Page Type Page Type: Mountain/Rock
Location Lat/Lon: 46.12281°N / 8.64890°E
Additional Information County: Piemonte / Canton Ticino
Activities Activities: Hiking, Skiing
Seasons Season: Spring, Summer, Winter
Additional Information Elevation: 7178 ft / 2188 m
Sign the Climber's Log

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

    Monte Limidario


    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