From All'Acqua to Poncione di Val Piana (Normal route) Poncione Val Piana 2660 m
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- Difficulty
- PD+
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- Ascent
- 3 h, 1050 m
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- Descent
- 1050 m
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- Exposure
- W, NW
This is the classic ascent in the beautiful Val Cavagnolo, which initially is in a sparse forest and then on open slopes until the foot of Poncione Cavagnolo. At the end of the valley, there is a descent to Ghiacciaio di Valleggia followed by an ascent on the other side to reach Capanna Cristallina hinauf. This is the well-known tour called "Il giro del Cristallina" in Italian. If Poncione di Val Piana is your target, you do not descend to the glacier, but ascend the last steep slope instead, which leads up to the slender summit high above Val Piana. It is an awesome tour!
Route description
All'Acqua – ski depot
From All'Acqua (1614 m) follow the road across Nufenenpass for a short while, then leave it to cross the Ticino river on a bridge. Continue south-eastward, initially in pastures, then through a steep forest under the cables of an army aerial cableway. Follow the summer trail past an army barrack, which is usually buried in deep snow. Exit the sparse forest and cross a creek at ca. 1870 m close to a flat terrace to switch to the other side of Val Cavagnolo. Ascending gradually steeper ridges and using valleys, you reach a wide plain at ca. 2180 m. Traverse the plain and ascend the next slope, which brings you to the third terrace at 2361 m. Now turn north-eastward to ascend a rib. On this rib you reach a steep slope. Ascend it to the breach at 2589 m. Be careful not to get too close to Poncione Cavagnolo (avalanche risk). From this point ascend the last steep slope, which on the last stretch turns into a ridge.
Ski depot - Poncione di Val Piana
From the ski depot ascend the easy and short snow-covered ridge to the summit. If the conditions are favourable, it can be reached on skis, otherwise on foot.
Descent
On the ascent