A Long Downhill Hike on Pizzo Claro near Bellinzona

Saturday Oct.5, 2019 -- Since the only part of the country that had nice weather was in the South, the train from Zurich to Milano was already full by the time we got on in Zug and for the next two stops before the tunnel, people without reservations were being asked to leave the train! Problem is, we as many others, had connections to make with this train... but we were lucky to still find seats that weren't reserved, and so we made our bus connection as planned. Good thing too, because we had a long wait at the cable car station in Lumino, and it would have been worse had we only gotten there an hour later.

The little cable car from Lumino to Monti di Savorù, another one of those small cable cars that we wanted to try out, transfers only four people every 15 minutes, and this particular morning lots of people, including several mountain bikers, were waiting to go up this mountain. We had expected to be up the mountain by 10:15, but it was 10:45 when we finally got up there, a full 75 minutes after getting off the bus...

Furthermore, the trail we wanted to take wasn't marked on the local maps, and the locals didn't know of it, so they suggested we take the higher trail, which meant more downhill for us. In the end we descended 1500 altitude meters to the bottom of the valley near Claro, the longest descent we have ever done on a hike. We took lots of breaks at small populated clearings on the way down, collected chestnuts as they were pummeling down around us, and made it to the valley bottom at 5 p.m. right as the sun had just disappeared behind the mountains. 

From Bellinzona we took a bus into the Mesocco Valley, and descended here in the little town of Lumino, where we first went to the grocery store to get our lunch.

This little church was right next to the cable car station

At the cable car station 30 minutes later, the other 6 people who had gotten off the bus with us were still waiting their turn. Shortly after us, a group of bikers showed up. We had to wait another 45 minutes for our turn, as the cable car transports only 4 people every 15 minutes.

Finally up at the starting point of our hike, one hour and 15 minutes after getting off the bus. It was 11 a.m. by now, quite late for us to start on a 4-hour hike.

A nice view down into the Mesocco Valley. Even though the wait was long, we are glad that there are cable cars that we can ride up the mountains

Our plan was to take the lower trail to Monti di Maruso, the one marked on our interactive map, but the locals didn't know about it and suggested we take the higher trail, which then meant more downhill. 

This trail was called "The Sculpture Trail", although the sculptures were not very artistic. Although these were sculptures cut with chain saws, so maybe that is more difficult.

Most of the trail was forest, but we passed through a few clearings with views down to Bellinzona.

 

It took us 1 hour and 15 minutes to hike up to Alpe Domas, where we had lunch before starting the very long descent

Alpe Domas consisted of a cluster of ruined houses, with only a single one still complete

Perfect spot for our lunch before starting the long downhill to the valley bottom.

Another glimpse into the Magadino Plain, the area between Bellinzona and Locarno

The beautiful Magadino Plain with the forested mountain flanks. Much of the forest lower down is chestnut, and the nuts were just in the process of coming down. (I collected some to roast at home).

Each chestnut tree is unique and unusual

The first 500m descent of 1500 total took us to this plateau with some very nice houses. We stopped here for a very long break.

"Monti di Maruso" is what it is called up here

This large herd of goats made its way down the mountain trail just a few minutes after we passed through. We heard their bells tinkling, but did not see a goatherd, so it looks like they just decided to descend on their own.

Monti di Maruso is actually a large spread-out area, so we walked all around it, admiring the properties. 

And these sheep had the run of the village. There were no fences for them.

Heading out and down for the next 250m descent

Another group of houses in a clearing. This was called "Tea"

We wondered about the signs that read "Claro Pizzo 2'500 Plus". Turns out there was another marathon of sorts taking place here the next day, called a vertical, because they were running uphill on the path we descended, plus another 1000m!!!

This clearing called Moncrino is one we've passed through before. We had another long break here, as this was now the 2/3rds mark of our descent. 

I liked this.

It's nice that the trees have not yet shed their leaves here

Another unusual chestnut tree

 

And here is the nicest section of the entire descent

Some climbers... the descent is almost vertical behind them. 

Not so far to go any more. Below is the Ticino River and the railway line

And finally at the bottom. This is St.Nazzaro Church in Scubiago. The shade of the mountains to the West has just reached the valley here.

A couple of years ago we passed through Moncrino when we ascended from Claro to the Monastery. This time we went up with the cable car from Lumino, and walked down 1500m, passing through Moncrino again.