Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
R83
Isola » Pian San Giacomo
|
5h50 |
13 km
|
1118 m
|
1229 m
From Isola, important centre since ancient times, the trail climbs across Val Febbraro, in the past a practical link between the vale of S. Giacomo and Mesolcina. The Baldiscio pass is negotiated along the grassy knolls of Pian dei Cavalli, where traces point to human habitation dating back 7000 years. Cross the border into Switzerland and go down steeply to Pian San Giacomo.
This route is through very beautiful landscapes, climbing the full length of Val Febbraro. The trail begins in the woods at the bottom of the valley and ends at the pastures around the Baldiscio pass. Behind the hamlet of Isola, near the chapel at the top of the village, a trail heads upwards along the right bank of the river until it meets the road near Stabisotto. From here the road continues into a wonderful natural environment. At the end of the road, cross the bridge over the stream to the opposite bank and take the track that curves right and winds its way through the woods to Alpe Borghetto (1897m). Carry on past the huts and across a pasture to Lake Grande (2303m) the first of two lakes, and further along the valley floor, Lake Piccolo, near the tranquil Baldiscio pass (2350m), with its stunning views. (Regione Lombardia) From the Passo de Balniscio pass, walk alongside the stream to the pastureland of the Balnisc Alp. Next comes a steep descent, first in the loose scrub and then through dense forest. On reaching the valley floor, the trail soon arrives at Pian San Giacomo. It leads along the old mule track, sometimes also on the old pass road, down the valley and past several chapels until finally arriving at Mesocco, the stage destination. (Schweizer Wanderwege)
Natural and cultural heritage
The Baldiscio pass (2350m): part of the Val Febbraro range that extends as far as Mount Campodolcino, it is the most practical route between Val San Giacomo and Mesolcina. This important point did not escape the first men to settle in these parts, right in the heart of the Alps. Recent archaeological digs on the northern edge of the plateau (roughly 2000m a.s.l.) have revealed that the area has been inhabited for approximately 7000 years. The route to the Baldiscio pass is an easy one, partly trail, partly rough track along the grassy knolls of the Cavalli Plain, a vast, chalky plateau covered in pastures. (Regione Lombardia)
Mesolcina/Misox People were aware of the strategic situation of Mesolcina/Misox from an early stage, because there was little danger of avalanches on the pass crossing. The Romans therefore built a paved road, and its remains are still there today. They named the pass Mons Avium, i.e. “bird mountain”. In the years around 1300, the well-known chapel decorated with frescoes by Nicola and Cristofor de Saregno was commissioned by the Count of Sax in Saint Bernard. At the time, the artists were also working on the church of Sta. Maria da Castello in Mesocco. The same count was also anxious for the reconstruction of the nearby castle to be undertaken. Two centuries later, the parish house was also built and accommodated two monks. They took care, particularly in winter, to keep the access roads open and to offer food and shelter to travellers who had lost their way. In snowstorms, they had to ring the church bell in order to indicate the way to those in trouble. The mineral water spring is an important resource in the Saint Bernard locality. Wooden tubs that were discovered during excavations indicate that even the Romans knew about it. With the improvement of the pass road in about 1823, the reputation of the mineral water and its therapeutic success spread. People travelled from Northern Italy to benefit from the healing powers of the mineral water. The two World Wars led to the stagnation and consequently the end of the mineral water therapies. At the start of the 1970s, however, there was a recovery and Saint Bernard established itself as a winter sports resort. In the years 1961 – 1963, power stations were built there and in 1967, the Saint Bernard tunnel was opened. In the 1980s, the disposal sites for radioactive material were the topic of many discussions, while trial drilling was being carried out above Pian San Giacomo. (Schweizer Wanderwege)
Useful topographic maps
92 ~ Kompass (1: 50'000)
T 267 San Bernardino ~ Swisstopo (1: 50'000)
Hinterrheintäler ~ Hallwag Kümmerly und Frey AG / 3-259-00812-8 (1: 60'000)
Useful guidebooks
Gipfelziele im Tessin ~ Rotpunktverlag (ISBN 3-85869-258-1)
Websites relative to natural and cultural heritage
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.
Mountain Girl - 2012-10-19
When you reach the roadway at Pian San Giacomo (where an abandoned Albergo is located), turn right and walk ~0.5km to Ristorante Moesa. Rooms are basic, but cheap, and the food is EXCELLENT (all the locals go there to eat, despite it being the middle of nowhere).
Jean-Louis GIRAUD - 2012-03-28
Attention à l'itineraire de descente sur PIAN SAN GIACOMO ...Il peut ètre difficile à trouver par temps brumeux .Par ailleurs la descente peut ètre délicate et mème dangereuse sous la pluie ou l'orage.
