Monthly Archives: September 2015

September 3rd

Itinerary:  Brusio – Cavalone – Pescia bassa – Col d’Anzana (2224 m) – Lughina – Campocologno
Distance: 23,6 km (6 km along the frontier)
Walking time:  6 hours 20 minutes (plus 40 minutes for the stops)
Vertical distance:  1510 m uphill; 1730 m downhill

I left the car at Brusio station and took a path (unmarked but shown on the maps) that traversed up to the road leading to Cavalone.  It was very overgrown in places and I lost time working my way through brambles.  But the old path continued and could be followed quite easily.  In Cavalone, after about 90 minutes, I asked a 73-year old lady whether there was a bar in the village.  No there wasn’t, but she would make me some coffee!  I accepted gladly and we chatted for some minutes.  I mentioned the “sentiero brutto” I had just taken and was told off because it was now dangerous and should not be used.  She told the usual story of young people no longer wanting to work in the fields or even live in the mountain villages.

I had decided to turn back at 2 p.m. and this allowed me to reach the Col d’Anzana on the border, from where a very nice path and mountain bîke track led down just on the Italian side of the border.  Later, on a steep forest path on the Swiss side, there were many mushrooms everywhere; the rain of the last few days must have allowed them to grow in excellent conditions.  Campocologno is the first village in Switzerland coming from Tirano and I was able to take a train back to Brusio.

Night:  Hotel Posta, Prese

Photo:

Lepiota sp.

September 2nd

It rained in Pontresina all morning and much of the afternoon, with all mountains hidden in cloud.  I visited the guides’ office to discuss the future.  The problem now is fresh snow on open crevasses so that many approaches across glaciers are now too dangerous.  Nevertheless I have provisionally booked a guide for next Monday to traverse Piz Palü and Bellavista at least;  all the forecasts agree on fine weather for that day, but we’ve heard such promises before!

Night: Hotel Station, Pontresina

September 1st

Itinerary: Forno Hut – Monte del Forno (3214 m) – Passo del Muretto – Maloja (car park)
Distance:  14,4 km
Walking time:  5 hours 50 minutes (plus 40 minutes for the stops)
Vertical distance:  900 m uphill; 1670 m downhill

The weather forecast was not good for the afternoon and neither I nor the guide wished to do the 4 km on the Forno Glacier another two times, which climbing the Monte Sissone, for example, would have involved.  So we chose to climb the Monte del Forno, an easier mountain with a marked path leading up it, albeit with a few chains, and not requiring ice axe or crampons.  We started out at 8.30 a.m. in cloudy and windy conditions, tried not to waste too much time and reached the car park at Maloja at 3 p.m. just as it started to rain!

Night: Hotel Station, Pontresina