With the gondola, we reached almost 1700 m, but with the clear skies the temperature was nevertheless soaring. Our original plan was to ascend to the French side of the border and proceed along the trail to Col de la Perle and even beyond. Because this summer’s record heatwave, we had to modify both the length and climb of the hike.

We climbed along a well-marked trail, first along ski runs then a good path to Lake Terrasole, a popular spot for picnic etc. We ascended a bit more, heading southwest outside of the ski runs before reaching a mountain restaurant called Capanna Niculin, closed for summer.

The next crossroads was above us. It was also the upper station of a chair lift running from Limone 1400. The adjacent restaurant Baita 2000 was open. The Upper Salt Road (Alta Via del Sale) ran here, and the day was busy. We were able to hike a bit along a path before joining the dusty dirt track shared by 4X4s, motorcycles, MTBs and hikers. We reached the Campanin Pass (2142 m), still on the Italian side. We exited the dirt road, and hiked southwest to the nearby border where we ascended to Cime du Bec Roux (2214 m) with a cross overlooking Limone. 

We decided to make this our turning point, and returned to the Bottero Gondola, taking some shortcuts along the ski runs.