This route in the very northern part of Canton Ticino was our choice because weather forecast was for VERY hot, so we chose the right side of the Leventina Valley, high up and near the Gotthard Pass, hoping the air would be cooler. Also, lots of forests and northern exposure. What we didn't expect was because of the Northern exposure, some of the couloirs on these steep hillsides, as well as avalanche routes, would still be full of snow. Can't say we weren't warned...
The trip started with the Rodi-Fiesso cable car up to the idyllic alpine lake called Lake Tremorgio, from where we planned to hike North along the mountainside back to Airolo. Maybe the the various large patches of snow in the cauldron should have been a sign, or the lady who warned us about the 4 meters of snow that fill the couloirs in winter, but we pressed on none-the-less, hoping spring melts would have been in our favour. For the first hour or so we did great and we were hopeful, and then, after a long steep downhill section, finally met up with the dreaded couloir, and a 10-m stretch of impassable snow (very steep, very slippery). Not wanting to go back, we opted to try lowering ourselves via the bushes to a spot about 40m below (where the snow ended) and cross there. Going up the other side was easier because the trail was lower there, although not without its danger....
The excursion ended up being a study in avalanches, as we passed at least three sections that had seen winter avalanche activity (whether natural or manmade), very interesting, heaps and heaps of rocks and branches lying in the alpine troughs, caught up in specially-made dams to prevent the snow from continuing 1000m to the valley below.
The 15-km hike took us an hour longer than anticipated, 5.5 hours instead of 4.5 hours, and with all the bending under bushes and otherwise reverse-limbo-ing under cow fences, I ended up with massive charley-horse in my thighs and upper arms!
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| The bus from Ambri-Piotta train station took a detour to the other side of the valley, but from here we see the hillside where we are hiking (looking good, no snow....), and the road to the Gotthard Pass in the background |
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| In Rodi-Fiesso you take the cable-car (8 persons) to cover the steep 900m altitude to Lake Tremorgio |
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| We were surprised at the amount of snow still up here at 1800m, and a little worried about what we might encounter on the way. |
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| Heading uphill to the North of the Lake, every switchback offers another superb view into the cauldron. |
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| This hillside is COVERED in wild blueberries! |
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| Final view before heading NW along the steep hillside in the Leventina Valley. (We are already planning a future hike, on the other side of this lake and over the Campolungo Pass to the West. Needs to be less snow, though! |
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| Ah... we were warned this hillside gets lots of snow. This is a warning that they do controlled avalanche releases. (Trail closed in winter... it's not winter anymore, is it?) |
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| We encountered a little remaining snow around the first corner, though it was quite navigable. If this was the extent of it, then no problem.... |
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| Ah, the Alp Roses. Missed them last year due to our summer trip to Canada |
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| And so many other lovely alpine flowers... |
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| Incredible view South into the Leventina Valley. The reservoir lake below is in Rodi-Fiesso, where we started the excursion with a ride up in the cable car. Clear trail till now! |
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| AND THEN... we hit the couloir we were warned about (4m of snow here in winter). Actually, our trail hit the snow about 40m higher up, this photo is after we already lowered ourselves via the bushes on the left, to a point below the snow where we could cross.... |
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| The slope was too steep to cross over the snow (too much danger of slipping) so we lowered ourselves via the bushes about 40 m to where the snow ended and we could cross. |
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| Fortunately on the other side, the trail was lower and so we only had to make our way up about 10 m. It was steeper than it looks on the photo! |
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| The next patch of snow we crossed was flatter and easier. But this is an avalanche slope with a specially designed dam to catch the snow, and probably the place where they do artificial release of the snow. |
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| This avalanche slope was much easier to cross. There was a ton of debris everywhere. |
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| The force of the avalanche snows here splinters trees and bends the signposts. |
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| Perfect spot for our picnic lunch and a well-deserved break! |
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| Across the valley is the dam on Lake Ritom, and the Piotta-Ritom funicular, at 87.8% one of the steepest funiculars in the world. |
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| The last avalanche trough before our descent to Airolo. There was also lots of debris here, large branches and rocks. It will be a tough job for the farmer to clean up. In the back, the Gotthard Pass to the North of Switzerland |
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| On the descent to Airolo. In the back, another valley to discover? |
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| For the next excursion on this hillside, we will take the Pesciüm cable car (Summit station upper left) |
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| This was a long hike, 15 km, and took us 5 hours 30 minutes (30 minutes longer than calculated) because of the detour in the snow couloir |
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