Overview
In the SE part of the group of Basodino group, almost at the end of the Val Maggia, there's a spectacular narrow valley named "
Centovalli" that joins the Val Vigezzo (Italy - west) to Locarno (Switzerland - east).
... along this valley a narrow road (amusing to drive) and a railway that are really worth to be seen ...
This valley is bordered, to the south, by a ridge rising directly from the W bank of
Verbano lake (Lago Maggiore) and arriving up to 2000 m and more.
The main summit of this ridge is the
Monte Limidario, aka
Gridone that is a fantastic panoramic point and whose eastern slopes hosts a wonderful ski-mountaneering route.
Getting There
| | from Italy :
from Piemonte the best access is along the road bordering the Verbano lake, pass Cannobio to arrive at Brissago
from Varese province you have to drive along the road on the E side of the lake : Luino - Maccagno - Quartino (Magadino) - Locarno - Ascona - Brissago ... a little long
from Milano, Como the best access is along the highway of Gotthard, exit Cadenazzo - Quartino - Locarno - Ascona - Brissago
from Switzerland :
Ticino, Uri, Berna ecc - Gotthard highway to Bellinzona - follow for Locarno ecc.
Grabunden - San Bernardino highway to Bellinzona, then ditto
Wallis - Simplonpass - Crevoladossola - Val Vigezzo - Centovalli - Ascona - Brissago |
suggested routes
| |
from Brissago 2 different routes to the summit :
Incella - Rovere - car parking
up to Mergugno then follow the path (ridge) leading to Rifugio Al Legn.
Along the ridge up to near the summit 2010, cross under it on the S side (careful) to get the saddle, along the ridge up to the summit 2138 (end of the ski route).
Now, on foot along the SE ridge, to the summit
- difference in elevation ~1300m - time required ~5 hours
Piodina - Cortascio - park the car
Up (NW) along the wide slope to some small houses then cross to the left (warning !!!) to a valley ascending to Alpe di Voiè (1730m)
Toward W along the valley to arrive near the previous route or to the notch S of q.2138
Along the ridge, on foot, to the summit
- difference in elevation ~1200m - time required ~5 hours
for skilled and experienced ski-mountaneers
the hiking routes, of course, follow the same lines ...
|
Accomodation
in case you want to enjoy the downhill with good snow (and break the difference in elevation in 2 days) you'd better spend the night in the
Rifugio Al Legn
but if you don't mind to start very early in the morning you can avoid it, the difference in elevation is not so big
Ascona's hotel are not so cheap ...
advices and warnings
in winter and spring there are some stretches a little dangerous for snow sheet ...
the perfect day for this ski-mountaneering requires :
perfect weather - you'll be just "above" the lake !
perfect snow - down to 1000-1200 m
low temperature
wind from NW
not so easy, but if you're lucky you're going to remember forever this trip