Traverse east face – north ridge | Mountain hiking | Swiss Alpine Club SAC
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Traverse east face – north ridge (Normal route) Piz Blanch 2392 m

  • Difficulty
    T4-
  • Ascent
    3 h, 950 m
  • Descent
    2:15 h, 950 m

Easy, rarely undertaken roundtrip

In winter, the barren faces of Piz Blanch are avalanche-prone. This is one of the reasons why the north-south connection across Septimerpass touching the foot of Piz Blanch was abandoned after the roads across Maloja and Julier had been built. Today the col is famous with mountain bikers and hikers, but the unobtrusive Piz Blanch off the beaten path is rarely climbed. There is an attractive, pathless hike up to the summit with its magnificent view. The faces are steep, the summit and the north ridge are exposed, but if you are sure-footed there is no real danger.

Route description

Casaccia – Alpascela
From the lower end of Casaccia the hiking trail leads around the cemetery out of the village, then ascends on pastures to P. 1586 (bridge). Now ascend on the alp trail and the mountain hiking trail through the forest into Val Maroz. From the bifurcation at P. 1791 follow the trail towards Septimerpass (Pass da Sett) for another 300 m then branch off to the right on a distinct path. Through rocky ledges it leads up to Alpascela.
Alpascela – Piz Blanch – mountain trail Septimerpass
Do not hike all the way up to the chalets of Alpascela, but stay on the western bank of the nameless creek. Continue pathless along the creek into the valley. Some wet zones in close proximity of the creek force you to make a detour. From ca. 2100 m the grass is interspersed with bright boulders. From here you can begin to ascend westward towards the summit. You need to find your own way through the blueberry bushes. The direction is correct, if you aim at a large boulder at 2200 m, which is even charted on the map. Now, wherever you like, ascend up the slope directly towards the summit. The higher you climb, the steeper the slope and the more barren the landscape. Apart from the meagre grass, there are lichen and alpine azalea. The exposed summit offers a surprising view to Val Maroz and to Piz Duan, but the famous peaks of southern Bregaglia are also visible. On the descent traverse the summit ridge northward as far as the steep rocky outcrop at P. 2464, then branch off to the left into the face and traverse a depression with some scree to a grassy knoll with a cairn exactly west of P. 2464. Now descend north-westward on grassy slopes requiring caution, as every now and then holes and clefts open. Below you meet the trail across Septimerpass again, roughly where two variants converge.
Mountain trail Septimerpass – Casaccia
Descend as soon as you hit the mountain hiking trail. Shortly afterwards you cross a well preserved historical arched bridge (2169 m). Continue on the mountain hiking trail to Casaccia.

Additional information

Departure and arrival point

Casaccia (1458 m)

Difficulty / Material

Long segments are completely pathless. Then there are steep grassy slopes and an exposed grassy ridge, where sure-footedness and comfort with heights are required.

Waypoints

Pass da la Duana (2697 m)

Col on the way to the neighbouring summit Piz dal Märc.

Soglio (1089 m)

Endpoint of the route to the neighbouring summit Piz dal Märc

Neighbor summit

Piz dal Märc (2947 m)

From Casaccia ascend through the entire Val Maroz and Val da la Duana to reach Pass da la Duana (2697 m). Hike westward to the summit through a barren, vast landscape with slabs. Descend back to the col and southward to Soglio. The trail across the col is marked, the segment from the col to the summit is pathless. 5 h on the ascent, 3½ h on the descent, T4.

«Märc» means «brittle», «rotten» and describes exactly the quality of the rock.

Route last update

12/2017

Author

Fredy Joss

Sabine und Fredy Joss

Alpine hiking, climbing and other mountain sports Sabine and Fredy Joss's passion. They have been writing and photographing for the SAC publishing house and the club magazine Die Alpen for many years. Sabine is also a biologist and tour guide; Fredy a proofreader and editor for various magazines.

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