Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
R90
Prato Sornico » Fontana (Val Bovana)
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6h50 |
18.6 km
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1698 m
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1816 m
Leave Prato Sornico and head southward to the terrace of Monti di Rima, which marks the start of the actual climb - passing the Brünesc Alp meadow - to the Bocchetta Fiorasca gap. After crossing the pass and also the Fiorasca meadow, there is a dramatic descent into Val Bavona valley, after which comes Fontana, the stage destination.
At the southwestern exit from Prato Sornico, an easy footpath leads along the right-hand side of the Lavizzara bridge in the direction of Mount Rima, which is reached in one hour. Here, you will find various “Torbe”, antique barns that stand on mushroom-like stone or wood foundations and were used as granaries. They date back to between 1580 and 1832. Are these already the first traces of the Valser people from the Formazza valley? This does not appear to be the case, as an investigation of the 74 “Torbe” still remaining in the Maggiatal valley led to other conclusions. The construction type varies considerably from the Valser barns located in the typical Valser settlements of the Formazza valley and in Bosco Gurin. Another two-hour climb takes you to the Brünesc Alp, where you must climb up further to the Piatto alpine huts. At around 1,900m, the trail enters the couloir leading to the south east towards the pass. From there, head down into the Bavona valley. The demanding climb takes about one and a half hours. On the way, it would be appopriate to think of the “Olimpio” who built this 70cm wide passage with ten sharp bends in the rock, and also the stone steps leading down towards Lavizzara. This is a bold structure that was mainly used to transport cattle to the bull in the Brünesc Alp. Together with his nephew Francesco, this “Olimpio” also built the steps in 1946/47. Afterwards, the trail heads rapidly downhill into the Bavona valley. From the highest point to Fiorasca, then to Larecchia and finally to Fontana, there is an altitude difference of 1,600m over a stretch of four kilmetres! Fortunately, the trail ends just behind a “Grotto Di Baloi” (a dialect expression referring to the enormous boulders of the Bavona valley under which the farmers established cowsheds and entire cheese dairies). (ATSE)
Natural and cultural heritage
Val Bavona Val Bavona valley is said to have been inhabited before the year 1000. Rock falls, flooding, mud-slides and other natural catastrophes resulted in the valley no longer being inhabited all year round. Between the 16th century and the middle of the 20th century, the settlements of Val Bavona were only populated from April to November, in order to use the meadowland and alps. Until 1950, the lonely mountain valley could only be reached on a mule track and therefore retained its character to a large extent. Each settlement has its own peculiarities, as people here had to adapt more than those elsewhere to their environment. The houses are very closely grouped together, and stables and wooden sheds lean on the living quarters. Not one of the settlements lacks a little church, often built using the contributions of emigrants. (Schweizer Wanderwege)
Useful topographic maps
266T Valle Leventina ~ Swisstopo (1: 50'000)
265T Nufenenpass ~ Swisstopo (1: 50'000)
Tessin Sopraceneri 3-259-00831-4 ~ Hallwag Kümmerly und Frey AG, Urtenen BE (1: 60'000)
Useful guidebooks
Wanderwelt Tessin / SAW und Geotechn. Institut ~ Hallwag Kümmerly+Frey AG (ISBN 3-259-03698-9)
20 Bergwanderungen RegionTessin / Luc Hagmann / Franz Auf der Maur ~ Werd Verlag TA Media AG, Zürich (ISBN 3-85932-347-4)
Oberwallis / Michael Waeber / Hans Steinbichler ~ Bergverlag Rudolf Rother (ISBN 3-7633-4127-7)
Picture gallery
Add your own pictures!
Comments
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.
Berta - 2018-07-01
In Fontana gibt es keine Unterkunft. Man kann mit dem Bus nach Cavergno fahren, da gibt es die Pensione la Curva mit Lager und 1 Zweibettzimmer. Mit Frühstück und Abendessen 96 SF für 2 Personen. Sehr empfehlenswert, sehr freundliche Leute und gutes Essen. In der Früh, nach dem Frühstück mit dem Bus um 8h25 wieder zurück nach Fontana.
