Photo and text by Enrico Minotti

 

A steady climb on snowshoes in a highly original experience immersing the hiker in a magicalsetting. 
 

Let me start by saying: the winter outing towards Lendine that I&´m pointing up in these pages is not for everyone. The key problem at this time of the year is the difficulty in being able to follow the route accurately which when covered with snow is hardly recognisable if it&´s your first time and has not been signalled by earlier hikers.
 

The excursion upwards requires around 2 hours, plus the return leg and sets out from Olmo, a hamlet in the municipality of San Giacomo Filippo (1056m) where you can leave the car near the church. And it&´s right behind the church that the path towards Lendine (1710m) heads off. In winter the snow disguises all, including signposting but you must follow the trail towards the larch forest to be off on the right footing. When I took on the route last winter I donned snowshoes on arrival at the bridge from where the slopes begin to become more serious.

Behind, in the distance, the mass of Pizzo Stella stands out with the east ridge of Calcagnolo particularly highlighted. The further you head towards Lendine the more the woodland thins out. Arrival at our destination is stirring at the very least. A genuine piece of heaven. A dazzling light picks out shapes buried by the heavy snows and electrifies the air, valley and sky. Infinity almost. We could be in a Segantini painting. For a photographer there&´s no shortage of subject matter. Beyond the snow-laden huts from south to west Monte Mater, il Pizzaccio, the saddle of the Lendine pass and the Campanile di Val Marina create the natural amphitheatre. To the north the outstanding rocky barrier linking the Truzzo basin and stretching out further to the east to the craggy Camoscere. To the west, Pizzo Stella, il Galleggione and the plateau of Lago Grande partially obscure the view of the mountains of Val Bregaglia. Lendine in winter is a silent, almost mystical spot. I suggest you take all the time you need to appreciate this very special corner of Valle Spluga.
 

For the return trip - and for those who feel up to it - why not stretch it a little and take in Laguzzolo (1750m) and the lake up there. But it helps if someone knows the area well to avoid unnecessary and draining ups and downs. The small lake marked on the map (1839m) is not always easy to spot in winter. Close to a small chapel you&´ll find the only signposting (on a boulder) indicating the return route.