Squame Adventure Club @Augh! Umbriabikepacking 2025
Two days under the Umbrian sun, along dirt roads, woods, and hidden villages. We returned from an adventure that left us with the dust of the dirt roads and the smiles of those who shared something authentic.
Augh! is more than an event: it's a collective ritual, an invitation to discover Umbria on two wheels, pedaling along challenging yet beautiful trails, traversing sun-baked hills and villages that seem suspended in time.
On the first day, we set out from Foligno, and after a few kilometers, the landscape changes. The roads become gravel, the gradients begin to take their toll, and around us, the rolling hills of the Umbria-Marche Apennines open up, with their uninterrupted, rolling contours. We pass through cultivated fields, rows of olive trees, and patches of woodland where the light barely filters through the branches. In the distance, we glimpse isolated parish churches and small hamlets nestled on the ridges. We pedal at high altitude, along panoramic ridges that offer sweeping, peaceful views, until we reach the village set up at 900 meters above sea level.
Here we pitch our tents, settle in, and sit down for a dinner of delicious, traditional produce, lovingly prepared by the organizers. It's a moment of genuine sharing among those who've put in the same effort. At the end of the evening, the DJ set kicks in, and the tiredness melts away in a celebration that brings together smiles, raised glasses, and the desire to stay a little longer.
The trails, Peyote and Calumet, are both demanding.
Peyote covers 180 km with 4,400 meters of elevation gain: technical and challenging, with steep climbs, singletrack sections, rocky surfaces and portage sections.
Calumet, 150 km and 3300 meters of altitude difference, is smoother, but not for this simple, with long stretches on dirt roads and continuous ups and downs that give no respite.
The tracks were delivered to us impeccably: already divided into two days, neat and clear. Along with the tracks, a detailed roadmap with precise indications of water points, refreshment points, mileage, and elevation gain accompanied us throughout the experience. Even in the most remote and wild sections, we always knew where we were and what to expect. This care was palpable and made everything more peaceful, even in the heart of such authentic and isolated territories.
And then the refreshment stands. Not just wayside stops, but true feasts along the route. Tables set with almost exaggerated care, in the best sense of the word: cheeses, cured meats, vegetarian dishes, fruit, iced drinks, draft beer. It felt like a wedding buffet: rich, varied, generous. The temptation was to stay there all day, sitting in the shade, recounting the stage between bites.
Along the way, between climbs and descents, we passed villages where time seemed to have stood still. Spello, with its flower-filled alleys and Roman walls, welcomed us in silence. Rasiglia, the "Venice of Umbria," refreshed us with its canals and spring water flowing between stone houses and little bridges. Places you won't forget, especially when you reach them with real effort in your legs.
Some of us were bikepacking for the first time. It was anything but a trivial experience, especially on such demanding trails and on such hot days.
But maybe that's exactly why it was all so intense. We pedaled, ate, slept, and worked hard together.
Sunday morning, between tired legs and tents to pack, the start was slower, quieter. But the first climb was enough to get us back into the swing of things. The return to Foligno was quiet and relaxed, with the fatigue slowly giving way to the satisfaction of what we had experienced.
Augh! That was a confirmation.
That this is the way we want to experience the bike.
That Italy is full of territories waiting to be discovered, far from the usual routes.
That pedaling together, sleeping under the same sky, and sharing the dust of the roads is what fuels our passion.
Thanks to Umbria Bikepacking for welcoming and guiding us, and for the energy and care you dedicated to us.
We take home the climbs, the sweat, the shared beers, and the desire to return. Always with the same spirit.
Words: Fabio Conti - Photographs: Andrea Pialorsi
