2001, 15 days
Guidebook:
Michael & Mike having a map conference near Passo del Larghetto, Ticino (July 2001)| Date | Daytime | Overnight | Notes/Alternatives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday 30/6 | 09:15 terminal 2 flight AF1669 arr. Paris 11:35 13:00 flight AF2154 arr. Zürich 14:15 14:43 train IR525 arr. Zürich HB 14:53 15:07 train IC387 arr. Arth-Goldau 15:48 15:55 train D1675 arr. Biasca 17:40 |
Hotel Al Giardinetto ***, 091 862 17 71 Via A Pini 21 Biasca |
Buy a “Swiss Card” (not a “Swiss Pass”) at Zürich station, SF 160, price includes journeys from/to airport, and 50% off all other journeys.Hourly train service (15:43 no change at A-G). |
| Sunday 1/7 | Take bus (10:22 arr. 10:34) north towards Olivone, get off at bottom of cable car between Malvaglia and Motto. From top of cable car, 1450m, walk north up Val Malvaglia 2½-3 hours to Capanna Quarnei, 2107m. | Capanna Quarnei, 079 311 48 08 | Or stay on bus as far as Dangio (arr. 10:48), walk east up Val Soi to Capanna Adula CAS, 3 hours, saves one day. |
| Monday 2/7 | North over Passo del Larghetto, 2646m, to Capanna Adula CAS, 2012m (2½/5* hours). * The CAS hut’s web page shows times double those of the UTOE hut’s. The shorter times do seem more likely judging by the map. | Capanna Adula CAS, 091 872 15 32 | If early, optional excursion up Cima di Bresciana, 2390m, 1½ hours +
return. If late, could stay at Capanna Adula UTOE, 2393m (½/1* hour less), 091 872 16 75. |
| Tuesday 3/7 | North down Val de Carrasino then west to Olivone, 809m, 3½-4 hours. | Albergo e Ristorante Arcobaleno, 091 872 13 62 Hotel Olivone e Posta, 091 872 13 66 Hotel San Martino, 091 872 15 21 Osteria Centrale, 091 872 11 07 One bank. |
Could continue to Campo, 1,216m, on foot (1½ hours) or by bus (18:02 arr. 18:12). Ristorante Broggi, 091 872 11 41, Trattoria Genziana, 091 872 11 93. |
| Wednesday 4/7 | Bus (9:26, arr. 9:36) to Campo, 1216m. Walk west up Val di Campo to Capanna Bovarina, 1870m, 2½ hours. | Capanna Bovarina, 091 872 15 29 | Scenic alternative route via Piz Rossetto, 2099 m (1-1½ hours extra). |
| Thursday 5/7 | West over Passa di Gana Negra, 2401m, to Passo Lucomagno, 1914m (2-3 hours). | Hospiz Santa Maria, 081 947 51 34 | |
| Friday 6/7 | West over Passo dell’Uomo, 2218m, to Capanna Cadagno, 1987m, 2½ hours. | Capanna Cadagno, 091 868 13 23 Very popular |
If early, walk round Lago Ritom. Refreshments at Cadagno di Fuori. |
| Saturday 7/7 | West to Lago Tom then north over pass 2304m, Bassa del Lago Scuro, 2451m, to Capanna Cadlimo, 2570m, 2½ hours. Optional scenic digression up Piz Taneda, 2667 m (1-1½ hours extra). | Capanna Cadlimo, 091 869 18 33 | Scenic alternative route (dotted line on map but no warning in the book) via Lago di Dentro, pass 2525m, and Piatto della Miniera, also 2½ hours. |
| Sunday 8/7 | South-west down Val Canaria to Airolo, 1175m, 3½ hours. | Minotel Forni, 091 869 12 70 Albergo Motta *** Innovacanza **, 091 869 19 66 Hotel Alpina, 091 873 32 32 |
Lots more hotels, also cash machines. |
| Monday 9/7 | Take cable car south towards Sasso della Boggia, getting off at Pesciüm (unattended), 1745m. From there walk west above Val Bedretto then south up Val Torta to Capanna Cristallina, 2349m, 3½ hours. | Capanna Cristallina, 091 869 23 30 | If early at Capanna Cristallina, optional excursion to Lago del Naret, 2310m, 1½-2 hours - some tricky bits (see route 63). |
| Tuesday 10/7 | Variety of routes south over Passo di Cristallina, 2568m, past Lago Sfundau and Lago Bianco, over pass 2200m, past Lago di Robiei to Capanna Basodino, 1856m, 2¾ hours. | Capanna Basodino, 091 753 27 97 Very popular |
Alternative route 63 (more adventurous, 5 hours). If early when approaching Capanna Basodino, go the long way round Lago di Robiei (½ hour extra). There are plenty of other possibilities but best to decide before dropping down to the hut. |
| Wednesday 11/7 | Take cable car down to San Carlo, 938m, or walk (2 hours). Walk and/or post bus south down Val Bavona (very pretty) 10 km to Cavergno, 459m, then bus to Locarno (hourly, journey time 45-60 minutes, last bus 21:00). Short walk to Grand Hotel. | Grand Hotel ***, 091 753 02 82 Via Sempione 17 Locarno |
|
| Ideas for Thursday 12/7 and Friday 13/7 |
1 Train west to Verdasio (8 miles, 30 minutes, hourly service), take
cable car up to Rasa, 898m (runs every 20 minutes), walk east 5 miles over ridge to lake shore at Porto
Ronco, boat back to Locarno (18:35 arr. 19:40). 2 Take cable cars up to Cimetta, 1671m, then walk north along ridge and down to Mergoscia, 731m, (4 miles) or up Madone, 2039m, and down to Lavertezzo, 538m, (6 miles, 350m ascent), then bus back (Mergoscia: 15:08, 17:08, 19:22; Lavertezzo, 15:22, 16:52, 19:02) . 3 Bus or train west to Ponte Brolla, low-level path north to Gropp, west to Oratorio S. Anna, north to Streccio, Dunzio, over bridge at Torbeccio, south to Avegno, Vallone, Ponte Brolla. Walking 15km, 575m ascent, 4 hours. |
Grand Hotel | |
| Saturday 14/7 | 08:59 train RE2756 arr. Bellinzona 09:20 09:25 train IC650 arr. Arth-Goldau 11:08 11:12 train D1570 arr. Zürich HB 11:53 12:04 train IR1936 arr. Zürich Airport 12:13 13:20 terminal B flight AF 1855 arr. Paris 14:35 16:00 flight AF 2568 arr. Manchester 16:25 |