CHAPTER VI.

_BERGAMASQUE VALLEYS._

APPROACHES AND CARRIAGE-ROADS.

The Milan-Lecco and Milan-Bergamo railroads, the Val Tellina; the high-roads from Bergamo, Brescia, and the Val Camonica to Clusone; Varenna and Bellano on the Lago di Como, are also good starting-points.

There are carriage-roads up all the main valleys, but none between them, except in the case of Val Seriana and Val di Scalve.

INNS.

_Esino._ Food for the Grigna can be procured at the first house in the upper village (1874).

_Introbbio._ The Albergo delle Miniere is closed, and there is only a very indifferent country Inn, 'Osteria Antica,' in the middle of the town (1874).

_Val Brembana._

_Val Torta._ Bread, eggs, and wine may be had here.

There is a good country Inn at the cross-roads below Olmo (1874).

_Branzi._ The accommodation has been improved. Very civil but slow people (1874).

_San Pellegrino._ Bath-house, with warm iron springs.

_Zogno._ Inn strongly recommended by Herr Tschudi as a comfortable centre for excursions.

_S. Omobuono_ in Val Imagna. Bath-house; iron springs.

_Val Seriana._

_Bondione._ Very rough, but clean beds (1874).

_Gromo._ Capital country Inn, with quick hostess (1874).

For other Inns, see 'Alpine Guide.'

ROUTES.

In this region every gap between two peaks is passable, and most of them are used more or less by the people of the country. For a detailed account of many of these side glens and byways the reader is referred to Tschudi's 'Schweizerführer,' vol. iii. 'Ostschweiz,' a very handy work.

It is only possible here to indicate a few routes and excursions. Carriage travellers must in each valley return the way they came; except that, from Clusone, they may turn eastwards to the Lago d'Iseo.

1. (Described in the text as far as Monte Gleno). Monte Grigna, Introbbio, Val Torta, Branzi, Passo di Gornigo, Bondione, Monte Gleno, descend to Schilpario in Val di Scalve, cross one of the passes to Val Camonica, or drive back to Clusone (5 days).

2. From Lecco through Val Imagna to Almenno and Val Brembana, from Zogno by Oltre il Colle to Ponte di Nossa and Clusone, ascend Presolana, and descend through the lower Val di Scalve to Val Camonica (3 days).

3. From Sondrio ascend Corno Stella (8,595 ft.) by a path recently made by the Italian Alpine Club; descend to Branzi; cross Passo di Gornigo, or by the sources of the Brembo to Fiumenero; ascend Monte Redorta (9,975 ft.) and return to Sondrio (3 days).

Other excursions to be recommended are the ascents of Monte Aralalta, or rather the exploration of the glens round its base, and the ascent of the Pizzo dei Tre Signori. See 'Alpine Guide,' p. 452.

CHAPTERS VII., VIII., IX., X., XI.

_ADAMELLO AND BRENTA GROUPS._

APPROACHES AND CARRIAGE-ROADS.

From the Engadine by the Bernina and Aprica Passes, 2 days' drive from Pontresina to Edolo. From Lago di Como by the Val Tellina and Aprica Pass, a day and a half's drive from Colico to Edolo. From Bergamo or Brescia by Lago d'Iseo and Val Camonica, a day and a half's drive to Edolo. From Brescia by Lago d'Idro and Tione to Pinzolo, 2 days' drive. From Riva by Lago di Ledro and Tione, a day and a half's drive, or by Alle Sarche, a day's drive, to Campiglio. From Trent by Vezzano and Alle Sarche to Campiglio, a day. From San Michele by Val di Non to Malè, one day from Botzen. From Sta. Catarina by the Gavia Pass to Ponte di Legno (mule-road).

The only carriage-passes in this district are the Aprica and Tonale. A new carriage-road from Pinzolo to Campiglio is just opened. It is proposed to carry it on over the Ginevrie Pass to Val di Sole.

INNS.

_Val Camonica._

_Edolo._ Due Mori, fair and reasonable (1874).

_Ponte di Legno._ Inn clean, good food, civil people (1873).

_Cedegolo._ Fair accommodation; exorbitant charges (1874).

_Val di Sole._

_Malè._ Exorbitant charges (J. G. 1874).

_Fosine, Dimaro._ Fair country Inns; clean beds (1871).

_Pejo._ Slow and slovenly people, bad food (1871).

_Rabbi._ Rough, but clean beds, and enough to eat (1873).

_Campiglio._ Inn and Pension. Accommodation good, food indifferent, charges somewhat high. Reductions and great improvements promised for this year (1875), when it reopens under a new management.

_Giudicaria._

_Pieve di Buono._ Fair country Inn (1874).

_Pieve di Ledro._ Inn and Pension. Fairly comfortable (1874).

_Baths of Comano._ Good food and accommodation (1874).

