From the Onsernone Valley to the Maggia Valley

Sunday August 27, 2017 -- We had a bit of a disappointment on this Sunday, as we were so looking forward to another hike near a mountain pass (Lukmanier), an area we don't go to a lot, but as we were headed South our train had a technical malfunction which led to 20 minutes' delay and a missed bus connection.... one of those routes where the buses run only every three hours, which meant the next connection would be too late.

Since we were already in the South, we made a quick decision to do a hike we actually wanted to do in the fall -- when the chestnuts are ripe -- but nothing else came to mind. Since I hadn't mapped the trail out before, we didn't know ahead of time how strenuous it might be, and it turned out to be quite a "doozie"! Biggest problem was that it was a very hot day (33degrees, and the reason why we wanted to go up into the higher elevations), and there were two very steep uphill sections.... and in typical Ticino fashion, some very steep and very long descents over difficult trails, so quite a challenge this time. But interesting and stunning and beautiful, as usual.

Heading along the curvy road by bus into the Onsernone Valley to Loco, the start of our hike.

Village of Loco in the Onsernone Valley, built on a steep hillside like all the villages here.

Our goal is the Passo della Garina, and then a bit further North than Aurigeno, about 4.5 hours total

Village of Loco built on a steep hillside high above the valley

Our 10-km, 4.5-hour hike from the Onsernone Valley over the Garina Pass, into the Maggia Valley.

Sasièl Church along the trail, in the middle of the woods

View into the Onsernone Valley from Sasièl

Typical Ticino Mountain Village, this one is calle Ighelon.

A very beautiful Western Green Lizard, larger than the regular Wall Lizards that usually scoot off the trail all over our hikes.

Near the Garina Pass (1076m, that's 400 altitude meters higher than Loco and almost two hours into our hike.)

Lunch stop at the Garina Pass before heading into a small ravine and on to the Maggia Valley.

At the Garina Pass

Sometimes the directions are simply painted on the trees....

A 150m altitude descent into this little ravine, we discovered a clear and deep pool which we wanted to swim in, but only 5 seconds with just the feet in the water on the first shallow part, and I got a frozen brain.

Because we hadn't had enough of the steep climb in the extreme heat, we ascended another 200m to the scattered houses of Cortone before starting on the steep, 800m descent to the Maggia Valley bottom.

We "borrowed" these nice people's picnic table for our coffee spot. They weren't home!

Heading down into the Maggia Valley (this is Costa, 200m lower than Cortone)

All along these steep slopes are pilgrim shrines.

Hamlet of Madruna on the steep descent into the Maggia Valley

Finally, a glimpse into the Maggia Valley, with the river and city of the same name. The sky had become overcast by this time and it wasn't as hot.

View South along the Maggia Valley

Most of the steep trail down looked like this.

Finally at the bottom, in Moghegno, across the river from Maggia. 

Refreshing way to spend a hot Sunday, swimming in the Maggia River. This is probably what we should have chosen to do instead of a hot, uphill and steep downhill hike!

 

We have done a lot of hiking in this area, obviously one of our favourite areas in Switzerland!