Sunday June 6, 2021 -- Today was a day where it definitely was better weather south of the Alps! Lucky for us we can look out the window in the morning, see the low rain clouds covering our local mountains, and decide, let's go South!
We went back to our beloved Onsernone Valley -- we can be there in three hours -- this time for another challenging mountain hike on some rough paths, typical in this densely forested wild valley. Not a lot of views (those we get in winter when there are no leaves on the trees!) except when there is the odd clearing, but then it's beautiful!
The first part of the trail (which is called "Sentiero del Sole", or "Sunshine Trail") starting in Auressio is one we haven't done before, but the second part, along a long level section which might once have been an irrigation channel is one of our favourites, having done it now for the third time.
(The photos of our Nov.2019 hike on this stretch, with lovely fall colors, can be viewed HERE, and the photos from our Dec.2016 first time on this stretch can be viewed HERE)
A quick pass by St.Anna's Oratorio for a look down into the Terre di Pedemonte from Locarno on Lago Maggiore to Intragna at the entrance to the Centovalli, followed by a speedy descent on a trail made practically solely of flagstones, and we made it once again to the train station in Tegna with just five minutes to spare! (we would have had to wait another 90 minutes for the next train!). {The map shows us 3.5 hours of walking, but it was definitely more than that...}
Oh, and this time I also saw, and photographed, an Emerald Lizard!!
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| On the bus from Locarno to the Onsernone Valley, this is a familiar view for us, crossing the Melazza River at Intragna, looking East. |
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| Intragna with the highest church tower in Canton Ticino stands "guard" at the entrance to both the Centovalli (behind it) and the Onsernone Valley, where we are heading. |
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| Heading into the wonderfully wild Onsernone Valley. The first village we get to on the massively curvy road is Auressio, where we are starting our hike this day. Most people continue to the next village of Loco, to walk the old mule trail back to Intragna. This we have already done before. |
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| Greeted by the ever-surprising palm trees in the village of Auressio |
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| Some lovely colour |
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| More colour. We usually come this way in winter, so the green and the colour is a nice change for us. |
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| The church in Auressio. From here the trail heads out of the valley. |
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| A quick look around the church grounds and cemetery, before heading in the direction of those green hills. |
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| From the church courtyard, a look down at the roofs of Auressio, and the deep valley |
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| So much lush green, it's like a jungle |
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| Looking behind us as we head out of the valley. The next village is called Loco |
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| Found this at the bottom of a water fountain, it looked so pretty! |
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| I don't know if the hill across the valley has a name, but there are several small hamlets up there which we have yet to visit! |
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| Heading uphill on the wild and unkempt mountain trail. |
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| We found this rather overgrown property a bit off the trail (and somewhat hidden), and sat on a stone wall near the residence to eat our picnic lunch. The location is called Cima Cratolo |
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| The forest was FULL of large bushes with these yellow flowers, and pea pods. From Internet research, this is probably Scotch Broom (Besenginster) |
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| These are the kinds of "rough" mountain trails we walk in this part of the Ticino |
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| AND... it was Urs who spotted the Wester Green Lizard, which scrambled up the tree. Look at the length of that tail! |
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| And here I am following the lizard around the tree to try to get a good photo! |
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| A beautiful creature which we are always thrilled to come across in these forests |
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| Typical stone houses, and at this time of year the ferns are pretty high! |
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| Urs seems to disappear among the tall ferns |
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| The first clearing where we get a look down at Locarno and the Maggia Delta. By now we're already out of the Onsernone valley, and now heading East above the communities of Terre di Pedemonte below. |
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| A well-tended set of vacation homes! This little "settlement" is called Nebbio Sotto |
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| What a beautiful spot for a vacation home! |
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| Looking West into the valley, so much green!! |
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| After a long steep descent through the forest, we got to our favourite spot, a level stretch along some cliffs with a couple of tunnels to crawl through. |
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| Crawling through some tunnels |
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| Another wonderful look into the Terre di Pedemonte below |
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| Walking narrow paths on what might once have been an irrigation system (Suon) |
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| We like this section because there is variety and views |
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| To continue on, the trail takes a detour into the Valle da Riei. This particular descent we've not done before. It was interesting to cross the rock slide. |
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| The sign in Riei shows us that we are still on the "Sentiero del Sole". From here we are descending to Tegna via Oratoria St. Anna, but the train leaves in 60 minutes from now, so not a lot of extra time! |
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| We love this valley of the river Riei. But it looked best in fall when the leaves turned colour and were falling. |
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| Most of the way to the Oratorio and down to Tegna were on flagstones like this, so we made good time. |
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| Another nice property with Tessin palm trees |
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| The Oratorio St. Anna is perched high above the villages of the Terre di Pedemonte, and there is of course the very best view from here! |
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| A good look into the Centovalli to the West. |
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| Intragna, the town at the junction of Centovalli and Onsernone Valley |
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