Aug 18: Tue - hike up to Cap. Tencia

Post date: Aug 19, 2009 12:10:59 AM

Checked out of Faido -> drove up to tiny village of Dalpe.

Dalpe: another gem of a place. Trail head to Cap. Tencia (hut). About a 3200' elev gain over 6+ miles.
Met local at trail head who spoke good English. He gave us some tips, and said "you picked one of our best hikes around."
Hike up the Val Piumogna took about 2.5 hours. We're in really good shape, and it was hardly a strain.
Stopped there and ate our lunch, then hiked another mile up the to the valley head to Lago Morghirolo (high alpine lake).
More stunning beauty in this valley. Tons of water falls, and surrounded by knife-like peaks. Lots of granite in these mountains.

After a week and a half, we still have NOT met a single American hiker on any of our hikes. I think that is great news. We're definitely taking the back roads --- Rick Steves hasn't mentioned any of these!

Back to car by 4pm. Drove down to Biasca, then up to tiny village of Grumo. The day before I met a lady (Wendy) who worked in Biasca near by where we ate. As the conversation continued she invited us to stay with them in their tiny sheep farm about 30 minutes up the valley. And of course they were as very familiar with some of their favorite hikes in the area.

SEE UPDATED SLIDESHOW (TICINO REGION) for pics.

Can't say enough about their generous hospitality. Wonderful kids and lots of great conversation tonite. Husband Raimondo is a character and had many stories to tell. We looked at scrapbook of their hut way up in the hills (sheep are up in that area now), and also shared some pics/videos on my iPhone. Two of their daughters (Nadine and Lisa) were fun to get to know. Nadine (grade 9) is a terrific mathematician (she showed me all her summer work) and it exceeds the quality of what I typically see of students in our system. Lisa, the oldest, is in a boarding school over near Innsbruck working on a diploma in agriculture. She loves skiing, of course. And a neighbor girl, Anna, speaks primarily Italian, but is learning English beginning this next school year.