Varrone delle Vacche, from Laveggiolo
Access
From Milan to Morbegno along state roads 36 and 38; at the roundabout at the entrance to the town turn right towards Valgerola. Go up the valley until just beyond the village of Gerola Alta: here - just before the ice palace - turn right towards Laveggiolo. Park in the small square in the contrada.
Introduction
The Pizzo Varrone presents itself from the side facing the Valtellina as a conspicuous tripartite cusp: the only easily practicable peak is the grassy Varrone delle Vacche; the Dente is built with crumbly, earthy rocks and there is no trace left of the old chain-assisted route (there are, however, a few alpine routes along the NO slabs); the Dentino presents forgotten alpine qualities. The open panorama of the pre-Alpine backdrop in a semicircle over the Po Valley is marvellous.
Description
From Laveggiolo 1471m, follow the forest track for a short distance, which is forbidden to unauthorised traffic, until the old mule track branches off to the left. This, with a mainly flat route, leads to the bridge over the Val Vedrano stream and then climbs to rejoin the forest track. Follow it uphill to reach, near a mountain hut, a new section of mule track: after a traverse, this climbs for the last time to converge on the dirt track a few hundred metres before the Casera di Trona Soliva 1907m (Refuge). With a wide turn through the pastures - and leaving the track for the Bocche di Trona to the right - you pass at altitude alongside the dam and the Inferno reservoir; you pass within sight of the nearby FALC hut 2115m in the direction of the stony, rocky track that leads to the Bocchetta di Piazzocco 2252m. From here, overlooked by the adjacent Pizzo dei Tre Signori and dominating all the Lombardy and Piedmontese pre-Alps, climb up the grassy right-hand ridge to the small summit forecourt of Varrone delle Vacche 2327m.
Return along the outward route.