_Tione._ Cavallo Bianco, a good country Inn (1874).

_Pinzolo._ Bonapace's. Food and lodging much improved; great civility (1874).

" Posta. Also well spoken of by English visitors (1874).

_Stenico._ A fair country Inn (1874).

THE ADAMELLO GROUP

PASSES.

_Passo delle Malghette._

Campiglio to Pelizzano--5½ hours, easy.

_Passo di Cercen._

Bedole Alp to Vermiglio 7-8 hrs., rope required. See p. 203.

_Passo di Presena._

Mandron hut to Vermiglio.

_Bocchetta di Marocaro_, &c. See 'Alpine Guide,' p. 476.

_Passo del Mandron._

Bedole Alp to Val d'Avio and Ponte di Legno, easy glacier pass, 9-10 hrs. See p. 227.

_Passo d'Avio._

Gap at N. base of Adamello; difficult descent into Val d'Avio.

_Passo d'Adamello._

Bedole Alp to Edolo. Gap near S. foot of Adamello; tolerably easy descent into Val Miller, 6 hrs. up, 6 down. See p. 218.

_Passo d'Adame._

Bedole Alp to Cedegolo. A long but easy glacier pass.

_Passo di Fum._

Val di Fum to Val di Genova, by Passo dei Topeti. A direct descent of the Lobbia Glacier has yet to be effected.

_Passo di San Valentino._ See 'Alpine Guide,' p. 480.

_Passo di Breguzzo._

Val di Fum to Breguzzo; easy.

_High-level route from Val di Borzago_ to _Val d'Avio_.

From Val Rendena to highest hut in Val di Borzago, 4½ hrs.; Carè Alto, 4 hrs.; Passo di Cavento. Lares--Fum Glaciers 2½; Passo della Lobbia Alta; Lobbia--Mandron Glaciers, 1; Passo di Mandron, 1½ hr.; down to Ponte di Legno, 4 hrs.; four hours shorter without the Carè Alto. See p. 224.

PEAKS.

_Presanella_, 11,688 ft.--3 routes.

1. From Passo di Cercen--up, 3½ hrs., down, ¾ hr. See p. 199.

2. From Val di Genova by Val Gabbiol.

3. From Val Nambrone or Pinzolo by the Nardis Glacier--the easiest--a day and a half from Campiglio or Pinzolo.

_Adamello_, 11,637 ft.--5 routes.

1. From Bedole Alp, ascent 6¼ hrs., easy. See p. 211.

2. From Alp in Val d'Avio by P. di Mandron, easy, and not longer than from Bedole.

3. From Alp in Val d'Avio by Passo d'Avio, more direct, but difficult.

4. From Val Miller, not difficult with a good guide, when the rocks are free from ice, but unknown to the people of the country.

5. From Val di Salarno or Val d'Adame, easy.

A good day's walk for an active mountaineer, from the Bedole Alp, over the Adamello, to Ponte di Legno, Edolo, or Cedegolo.

_Carè Alto_, 11,357 ft. (more probably 11,500). See p. 224.

From highest comfortable châlet in Val di Borzago, 6 hrs. by the W. ridge. The E. ridge may prove possible and shorter. It is possible to descend over the Lares Glacier into Val di Genova, to pass through the Passo di Cavento into Val di Fum, or to take the course to Val Camonica above referred to. A direct ascent of the peak from Val di Fum looks very difficult.

The minor summits of this group have not all been attained; there are none which appear to offer serious difficulties.

THE BRENTA GROUP.

PASSES.

_Passo del Grostè._

Campiglio--Flavona Alp, 4 hrs., easy.

_Bocca di Vallazza._

Flavona Alp--Val delle Seghe--Molveno. Rough walking, difficult to find in fog, and not known in the country. In descending, keep near the stream down to the bottom of the first step, afterwards on the left bank, recrossing at the plain where the two branches of Val delle Seghe unite.

_Passo di Flavona._

Flavona Alp--Spor. Easy mule-road.

From the Flavona Alp a rough cart-track leads through Val Teresena to Tuenno in Val di Non in 4½ hrs. See p. 270.

_Bocca della Vallesinella._

Campiglio by the Vallesinella to N. branch of Val delle Seghe. A fine pass, crosses a glacier, 7-8 hrs.

_Bocca di Brenta._ See 'Alpine Guide,' p. 487.

At least 9 hrs. from Pinzolo to Molveno.

_Passo d'Ambies._ See p. 257.

Pinzolo or Campiglio to Baths of Comano, 10-11 hrs.; requires a good guide or practised climber and a rope. From Bocca dei Camozzi (see post) turn left to gap in snowy ridge at head of Val Agola Glacier. Descend trough at S. corner of gap into head of Val d'Ambies. It is much the same distance whether the traveller goes at once into the glen, or skirts to the right before descending. Tracks are soon found in either case.

