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Northern Italy – Maxi-METHS + AGM 2016 September 14 – 19

 

Participants:  Gillian (Morticia) and Tony (Lurch) Adams, Martin and Myriam Horrocks, Nigel and Jenny Horrocks, Mick and Judy Ireson, Bridie and Mike Macklin,
Daphne (DM3)Martin, Mike (Mad) and Verena (Mόesli) Petzold, Esther (Molester) Ratsma, Rupert (West Face) and Sally Roschnik, George (Munro) and Val Wallace,
and guest Sue Graveling.

 

On Wednesday, September 14th all 19 participants duly arrived at the Albergo Bellavista in the hamlet of Folsogno, commune of Re, Val Vigezzo.  We were well received by the hotel, although they got nervous when 3 people had not yet arrived when dinner was due.  Then almost miraculously Nigel and Jenny appeared on the doorstep, having had a good run from Malpensa airport near Milan.  No sooner had they greeted the others and sat down when Daphne arrived – her flight had been 3 hours late and she might have had to wait well over an hour for the next train from Domodossola, if some kindly souls had not seen her studying the timetable with dismay and offered her a lift into the Val Vigezzo.  Indeed, they were kind enough to go a few kilometres out of their way to drop her right at the hotel!

After dinner Rupert outlined the general plan for the meet. Although the weather had been fine for almost 2 weeks, a front would hit the area that night and bring rain and unstable weather.  There was some hope for a few hours break in the rain around midday, so the exact destination would only be decided in the morning;  start at 9.30.

 

Thursday 15th

Indeed, there was a thunderstorm during the night and very heavy rain in the early hours.  It was still raining at 9.30 when we left in 5 cars and also 15 minutes later when we stopped near a supermarket in the village of Malesco for various purchases.  Sandwiches had been provided for those that wanted one through the initiative of Sally, who had ordered them from a small grocery in Re.  (They turned out to be excellent, with raw prosciutto and cheese, and we had them the next two days as well.)  There was also a run on a good topographical map of Val Vigezzo, sold at a newsagent's near the supermarket.

By the time everybody had finished shopping – and the Macklins had had a coffee – it had stopped raining and we started walking.  Through the village, down over the river, 300 metres along the main road, then up along paths, tracks and roads past Zornasco village to the town of Craveggia.  Here we waited for stragglers, had a coffee or beer in a small bar and visited the church.  Later Sally led the assembly up through Craveggia's narrow streets to a viewpoint where the town's stone roofs and characteristic chimneys could be admired – a truly striking scene.

We all returned the same way down to the turn off to Malesco on the main road.  Some including Sally and Val then went back to the cars, while the main party continued on a minor road to the village of Villette.  From here an interesting path led back to Folsogno and the hotel.  A tricky stream crossing required some care as the stones were quite slippery.  Ester did her own thing by taking a higher path and managed an extra 300 m or so up and down.  It had remained dry during the whole walk except for a short shower half way to Craveggia, and it rained again in the evening.

 

Later, Rupert gave a talk and projected photos of his round-Switzerland trip, which involved 115 days of walking, climbing, cycling and kayaking, spread out over 14 months.

 

 

Friday 16th

It was still overcast but not raining.  The forecast indicated reasonable weather until the late afternoon.  We left again at 9.30, through Malesco and left the cars just below Passo Scopello.  Sally and Val visited Finero village from here (by car), then walked directly back to Re, mainly downhill, in about 2 hours.  For the other stalwarts, a fairly steep path led up through the forest and caused some heavy breathing.  In the end we emerged onto an easier grassy ridge reminiscent of parts of Mulanje (some said).  Finally, after climbing about 2850 ft we reached a summit known as La Cima, 1810 m or 5938 ft high.

Impressive views of the Vigezzo valley, quite built up even between the villages, and the mountains to the north.  Rupert had intended to continue to another summit or two for those that were willing, but the clouds were heavy and dark and it looked as if it would soon be raining.  So we turned back the way we came.  It did indeed rain on the way down, quite heavily for a time.  Wet leaves and stones on the steep path in the forest required care and one or two people found that their knees no longer responded as they should.  However, everybody reached the cars in the end.

 

That evening we dined at a large hotel/restaurant in Re, partly for the change but also to give our hotel a rest.  The food was good but not as good as in our own hotel and the crowds of tourists in the huge dining room did not provide the best atmosphere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           

 

Saturday 17th

At last a fine day.  We left at 9.15 to go to the cable car below Craveggia to take us up to Piana de Vigezzo at 1714 m, just above the forest.  Here Sally, Val and Sue spent some time on easier, flattish paths before going down again to do some sightseeing in Santa Maria Maggiore, the valley's main town.  The main party climbed up to a shallow col then traversed right across to below Cima del Sassone, on a clearly visible path that turned out not to be the best choice – steep grass and alpine rose bushes to wade through – so progress was slower than it might have been.  Daphne and Gillian turned back about two thirds of the way across, found a much better path lower down and went down again in the cable car, to meet up again with Sally's group.  Rupert had earlier sent Ester up an additional summit, Cima Trubbio, 2011 m, from where she was easily able to catch up with the main party.

 

                                         

 

Seven keen walkers went up to the summit of Cima del Sassone, 2085 m, then we all returned along a well marked path over Pizzo Formalone, 2062 m, and an unnamed hump at 2044 m, then down to Bocchetta di Sant'Antonio and to the car park near Rifugio Blitz, about 1190 m, from where Sally took the drivers down to the cable car to collect the cars.  On the way, Ester, Mick and Rupert had traversed Monte Ziccher, 1967 m.  Ester, still not tired and wanting to do more, opted not to take a car back but descended directly to the hotel (only another 500 m downhill through the forest!).

The AGM was held in the hotel that evening, a very orderly and disciplined meeting, with no awkward questions.  All the Office Bearers were re-elected en bloc.  Next year's AGM and Maxi-METHS will be organised in Scotland by George (Munro) Wallace and Eric (Polevault) Scott.  Three cheers for them!

 

Sunday 18th

All the participants were very happy with the meet and departed in various directions.

 

 

 


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