International Trip on the Swiss-Italian Border 🇮🇹

Members arrived on the 23rd of June for the NUFWS annual international trip which saw members make their way to Chiavenna on Italy’s northern border with Switzerland for a lovely week of walking. A break-in day on the 24th ended with a group descending an unchartered scree slope, spying a marmot and checking out the facilities of the Bivacco Garzonedo. Others, lead by Liv and Issie, made a tour of the mountain villages Motta and Pradella.

The next day members gathered their most prized possessions to travel to the Val de Masino, with the help of an inquisitive bus driver we made it to the start of the walk (up to the rifugio Gianetti) at Bagni di Masino after dropping 3 members at San Martino so they could take a more challenging route up through the passes Qualido and Camerozzo. With many water breaks and petting of numerous mules the main group ascended 1700m vertical in an impressive 5.75hrs dash through the withering heat. After admiring the views, members had a 3 course dinner at the rifugio and got tucked up in their blankets, the 3 members aforementioned strolled into the rifugio at 1am after their extended jaunt.

The next day our plan to ascend the Pizzo Porcellizzo was vetoed by the weather, after a carbohydrate-heavy breakfast and an annoyed Italian man trying to rip us off by charging €50 more than what was owed, the group set off to descend as quickly as possible to duck out of the storms forecasted. After a tiring climb up to Passo del Barbacan and a few braver members excursion along the narrow summit ridge in less than ideal footwear the group set off yet again to shed all the altitude gained the previous day, a long slog down the other side of the pass was short work for NUFWS as we continued down towards tree cover and out of the afternoon sun. We tracked along a nice gravel path that trailed all the way down the Val Codera, one of only a handful in the alps not accessible by any road. The group was eventually ambushed by the storm; Soaked and cold, the group nevertheless powered through to Novate Mezzola where a rail replacement bus returned us to Chiavenna. A much needed stop at a pizza takeaway gave the group just enough energy to drag themselves back to the campsite.

The next day was to be one of rest and the group took the liberty of enjoying the waterfall of Acquafraggia, of which the campsite was named after.

The next morning the group left early for one final ramble to beat the heat and climbed up to Lago Acquafraggia via an apparent ghost town, with 3 members carrying on to the peak Pizzo dello Scudo (2538m) where another marmot, Ibex and bald eagles/vultures were spotted. A dumbfounding view was attained in all directions, the mighty peak of Pizz Gallagiun taunted us behind and to the front the imposing range that made up the other half of the Val Chiavenna did in like fashion flaunt its harsh rocky peaks and swathes of trees below. After a stroll back down the group enjoyed a last evening before heading off the next morning, leaving (hopefully) with an unforgettable experience of the alps that seeks only to give confidence for future excursions whether that be in the UK, Europe as a whole or the wider world. The possibilities are endless and NUFWS hopes that this trip has opened your eyes to what has, is and can be done. On behalf of myself and Markos a massive thank you to those who put the effort in to go above and beyond to make the trip worth planning, it really is appreciated and noticed. Hope you all enjoyed and appreciated the incessant whistling of Bouree. 

Safe future travels e arrivederci!”

Laurence

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