Walserweg Gottardo

This stage connects Bignasco with the Basodino hut and is almost entirely uphill, so you need to be at your fittest. But not to worry: in the second half and before it becomes really steep, there is an option to take a shortcut. But more about that later: before this comes the Bavona, a primeval and remote valley, which is only inhabited in summer. The path gains altitude on the sunny side of the valley, bordered by chestnut groves. An undulating route, it passes twelve hamlets as far as San Carlo, known as Terre here. After Fontana, the flat trail climbs through the dense forest to the next hamlet of Sebbione. The residents used the blocks as natural building aids for their settlements, stables and cellars. Cultivated land is rare and only around 1.5% of the valley is usable. Therefore, large boulders were covered with earth and used as additional arable land. At Ritorto, you briefly hike on the road that only opened up the valley in 1950 and was created with the construction of the power plant in the Robiei area.

Foroglio is surprising with its waterfall, which rushes down 110 metres over a rock face. A grotto near the bridge invites you to take a break. A short hike is recommended up to the valley with the waterfall. As a former glacial trough valley, the rock faces here often rise steeply until the next terrace plateaus out. On a leisurely trail through the forest on stony paths you cross the Bavona valley river again at Roseto.

The attractiveness of the hamlets in this area is underpinned by strict laws to preserve traditional identity. Apart from in San Carlo, there are no electricity connections to spoil the landscape. A particular gem is the traditional Sonlerto settlement. Their houses and stables were built on a landslide between the boulders. The forest up to San Carlo is also littered with them. the road continues for a few more minutes, arriving directly at the funicular station (Please note departure times). Operating year-round to transport personnel responsible for maintaining the hydroelectric plants, the San Carlo - Robièi cable car is open during the tourist season, transporting more than 20,000 people per year. During the construction of the power plant, the cable car even transported trucks to high altitudes.

For all those who hike up on foot, the most demanding part begins now; a good 5 kilometres up to the destination for this stage: the hike follows the road to a water intake for the power plants and then turns into a path. You go up Alp Campo (Bavona) through the wild mountain forest via the first valley level. The valley becomes even narrower and the rock walls rise steeper into the sky. The wild river makes its way along the blocky stream bed. High up on a rocky outcrop is Capanna da Basodino, the destination for the day. The path snakes through the rocks on steep winding roads, some of which are secured with ropes. To the southwest, you obtain your first glimpse of the Basòdino glacier. It is not far from here now to the cosy hut. Tip: if you prefer something more comfortable, a quarter of an hour further on, you can spend the night in the hexagonal tower, which now serves as a mountain hotel. It was originally built to accommodate the workers who constructed the hydroelectric power station in the 1960s.