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There is no accommodation in Fontana. You can take the bus to Cavergno, there is the pensione la Curva with storage and 1 twin room. With breakfast and dinner 96 SF for 2 persons. Highly recommended, very friendly people and good food. In the morning, after breakfast by bus at 8h25 back to Fontana.
de noray - 2015-08-23
Un autre itineraire par la vallee bignasco, puis broglio permet de voir autre paysage et eviter montee tres rude, de plus comme le parcours a change on peut eviter d aller a Prato et d economiser 6 KM....alors, a Broglio, on prend la direction du refuge Tomeo
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Another route through the valley Bignasco, then broglio allows you to see and avoid other landscape montee very rough, more like the path has changed can be avoided to go to Prato and save 6 KM .... then has Broglio, one took over the management of the refuge Tomeo
Der Schwierigkeitsgrad 1 (Wanderweg) ist falsch und hat uns leider dazu verleitet, den Weg bei Nässe zu machen, was nicht empfehlenswert ist. Es gibt mehrere mit Ketten gesicherte Stellen und eine Leiter.
Die einzige Unterkunft in Fontana, das "Grotto di Baloi", ist montags geschlossen. Alternativ kann man zu Fuss oder mit dem Bus nach Bignasco hinunter gehen und dort übernachten.
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The difficulty level 1 (hiking trail) is false and has us unfortunately tempted to make their way in the wet, which is not advisable. There are several secure locations with chains and a ladder. The only hotel in Fontana, the "Grotto di Baloi" is closed on Mondays. Alternatively, you can go on foot or by bus to Bignasco down and stay there.
Clemens - 2014-07-06
Die Alternative von Martin Schreiber kann ich empfehlen. Der Weg von Prato über Bignasco nach Fontana dauert gemütliche 4 Stunden. Bleibt noch genug Zeit durch das Tal bis nach San Carlo weiterzulaufen. Wer die Bahn nimmt nach Röbiei: Fahrt jede volle Stunde ab 08.00 Uhr, letzte Fahrt um 17.00 Uhr.
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The alternative of Martin Schreiber I can recommend. The path from Prato about Bignasco to Fontana takes cozy 4 hours. Still remains enough time to run through the valley to San Carlo. Who takes the train after Röbiei: drive every hour from 08.00 clock, last ride at 17.00 clock.
Elisabeth - 2014-03-20
A Prato-Sornico, un panneau donne 8h pour aller à Fontana et non 6h50, comme dans votre descriptif où ni le nom du col (Forcella di Fiorasca - 2281 m) ni le refuge ne sont mentionnés ! La descente sur Fontana prend 3h30 et non 1h30 !!
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A Prato-Sornico, panel gives 8am to go to Fontana and not 6:50, as in your description where neither the name of the neck (Forcella di Fiorasca - 2281 m) nor the refuge are mentioned! The descent takes about Fontana 3:30 ET 1:30 !! not
vaeltava tohtori - 2012-08-13
I could not found the route in Monte di Rima, I still does not know which way it goes from there
Wolfgang Walter - 2012-08-08
Direkt unterhalb der Bochetta di Fiorasca befindet sich die gleichnamige, unbewartete, aber tolle Hütte(10 Plätze).Die Halbierung der Etappe bietet sich an.
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Directly below the Bochetta Tues Fiorasca is the same, without waiting, but great cabin (10 seats). Halving stage is useful.
Janek - 2011-07-21
I highly doubt that the distance between Bochetta di Fiorasca and Fontana is 11,5 km. Looks more like about 4 km as you have said in the detailed description. It seems like the overall stage distance could be close to 11-12km. And if I was correctly on the path then the sharp bends are on the pass more south - Bochetta di Fiorasca South or something like that.
There is an accommodation available in Fontana:
Grotto di Baloi
091/7541387
www.baloi.ch
I had a bad weather and decided to go along the valley (Prato -> Fontana).
Since this took only a few hours, it was possible for me to join this trip with the next one to Robiei (Cap. Basodino).
ROUSSELLE - 2010-09-30
Refuge Alpe di Fiorasca (2086m) à une 1/2h du col, non gardé mais rénové et très confortable
Automatic translation
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Alpe di Fiorasca refuge (2086m) 1/2h a cervical unguarded but renovated and very comfortable
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6h50 |
18.6 km
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1698 m
|
1816 m
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.