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Pizzo Straciugo
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Mountain hiking
- South-west ridge
South-west ridge

South-west ridge Pizzo Straciugo 2712 m

Difficulty

T5-
Ascent

4:30 h, 1420 m
Descent

3:15 h, 1420 m

On the wolf’s trail

On Alpe Pontimia ruins of an alp dwelling are proof of intensive alpine farming in former times. This secluded, charming alp is characterised by knolls and the attractive Pontimia lakes. In 2002 Zwischbergental and especially Alpe Pontimia made headlines, when a wolf that immigrated from Italy killed more than 20 sheep. Afterwards livestock guardian dogs were used and stopped further kills.

Pizzo Straciugo above the Pontimia lakes. On the left-hand side is the wide Ricca. (09/2007) © Fredy Joss

Pontimiaseewjini and Pizzo d'Andolla. © Christine Derivaz

Route description

Zwischbergen – Pontimia lakes

From Zwischbergen walk on the road and partly on a hiking trail through Zwischbergental up to the artificial lake at Fah. Right behind the lake cross the bridge to reach the other bank of Zwischbergenbach. About 1 km upstream a path branches off towards Alpe Pontimia. Zigzagging steeply up through shrubs of green alder the mountain hiking trail leads up to Alpe Pontimia. Partly on only faint trails and along knolls you reach the deeply blue Pontimia lakes (Pontimiaseewjini).

Pontimia lakes – Pizzo Straciugo

Shortly above the lake at P. 2248 leave the trail which leads to Passo di Pontimia and hike pathless north across the stony pastures. North of P. 2423 you reach the ridge, which at the same time is also the border of Italy. Ascend on the ridge interspersed with rocks to the Ricca summit (2533 m). From the summit a short, slightly exposed descent north-eastwards through rocky terrain leads you to a saddle. Then follow the exposed grassy and rocky ridge with short climbing passages (some steps just under II) until the summit face of Pizzo Straciugo. Ascend on scree slopes and grassy ribs and at the end on a ridge to the summit with its splendid 360° view.

Descent

Descend on the same route until Bord.

Variant through the south face

The exposed ridge between Ricca and Pizzo Straciugo can be bypassed by branching off north of P. 2462 into the east face of Ricca and then traversing the steep grassy slopes interspersed with rocks to Pizzo Straciugo. T4+. You can also reach the south face by crossing Passo di Pontimia. It is only slightly easier, but you lose more altitude.

Additional information

Departure and arrival point

Zwischbergen, Bord (1357 m)

Overnight accommodation at the recommendable Bord Inn: www.bord-zwischbergen.ch

In the summer season there is a call bus to Zwischenbergen Bord, reservation +41 79 713 70 02 at least 2 hours before departure until 18:00.

From Gondo very long approach (plus 2 hours).

Get there Google Maps

Zwischbergen, Bord

Difficulty / Material: Until the Pontimia lakes there is a marked mountain hiking trail, which is in parts rather faint across Alpe Pontimia. Afterwards hike pathless in stony pastures and schrofen (grassy slope interspersed with rocks) to the Ricca summit. After a short descent and an ascent on a slightly exposed ridge you reach the summit slope of Pizzo Straciugo. This stretch on an exposed ridge can be bypassed on the south-west (see variant).

Waypoints

Passo di Pontimia (2379 m)

Col on the variant.

Ricca (2533 m)

Neighbor summit

Cima Dora (2453 m)

Cima Dora is not a very distinct summit, but a beautiful vantage point nevertheless. Take the main route until the bifurcation towards Alpe Pontimia. Now stay on the valley floor and hike upstream along Zwischbergenbach, then on steep slopes up to Alpe Porcareccia and to Passo d’Andolla. Up to here the trail is marked, but partly only hardly visible. Continue eastward again on faint trails to reach Cima Dora within a few minutes on a slightly exposed ridge. Descend on the same route. Zwischbergen – Cima Dora 4 h, Cima Dora – Zwischbergen 3 h, T4–.