Thursday 12th September : Weather: 17°C to 21°C:
SLocarno Circuit: 15.0k walk: Circuit from Locarno to Pont Brolla
Ascent and Descent: Ascent 270m, Descent 270m,
Time: 12pm to 5.15pm: 4hrs 15min actual walk time + 1 x 1hr stop
Accommodation: Pardo Apartments Locarno
Walking from Locarno to Pont Brolla
The deep Ponte Brolla Canyon
Rock Climbing near Ponte Brolla
Blue/white train from Domodossola
Ian’s favourite photo
Highlight today was walking from Locarno to Ponte Brolla to see the deep Orrido Ponte Brolla (Gorge at Ponte Brolla), watch the rock climbers on an almost vertical mountain face, and watch the blue and white train from Domodossola pass by our lunch stop.
We have such a good nights sleep after two exhausting days ascending and descending Alpe Masnee. It’s 7 am and I continue to catch up on my blog, then have breakfast of Meusli and yoghurt. Then it’s time to sit down and plan the next few days. The weather in the Swiss Alps has deteriorated and we’re now looking for places less than 1,200 metres high. The choice was easy. First we go to the Ostello Fusio for four days and do a few day walks then down to Linescio for three days and visit the villages of Bosco Gurin and Cimalmotto. Ostello Fusio was easily booked through Alps-on-line and we found a nice place in Linescio called Wild through Booking.com. Both are on bus lines and easy to get to from Locarno.
The week planned, we pack one bag with lunch and then go via teh Coop for fresh bread before heading off to Pont Brolla, about 6k up the Valle Maggia. We chose the high walking route which passed through the ancient back streets of Locarno then up and down the track on the steep side of the mountain behind Locarno. It’s 1.30pm when we reach Ponte Brolla, and there’s a few granite blocks parked beside the railway track waiting to be moved somewhere. They provided a perfect seat for lunch. We watched the rock climbers. In fact, Ticino’s best-known climb on an international level is certainly Ponte Brolla. Its sunny position and ease of access means that it attracts climbers from all over the world. And they were there in force today. In front of us was the train line from Domodossola, and the famous blue and white train passed us in both directions several times.
After a leisurely lunch we wander up a track beside the Maggia River then back through Tegna to the cycle track into Locarno, stopping at the Coop to buy two beers and a slab of panettone - a famous Italian/Swiss delicacy which is a cross between cake and bread, made with eggs, fruit, and butter. Back to our apartment for dinner - same as same as - bread, cheese, lettuce, mayonnaise, sliced ham and bullocks hear tomato. Then some photo sorting and planning our next walks in te Maggia Valley while sampling a slice of panettone with a hot milk. Bed at 8.30pm
Cycle track back to Locarno