral Galliera:  http://www.cralgalliera.altervista.org/esc.htm
trips 2018 at link:  http://www.cralgalliera.altervista.org/gite2018.pdf

General information

Route:
Signposts: trails with  Cai markings
Type of route:traverse
Recommended period: April, May, June, September, October
Exposure to the sun:
Objective Danger:
Exposed Trails:
Useful Equipment: