Italian Alps Sketches in the Mountains of Ticino, Lombardy, the Trentino, and Venetia
CHAPTER V.
_TARASP AND THE LIVIGNO DISTRICT._
APPROACHES AND CARRIAGE ROADS.
From the Rheinthal by the Prätigau and Fluela roads. From the Tyrolese Innthal by the new road from the Finstermünz through the Lower Engadine. From the Etschthal (Vintschgau), by the Münsterthal and Ofen road (now practicable for carriages, and crossed by a diligence), or by the Stelvio road to the Baths of Bormio. The high-roads of the Val Tellina and Bernina Pass skirt the district on the S. and W.
INNS.
_Klosters._
Hotel and Pension Silvretta--frequented by Swiss--good (1866).
_Lower Engadine._
_Lavin_, two new good Inns, Piz Linard, or Post, and Steinbock (1871).
_Zernetz._ Bär, best (1871).
_Livigno._ A very rude country Inn (1866).
_Val Viola._ No inns between La Rosa and Bormio (1873).
PASSES FROM THE SOUTHERN RHINE VALLEY INTO THE LOWER ENGADINE.
Fluela Pass, carriage-road. Vereina Pass, Klosters--Süs; rough walk. Verstankla Thor, Klosters--Lavin Glacier Pass, see p. 98. Silvretta Pass, Klosters--Guarda Glacier Pass, see 'Alpine Guide,' p. 358. Grialetsch Pass, Davos--Süs, taking on the way Piz Vadret, a difficult rock-climb.
For the passes from the Tyrolese valleys of Montafon and Paznaun see Tschudi's 'Ostschweiz,' Herr Weilenmann's 'Aus der Firnenwelt,' vol. ii., and Weltenberger's 'Rhätikon-Kette, Lechthaler, und Vorarlberger Alpen,' Perthes, 1875 (valuable map), and 'Alpine Guide,' p. 362.
EXCURSIONS FROM TARASP.
See Tschudi's 'Schweizerführer: Ostschweiz.' Recommended for climbers, Piz Linard, 11,207 ft. Piz Pisoc, 10,427 ft., or Piz Lischanna, 10,181 ft., returning by the Scarlthal.
LIVIGNO DISTRICT.--PASSES.
Guides competent for any mountaineering in this district can be found at Zernetz, and probably also at the Baths of Bormio.
_From the Engadine_ to _Val Livigno_.
From the Ofenhaus by path through the gorge of the Spöl. See 'Alpine Guide,' p. 418.
Through Val Cluoza and Val del Diavel, and over Passo del Diavel, 7½ hrs. See pp. 112-14.
From Scanfs; Casana Pass, horse-road. 'Alpine Guide,' p. 418.
From Ponte; Lavirum Pass. 'Alpine Guide,' p. 418.
Bernina Häuser by Val del Fain and the Passo della Stretta. 'Alpine Guide,' p. 406.
_Passes from Val Livigno to Val Viola._
To Semogo and Bormio by the Passo di Foscagno. 'Alpine Guide,' p. 417. Horse-road.
To Dosdè Alp by Zembrasca Pass, foot, 5½ hrs. easy, and does not lie over ice as marked on most maps.
To Val Viola Poschiavina, by Passo di Mera (P. di Campo of A. C. map), foot. 'Alpine Guide,' p. 415.
To La Rosa by the Forcola and Val Agone, horse-road. 'Alpine Guide,' p. 417.
For the Passo di Val Viola see 'Alpine Guide,' p. 415. Most walkers will require an hour more than the time allowed by Mr. Ball.
_Passes between Val Viola_ and _the Val Tellina_.
From Campo to Val Grosina; Passo di Verva, mule-road (?) 'Alpine Guide,' p. 404.
From Dosdè Alp to Val Grosina; Passo di Dosdè, Glacier Pass, 6 hrs. to Grosio. See pp. 119-20.
Between this and the next there is another glacier pass to be discovered.
From Val Viola Poschiavina, to Val Grosina; Passo di Sacco, 'Alpine Guide,' p. 404.
LIVIGNO DISTRICT.--PEAKS.
_Between Engadine_ and _Val Livigno_.
_Piz Quatervals_, 10,358 ft., the highest in this range, easiest from Val Cluoza, but can be reached from any side.
_Piz d'Esen_, 10,269 ft. from Scanfs.
_Between Val Livigno_ and _Val Viola_.
_Monte Foscagno_, 10,130 ft. (?) } No information. _Monte delle Mine_, 10,800 ft. }
_Monte Zembrasca_, 10,700 ft. (?), 10,827 Studer.
The ground at the head of Val Tressenda is very inaccurately laid down on all maps. I assume the snow-peak conspicuous at the head of Val Tressenda to be Monte Zembrasca, and the slightly higher rock summit lying further E. to be the Monte delle Mine.
_Punta del Campo_, 10,843 ft. (Monte Vazzugna of A. C. map) ascended in 1866.
_Between Val Viola_ and _Val Tellina_.
_Cima di Piazza_, 11,713 ft. (?), first ascended in 1867 by Herr Weilenmann, 6½ to 7½ hrs. from Baths of Bormio; 2½ to châlets of Madonna d'Oga, then leaving the Cima San Colombano on the left, in 4½ hrs. to the top--rope required.
_Pizzo di Dosdè_; unascended from Dosdè Alp. [Correct 'Alpine Guide,' p. 416, column 1, line 9 from bottom, by omitting words from ascended to Walker.]
_Corno di Lago Spalmo_, 10,950 ft., highest peak unascended; the 2nd reached in 1866.
_Corno di Dosdè_, 10,597 ft. See 'Alpine Guide,' p. 416.
_Cima di Saoseo_, unascended, 10,729 ft.
_Punta di Teo_, 10,007 ft., from Poschiavo or La Rosa, a sharp scramble at the end.
_Pizzo di Sena_, 10,099 ft.
ROUTES.
Carriage travellers can drive over the Fluela and Ofen Passes, and thence by the Stelvio to the Lombard Alps.
Moderate walkers and riders should ascend the Schwarzhorn from the Fluela, go from Tarasp by the Scarlthal to the Ofenhaus and Livigno, and thence by the Passo di Foscagno and Passo di Verva to the Val Tellina.
For walkers a good route is by Silvretta Glacier to Lower Engadine, ascend Piz Linard or Piz Pisoc, returning by Scarlthal to Zernetz. Livigno by Passo del Diavel; to châlets of Monte Elia in Val Viola by Passo di Foscagno; ascend Cima di Piazza, and descend through Val Grosina or to the Baths of Bormio.