Par ailleurs, le marquage est trés aléatoire a partir du PASSO DI BALDISCIO .
Veiller à rester sur la rive droite du torrent qui descent du col . Enfin, le tracé sur le versant Suisse mériterait un serieux lifting aussi bien sur la remise en état du sentier que sur le balisage .
Automatic translation
[
]
Attention to the itinerary of descent PIAN SAN GIACOMO ... it can be hard to find in foggy weather. Moreover, the descent can be tricky and dangerous meme in rain or storm.
In addition, the marking is very random from PASSO DI BALDISCIO.
Careful to stay on the right bank of the torrent which descends the neck. Finally, the route on the slopes Switzerland deserves a serious facelift both in the rehabilitation of the trail on the markup.
Jean-Louis GIRAUD - 2012-03-28
Le 26 Aout 2011, arrivé à PIAN SAN GIACOMO sous l'orage, j'ai pu trouver assez rapidement un hébergement confortable type B and B, chez des particuliers :
M.C. CALIZIA
134 PIAN SAN GIACOMO
6563 MESOCCO
Tel : 00 41 (0)918311763
L'accueil est chaleureux .Il est préférable de réserver car il ne doit y avoir qu'une ou deux chambres .
Tarif nuit: CHF 45
Le soir de mon arrivée, les propriétaires m'ont proposé et préparé le diner ! Prévoir 25 à 30 CHF / repas ...bière et / ou vin compris !
Pouvoir faire étape à PIAN SAN GIACOMO évite une longue et fastidieuse descente sur MESOCCO .
Par ailleurs, il existe une trace à flanc de montagne qui permet le lendemain de rejoindre le sentier de l'étape R 85...
Automatic translation
[
]
On 26 August 2011, arrived at PIAN SAN GIACOMO in the storm, I could find quickly enough comfortable accommodation type B and B, in private:
M.C. CALIZIA
134 PIAN SAN GIACOMO
6563 Mesocco
Tel: 00 41 (0) 918 311 763
The welcome is warm. It is best to book as there should be one or two rooms.
Per night: CHF 45
The evening of my arrival, the owners offered me dinner and prepared! Allow 25-30 CHF / meal ... beer and / or wine included!
Able to step PIAN SAN GIACOMO avoids a long and tedious descent Mesocco.
In addition, there is a trail on the mountainside which allows to reach the next step of the path R 85 ...
Daniel - 2011-08-18
The Italian part of the VA is not very well marked. From the Pass di Baldiscio up to the Swiss border no marks at all!! I followed the GPX track that I downloaded here (see link above) on my gps and got along well. If you have no gps, then -in this part- stay on the north side of the stream. The first thing you see in Switzerland is a track sign! :)
The only place in Pian san Giamoco -The Pizzeria- is definitively closed. The place is a ruin now. You will have to proceed 1 hour to 'the Motto' in Mesocco, run by an elderly couple who have lost belief that anything exciting is ever going to happen in their lives.. (Closed on Tuesday)
Closer to the church there is a Garni in a white building with beautiful gargoyles. A little cheaper then Motto.
murmel - 2010-07-26
Unterkunft: www.albergo-moesa.ch mit Pizzeria, Tel. 0918311095, Mobil 0798221605. Weg zwar steil und teilweise "schön grün", aber noch im Rahmen, mit Regen sicherlich unangenehm (wie andere Wege auch).
Automatic translation
[
]
Accommodation: www.albergo-moesa.ch pizzeria, Phone 0918311095, Mobile 0798221605th Although steep path and sometimes "very green", but still in the frame, with rain certainly uncomfortable (as well as other ways).
Liebl Georg - 2009-08-10
normal kann man bei der VA davon ausgehen, dass bei einem Etappenziel auch eine Unterkunft angeboten wird. Für den 08.07.09 hatte für Pian San Giacomo auch das Tourismus-Büro von San Bernardino keinen Tip, obwoh es das B&B La Monda gab. Auch in nächsten Ort Mesocco gab es keine Unterkunft.
Außerdem war der Weg von der Alp de Balniscio nach S.Giacomo nicht empfehlenswert, da wegen Überwucherung oft schwer zu finden, bei feuchtem Wetter wegen Rutschgefahr gefährlich.
Automatic translation
[
]
normally you can at the VA assumed that a milestone also offer accommodation. For 08.07.09 for Pian San Giacomo also the tourist office of San Bernardino had no tip, guys who will join the B & B La Monda was. And in the next place Mesocco there was no accommodation.
In addition, the path from the Alp de Balniscio was after S.Giacomo not recommended because because overgrowth often hard to find dangerous in wet weather to prevent slipping.
|
5h50 |
13 km
|
1118 m
|
1229 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.