Cerviso, from Cevo

Introduction

A 'philological' type excursion in search of ancient mountain pastures and forgotten paths. Cevo (a hamlet of Civo, but fully in Val Masino) lies at the base of a valley now only visited by tourists due to the presence of a few small lakes in the terminal amphitheatre; very few people notice the presence of side valleys and hanging terraces hosting the ruins of mountain huts, residual evidence of a mountain pasture life very different from today's. Cerviso, which still boasts a couple of huts inhabited during the ungulate hunting and mushroom picking season, should be considered a starting point for the search for traces that have disappeared in the western mountains of Val Masino.

Description

At the entrance to the village, in the upper part, we take a dirt track that soon leads to a hydroelectric power station; immediately afterwards, on a path, we cross the Cavrocco stream, with a beautiful view of its waterfalls. From here begins a long ascent on sunny and rocky terrain with varied woodland cover, along the Valle Spluga. The track, which is well stepped in places, climbs up the valley parallel to the stream, at times crossing ancient rockfalls; a small votive chapel heralds the arrival at Ceresolo 1041m, a small group of somewhat shabby huts, occasionally inhabited in summer. Our path, well hidden, must be sought on the right after the fourth hut: on a meadowy knoll begins the access to the little valley that climbs towards Cerviso. Without any possibility of error, we enter the sparse wood and gradually begin to climb: soon the track becomes very steep with hairpin bends a few metres apart, until we reach the beautiful clearing of Cerviso Bassa 1350m approx. The huts are all abandoned and now almost invaded by vegetation; the grassy path continues to the left, entering a wonderful birch and fern forest which, ascending with a few bends, soon leads to Cerviso 1480m. The pasture, between two groups of huts, appears to be suspended on a terrace that, to the east, precipitates between rocks and impassable woodland towards Val Masino.
The continuation towards other alpine pastures - which are still marked on obsolete IGM maps - requires local help or precise knowledge of the area.
Return along the outward route.

Cavrocco Stream
©2010 Marco Bonati

The path in Valle Spluga
©2010 Marco Bonati

©2010 Marco Bonati

Ceresolo

Ripid path to Cerviso

Cerviso Bassa

Around Cerviso