To the summit of Mount Colma near Locarno

January 26, 2019 -- What is pretty obvious by now: We love climbing mountains. So we are counting down the days until April when we can finally get into the higher altitudes.... In the meantime there are still mountains to climb "Down South" only 2 hours travel for us, and by now we know which regions get the best sunshine at this time of year! 

So off we went on Saturday once again to the region just West of Locarno where the Melezza River from the Centovalli flows into the Maggia River from the Maggia Valley. This region is called "Terre di Pedemonte" and the "mountain" (Colma, 795 m) at the junction of those two rivers was just ideal for us to climb.... 550m straight up, and since most of the trail was conveniently laid out with stones creating steps most of the way up, and since the air was just cool enough to make the climb pleasant, we were at the top in less than 90 minutes. Ideal hiking weather.

Instead of coming back down the same way, we walked on the North side of the mountain to a little hamlet of stone houses (Breccia) at the pass into the Maggia Valley, and returned by way of the Riei Valley, a trail we have done for the third time now, and still one of our favourites. 

Start of the hike in Tegna near Locarno

Through the village Tegna to start up the mountainside

At this point, where the trail splits and one way goes to the Oratorio Sant'Anna, we went up the other way. This is the first time I've been on a trail that consists of a cemented-over retaining wall. 

 

After 30 minutes we reached this cute little clearing (Forcola) with many picnic tables, where we had our coffee break.

 

View toward Locarno. Below on the hill are the ruins of the Tegna Fortress which used to guard the entrance to the Maggia Valley

Zoomed view of the remains of the Tegna Fortress on the other smaller hill below

On the other side of the Maggia Valley (to the East). Up on those hills is a ski area called Cardada.

Since electricity is required for the ski lift on the other side (Cardada), they just simple built power lines along the rocky ridge.

Looking North into the Maggia Valley. The village below is called Avegno. We have been there a few times.

Zoomed view of the village of Avegno in the Maggia Valley

 

On the other side of the Maggia Valley is a mountain whose peak we climbed last year, not from the valley bottom, but rather from the summit of the ski lift

Before the last 70 m to the summit of Mount Colma is this fantastic view North into the Maggia Valley

   

At the summit of Mount Colma

Lunch Time! Behind us is Intragna and the Centovalli

And the view toward Locarno and the junction of the two rivers. There was mist over Lago Maggiore, and not the best view, but for climbing the weather was great. And for January!!!

Monument at the top of Mount Colma. From here we head North to Streccia.

One of our favourite little hamlets: Streccia. This is also located at a pass into the Maggia Valley

All kinds of nice details with Rocks

 

One of our favourite little valleys

Such a nice touch with the rock walls, and a circular stone design on the path

 

And all kinds of little bridges along the way

 

Like out of a storybook

Here the trail splits. Last time we went left, this time we go right.

 

The trail even had some challenge to it, along a cliff with hand rails

After a steep descent, we are back in the next town over: Verscio

Everywhere are pretty things to see

On the way back to Locarno by train: The hill we climbed does not look so big next to the one behind it!

It took us 90 minutes to the summit, and another 90 minutes back out to Verscio via Streccia

The 550m ascent was steep but went pretty quickly. This area offers us opportunities to climb mountains also in winter.

It's getting more difficult to find a place we haven't hiked yet! (except for much higher)