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Poncione Cavagnolo
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- From All'Acqua
From All'Acqua

From All'Acqua (Normal route) Poncione Cavagnolo 2820 m

Difficulty

PD+
Ascent

4 h, 1330 m
Descent

1330 m
Exposure

E, NW

The tour to this summit is an alternative to Poncione Val Piana, which is a popular classic ski tour in this area. After ascending the Val Cavagnolo valley, one can descend to Ghiacciaio di Valleggia and in a fascinating ambiance re-ascend on its western arm to reach a breach below the summit. From there descend the steep slope to follow the ridge below Bocchetta Cavagnolo to reach Passo di Grandinagia with a re-ascent. From here you can descend to All'Acqua via Alpe Val d'Olgia, which makes a very rewarding round trip. The last stretch up to the Poncione Cavagnolo summit is on rotten rock, which due to its exposure is often snow-free. It requires surefootedness. All in all, Poncione Cavagnolo is an outstanding tour in a rarely visited part of Val Bedretto.

The ascent route to the Poncione Cavagnolo. © Annina Reber Bergführerin

The upper part of Val Cavagnolo. © Massimo Gabuzzi

Poncione di Valleggia (left), in the centre is the breach at ca. 2800 m (ski depot for Poncione di Cavagnolo) and Poncione di Cavagnolo is on the right-hand side above the breach. © Massimo Gabuzzi

Poncione di Valleggia (right) and Poncione di Cavagnolo (left) against the sky. In the centre is the breach at ca. 2800 m. The wide slopes on the left-hand side are the upper part of Val Cavagnolo. © Massimo Gabuzzi

From the ski depot to Poncione di Valleggia nearby. © Franziska Fritschi

View from Poncione di Valleggia, it is the same as from Poncione Cavagnolo. © Franziska Fritschi

Route description

All'Acqua – ski depot

From All'Acqua (1614 m) follow the road across Nufenenpass for a short while, then leave it to cross the Ticino river on a bridge. Continue south-eastward, initially in pastures, then through a steep forest under the cables of an army aerial cableway. Follow the summer trail past an army barrack, which is usually buried in deep snow. Exit the sparse forest and cross a creek at ca. 1870 m close to a flat terrace to switch to the other side of Val Cavagnolo. Ascending gradually steeper ridges and using valleys, you reach a wide plain at ca. 2180 m. Traverse the plain and ascend the next slope, which brings you to the third terrace at 2361 m. Now turn north-eastward to ascend a rib. On this rib you reach a steep slope. Ascend it to the breach at 2589 m. Be careful not to get too close to Poncione Cavagnolo (avalanche risk). From there descend 70 metres of vertical height to Ghiacciaio di Valleggia and re-ascend a steep slope giving access to the breach at ca. 2800 m between Poncione Cavagnolo and Poncione di Valleggia. Exercise caution at 2700 m, where the slope steepens (32 - 34°). Leave your skis at the breach.

Ski depot - Poncione Cavagnolo

From the breach on rotten rock scramble the easy and sunlit south-east ridge to reach the summit.

Descent

On the ascent