Il Colle del Pas e Cima Pian Ballaur

From the Pian Marchisio Pass (or Pian Marchisa, 1,634 m), follow the dirt road that descends into the wide pastureland of Pian Marchisio and continues for a long stretch on level ground alongside the Ellero Stream.
After two hairpin turns (bypassed on the left by short shortcuts), the dirt road gains elevation, then meets the trail on the right that leads directly to the mountain hut.
After crossing an agricultural and pastoral trail, the path climbs up undulating grassy slopes to the Mondovì - De Giorgio Mountain Hut (1,761 m, 0:45 hours from Porta di Pian Marchisio).
The trail continues behind the refuge and winds uphill through rhododendrons along the spurs of Punta Havis De Giorgio. After rounding the ridge, you enter the small valley of the Rio Ciappa, encountering a short stretch of paved trail that crosses an otherwise marshy area. Upon reaching the base of the rock face at the head of the valley, the trail begins a steep ascent with wide switchbacks that gradually narrow until reaching Porta Biecai (2,004 m, 0:50 hours from the Mondovì Mountain Hut), on the edge of the basin of Lake Biecai (usually dry in summer).
Circle the basin from above, heading to the right, and stay halfway up the slope. Pass a trail on the left leading to the lake and, a short distance further on to the right, the fork leading to Lago delle Moie. After a steep climb up a grassy slope, you reach a grassy plateau and another (barely visible) fork, where you take the left branch, which is less well-defined. You pass at the base of a rocky outcrop shaped by glacial action; beyond it, the trail becomes less visible and climbs through meadows, rhododendrons, and exposed rocks.
You pass the ruins of a mountain hut nestled against a boulder, then continue winding your way along the trail, following the sparse trail markers. The more prominent trail from Porta Sestrera joins from the right, and, turning left, you emerge on the shores of the picturesque Lake Rataira (2,204 m, 0:50 hours from Porta Biecai).
Beyond the lake, you reach the base of the final slope and climb it via a fairly steep traverse that leads to Colle del Pas (2,349 m, 0:25 hours from Lake Rataira).
At the pass, take the clearly visible little trail to the left (east), which follows the ridge perfectly but disappears as soon as the narrow watershed widens significantly. However, a series of stones embedded in the ground, interspersed with sparse trail markers bearing now-faded yellow notches, easily guide you along the broad ridge: among schistose rocks and sparse grass, climb while staying slightly to the left of the ridge. Upon reaching a sort of saddle, where the ridge forks, turn right, continuing to follow the watershed to the flat summit of Cima Pian Ballaur (2,603 m, 0:45 hours from Colle del Pas), where the view stretches in all directions.