Walking in the Alps by Kev Reynolds

Author:Kev Reynolds
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-84965-438-8
Publisher: Cicerone Press
Published: 2010-08-08T16:00:00+00:00

Lago Cadagno and Val Piora, above Valle Leventina

Vals Piora and Cadlimo

To the north of Tremorgio, on the opposite side of Valle Leventina, Val Piora is one of the finest of Leventina’s glens. Completely hidden from the main valley, this upland of lake and pasture fills the high country between Valle Leventina and Valle Santa Maria, one of the tributaries of Valle di Blenio. Access from the south is by way of either a serpentine road which climbs out of the valley from Piotta, or by funicular, also starting from Piotta. The upper terminus of this funicular is beside the road just short of the dammed Lago Ritom where there’s a convenient restaurant. With such ease of access it comes as no surprise to find parts of Val Piora are extremely popular during the high summer. This popularity, however, is usually confined to the period mid-morning to late-afternoon. By the time twilight settles over the pastures most visitors have drifted back to the valley, leaving the glen to those who spend their summers in the alps there, and walkers booked for the night at Capanna Cadagno.

Apart from the road and funicular access, walkers keen to make their own way from the Leventina will find linking trails from Airolo that cross the entrance to Val Canaria and eventually gain Lago Ritom at its south-western end – or a longer approach which goes all the way through Val Canaria to the Bocchetta, or Passo, di Cadlimo (with Capanna Cadlimo nearby), then south past Lago Scuro and Lago di Tom into Val Piora proper.

The Piora glen is a gentle tilt of grassland with a mean altitude of nearly 2000 metres. Lago Ritom lies at 1850 metres, while the upper pastures are around the 2200 metre contour. Marking its upper eastern limits stands Piz dell’Uomo (2663m), on either side of which easy walkers’ passes lead to the Valle Santa Maria. These are Passo dell’Uomo which takes a trail through Val Termine to the Lukmanier Pass, Passo Colombe between Piz dell’Uomo and Pizzo Colombe, and to the south of the latter peak, Passo Sole. From these last two, major peaks of the Adula Alps show themselves in snowy splendour, while the walks they encourage down into Valle Santa Maria are very pleasant indeed. Linked with the Lukmanier Pass and Passo dell’Uomo a fine day’s circuit can be achieved.

The north wall of Val Piora effectively hides Val Cadlimo, whose character is quite different to that of Piora’s. A trail cuts all the way through this glen, and when combined with that through Val Termine at the eastern end, and one cutting south from Capanna Cadlimo at its western extent, yet another rewarding, though fairly short, walking tour is possible. Both the Cadagno and Cadlimo huts are wardened throughout the summer. The first is owned by the Ritom Section of the SAT and can accommodate 60, while Capanna Cadlimo belongs to the Uto Section (Zürich) of the SAC. Larger than its neighbour, it can sleep more than 80,

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