August 8th 1

Itinerary:  Val Muggio (above Muggio) – Monte Generoso – Lanzo d’Intelvi – Ceresio – San Mamete, Valsolda (Italy)

Section 1, on foot:
Distance:  27,5 km
Time:  7 hours (including 50 minutes for the stops)
Vertical distance:  1110 m uphill; 1600 m downhill

Section 2, in the kayak:
Distance: 2,3 km
Time: 40 minutes

We went back to the place where Nona had collected us the day before, 3-4 kilometres above Muggio.  I went on alone, first on the road, then on steep paths.  A little more than 2 hours were enough to climb the 1000 metres to the summit of Monte Generoso, 1701 m; the station is at present a huge building site. Then I continued on the watershed to Cima Crocetta, a nice viewpoint. There, I made the mistake of taking a path in Italy. Well marked on the maps, and on the GPS, I found no traces in the field. However, I discovered trenches dug during the First World War (why so far from Austria-Hungary and opposite the Swiss frontier?) Finally I reached the top of the old funicular linking Lanzo d’Intelvi with Lake Lugano (Ceresio).  It had been put out of service around 1975 but I was able to go down the steps at the side, taking care not to stumble on tree branches, boulders and stones, and iron wire.  In the end I reached the bottom and was soon collected by Peter, who had brought the kayak from the opposite shore. We spent a pleasant evening at San Mamette on the north shore of Ceresio.

Night: Hotel Rest. Stella d’Italia, Valsolda

Photos:

The old funicular
Arrival in San Mamete