Pass from Val d'Ambies to Val Cedeh and Molveno, not difficult.

Pass from Val d'Ambies to Val d'Algone; no information, but certainly easy.

Pra Fiori Pass, Pinzolo--Val d'Algone, a good mule-path, 3 to 3½ hrs. to glassworks; thence carriage-road to Stenico.

PEAKS.

B. Nicolosi of Molveno is an excellent guide for the Brenta group. He is strong, skilful, and always in a good temper.

No information as to the minor peaks N. of the Cima di Brenta, the Sasso Alto, Sasso Rosso, Mondifra and Cima di Grostè. It is believed they have been ascended from Campiglio.

_Cima di Brenta_, 10,615 ft.

Up 5 hrs., down 3 hrs. Follow path through wood, round S. base of Monte Spinale; ascend the Vallesinella to the châlet, cross stream, and climb zigzag path to brow overlooking Val Brenta. Skirt Val Brenta side of some rocks, then recross into head of the Vallesinella; ascend glacier seen among the cliffs right. From platform at its head climb rocks left, and pass over the first to the highest peak. See p. 264.

2nd route, from _Bocca della Vallesinella_.

_Cut up steep snow-slope S. of Bocca, and keep close to the E. side of a small glacier--up 1½ hr., down 20 m._

_Cima Tosa_, 10,780 feet. See p. 275 and 'Alpine Guide,' p. 489.

_Cima di Nafdisio_, or _Cinglo di Movlina_, 10,000 ft. (?) The peak visible from Pinzolo. Unascended.

EXCURSIONS FROM PINZOLO.

Guides recommended by the Trentine Alpine Society--G. Botteri, employed by Payer; G. Catturani, has ascended the Adamello; Antonio dalla Giacoma, detto Lusion da Caderzone; all know the Presanella. Good donkeys, but no mules or side-saddles, are to be had at Pinzolo. B. Nicolosi, of Molveno, has been up the Carè Alto. N. Clemente of Roncone (near Tione) knows Val di Fum. Francesco P. Peotta and Sebastiano D. Roer, both of Stenico, for Val d'Algone and the Cima Tosa (?)

_For moderate walkers._

Pra Fiori. Along ridge to Dos di Sabione, descend through Val Agola, 6 to 8 hrs.

For other excursions in the Brenta group, see Campiglio.

In the Adamello range,--

La Porta dell' Amola. See 'Alpine Guide,' p. 471.

Lago di San Giuliano and Corno Alto. Must command fine views.

Bedole and Venezia châlets. 8 hrs. there and back; car-road for some miles, then horse-path 'Alpine Guide,' p. 475.

Val di Borzago. 1 hrs. drive, to Borzago 2 hrs. walk, up valley. Should, if possible, be combined with Corno Alto.

_For climbers._ See Peaks and Passes, ante.

EXCURSIONS FROM CAMPIGLIO.

Guides. See Pinzolo. A forester can generally be found, and, except on snow or ice, these men are as a rule quite capable. Donkeys may be hired, and side-saddles are promised for 1875. Visitors will find it easy to add largely to the list given below.

_For moderate walkers._

Monte Spinale, 3 hrs. easy walking.

Monte Ritorto, a little longer.

Vallesinella and tour of Monte Spinale--a beautiful walk.

Vallesinella. Follow path to Cima Tosa (see ante), but instead of recrossing into Vallesinella, follow track right, leading to upper level of Val di Brenta--the finest easy excursion.

To head of Val di Brenta, 5 to 6 hrs. there and back.

Val Agola, Dos di Sabione, Pinzolo; or Val Agola, Glassworks in Val d'Algone, Pinzolo. See ante.

_For climbers._

Bocca dei Camozzi, Campiglio--Pinzolo. Mount glacier S.W. of Cima Tosa to head, descend glacier falling towards Val Agola, leaving it on its left bank, 11 hrs.; rope necessary; a magnificent walk.

See Peaks and Passes, ante. The Cima Tosa and Cima di Brenta can be ascended without sleeping out.

ROUTES.

_For riders and carriage travellers._

Cross the Aprica, and Tonale Passes, Val di Sole, Ginevrie Pass, Campiglio, Pinzolo, Tione, Riva, by Lago di Ledro, Baths of Comano, Stenico, Molveno, San Michele.

_For walkers._

Coming from the Orteler. For High Passes from Santa Catarina to Val di Sole, see Appendix C. Over the Presanella to Pinzolo and Campiglio; over Cima di Brenta to Molveno; return by Cima Tosa to Pinzolo, Val di Genova, Adamello, Ponte di Legno; [or Adamello, Val Saviore, Val di Fum, Carè Alto by Passo di Cavento, descending to Tione by Val di Borzago.]