Pizzo Barone, from Sonogno

Introduction

Itinerary

Sonogno (918 m) - Rescadèla 976 m - Secada 992 m - Vald 1027 m - Cabioi 1079 m - Corte di Fondo 1487 m - Corte della Pianca 1552 m - altitude 1775 m - Piodoo 1950 m - Capanna Barone 2172 m - Lago Barone 2391 m - Pizzo Barone 2864 m.

Description

Itinerary

 Sonogno (918 m) - Rescadèla 976 m - Secada 992 m - Vald 1027 m - Cabioi 1079 m - Corte di Fondo 1487 m - Corte della Pianca 1552 m - altitude 1775 m - Piodoo 1950 m - Capanna Barone 2172 m - Lago Barone 2391 m - Pizzo Barone 2864 m. 

Description

 Departure from Sonogno (918 m). Pass through the pretty village and take the road to the right that leads into Val Vegorness, a majestic long valley, mother of the Verzasca river with its cool, clear waters. The imposing dam of Lake Vogorno makes you realise how much water the entire Verzasca Valley is able to carry in that one reservoir. No trek in Ticino has such a gentle start, only to turn into a real ordeal of hard work. For about 5 kilometres, you walk along the Verzasca river, overcoming a difference in altitude of 161 metres, and thus have the opportunity to admire the imposing walls of the surrounding peaks and the various renovated rustic houses. The various pools of water invite you to bathe, but it is better to continue in anticipation of the hard climb. When you reach Cabioi (1079 m), cross a wooden bridge and begin to climb through the dense forest. After about ½ an hour of ascent, you reach a plateau near the stream where you can rest and refresh yourself in the shade of the trees that you will not encounter again for the entire trek! The path now crosses a long scree slope of about 1 kilometre that gives way to the splendid amphitheatre of Pizzo Barone. These are impressive walls and it is hard to believe that there is a path capable of crossing the 1,500 metres of difference in altitude that descend from Pizzo Barone. But slowly you reach the first alpine pasture, Corte di Fondo (1487 m), from where a 1300-metre-long cableway starts, connecting this alpine pasture with Alpe Piodoo (1950 m). From Corte di Fondo, cross a small bridge and begin to climb, at first in a leisurely manner and then with a hard climb. Corte della Pianca (1552 m) appears on the right and then continues to climb laboriously to an altitude of 1775 metres. Here, a kind of terrace affords a stupendous view of the valley below, and the view bears witness to the immense effort that the alpine workers once made, and still make today, to reach the Alpe di Piodoo and the Alpe di Porchier, which are still loaded. Climb up to Alpe Piodoo (1950 m) and then take the path to the right to ascend to the Barone hut. To the left is the path to Alpe di Porchier (2079 m). There are 200 metres of very hard ascent among the rocks that lead to the hut, a splendid hut situated on an incredible terrace; in about 3 ½ hours from Sonogno you finally reach your first destination. From the hut you can see Pizzo di Schinghin (2801 m) and the Bocchetta della Campala, which connects Val Vegorness with Val di Prato. On the other side is the newly opened Sovèltra hut (1618 m), which can be reached in about three hours from Bocchetta della Campala. In front appears the imposing Corona di Redorta (804.1 m) at the foot of which lies the Porchieirsc lake (2190 m). The spectacle of the impressive walls from the Corona di Redorta to the Cima di Cagnoi are reminiscent of certain mountains in other countries. From the hut, we continue on the marked path in the direction of Lake Barone (2391 m), which is reached after about half an hour's strenuous ascent through the grassy terraces. The view of the lake is stupendous, as is the view of Pizzo di Piancoi. When you reach the lake, turn immediately in a west-north-westerly direction and climb up the steep detrital slopes, dodging some ridges on a clear track to reach the summit without difficulty. It takes about an hour and a half from the lake to reach its summit, where there is a cross. After a short break, it is necessary to set off again; the descent is very hard and requires caution; after such a climb, tiredness can create dangers. Huts and refuges Capanna Barone (2172 m) Coordinates: 700.760 - 159.200 Website: http://www.verzasca.com/sev/index.html Owned by the SEV (Società Escursionistica Verzaschese - Verzaschese Hiking Society), this is a new hut recently built next to the old Barone hut; it is a stone construction located on a small grassy terrace not far from Lake Barone. It sleeps 35 and has a fountain outside. The hut is open from the beginning of June until the end of October. Reservations: Tenconi Luciano, 6632 Vogorno, tel. 091/ 745 28 87 Trekking lakes Lake Barone (2391 m) Typical cirque with local moraine, the lake has a surface area of 60,000 m2. It is one of the highest lakes in Ticino with a depth of about 50 metres in the middle. The lake was repopulated in 1987 with 1,500 rainbow trout. It has an underground outlet. Peaks to know Pizzo della Bedéia (2666 m) This is a very beautiful panoramic peak that can be reached from the Barone hut in about 2 ½ hours, while from the Alpe Sponda hut it takes about 3 ½ hours. Pizzo di Piancoi (2769 m) Its triple summit is a belvedere from the Leventina valley floor to Chironico. At its foot, on the side of the Val Vegorness, lies Lake Barone and together they form a magnificent picture. The summit can be reached from the Barone Hut in about two hours. Alpine pastures still loaded Alpe di Porchiér (2079 m) loaded on 18 June 1996. It also includes the farmsteads: Corte di Fondo (1487 m.) Corte della Pianca (1552 m.) Alpe Piodoo (1959 m.) Alpe Barone (2172 m.) The cheese produced is "nostrano semiduro grasso", which bears the label "VEGORNESS". For information, please contact: Gianettoni Sirio, 6637 Sonogno, Tel. 091/746 12 54 

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