Pizzo Truzzo, from contrada Pietra

Access

From Milan to Campodolcino along the state road ; at the small reservoir turn left towards Portarezza. Car park just before the bridge.

Introduction

Easy ascent to a peak that is little known from an excursionist's point of view. Situated between the Passo dell'Alpigia and the Passo del Servizio, it is an excellent vantage point over the Valle Spluga and the Bacino del Truzzo. The route is very well signposted up to Alpe del Servizio; beyond that, although we are on the Valle Spluga trekking route, the trail mostly disappears and the few signposts are obsolete and poorly placed.

Description

From the car park by the lake in the Pietra district (1062m), cross the bridge over the Liro and, on the other bank, turn right going immediately up a cemented road: this is where the path begins. After ascending a strip of meadows and entering a sparse mixed wood of conifers and broad-leaved trees, we begin a tight series of hairpin bends, often stepped, leading to the grassy terrace of Servizio (1575m). The few huts are almost all in ruins and the pastureland is now only a temporary stop on the way to the mountain pasture. At the top of the clearing, the path becomes clear again and begins its ascent through a bright larch forest: passing through damp little valleys and finally rounding a rock face, we come out onto the vast plateau of the Alpe del Servizio (1963m). Here the signposting has a sharp decline in quality and no destination is suggested. Without entering between the huts, one must turn sharply to the left in the direction of an obvious path that cuts across the steep slope; now on this track, at a rocky ledge, one must ascend the slope on a vague remnant of a passage (from above one can then see the signs in paint). Having passed a band of low bushes and rhododendrons, an ascending traverse towards the south-east becomes more evident in places; when it tends to level out, at an approximate altitude of (2200m), it is abandoned for good to begin a strenuous ascent on sight of the stones and blocks of the slope at the base of the south-east ridge of our summit.
Taking advantage of the few grassy corridors and less strenuous slabs of solid rock, you reach the very wide ridge: ascending it to the right over the meagre pastureland and some rocks, you gain the summit of Pizzo Truzzo (2723m). For the descent, continue the traverse along the north-west ridge on the edge between the boulders and on vague sheep tracks; after passing a natural tunnel, descend to a depression in the ridge characterised by lighter-coloured rocks: here it is better to abandon the ridge and begin the descent, again and at length on very mobile rocks. The route is best chosen with the visible huts of the Alpe del Servizio at its easternmost core as a reference point. At the end of the scree, the diagonal over the pastureland leads over several depressions defended by steep rock walls: a passage - generally uphill - along narrow gullies or grassy ledges is always present. When you reach an isolated sheet-metal box, you intercept pale markings on the very vague trail coming from the Bivacco del Servizio bivouac above: you soon descend to the Alpe del Servizio. From here, continue on the outward path.

General Information

Path:from contrada Pietra
Signposts:red/white, none
Type of route:partially circular
Recommended period: June, July, August, September, October
Sun exposure:south-east