SNOWSHOE TOURS ON MONTE ROSA
Walking with snowshoes is one of the best ways to enjoy the beauty of the winter mountains. An activity suitable for everyone, even for those who can’t ski! No particular aptitudes are required and with a little practice you become familiar with “snowshoes”. Snowshoes are mainly used on fresh snow and on slopes that are not too steep, they have 2 major limits: steep slopes and ice.
Here are 3 snowshoe trails starting from Alagna.
ALAGNA – RIVA VALDOBBIA
Departure: m 1191 asl
Arrival: m 1112 asl
Difference in altitude: 79 m
Difficulty: easy and short
Walking time: about 45 min, stopping at Riva Valdobbia but depending on the quantity and quality of the snow.
Starting from the village of Alagna, along the Sesia river downhill, before the end of the village you will find a bridge on the left that crosses the river. From here starts the snow-covered path and you walk to the side of the cross-country ski track until the hamlet Gabbio, where crossing the iron bridge you get to Riva Valdobbia in Sesietta. Alternatively you can continue even further until you do the whole ring of the track.
Return along the same route.
ALAGNA – FRAZIONI DI “UNNA-HIN”
Departure: m 1191 asl
Arrival: m 1260 asl
Difference in altitude: 69 m
Difficulty: easy and short
Walking time: about 40 min but depends on the quantity and quality of the snow
Starting from the village of Alagna, passing through Piazza degli Alberghi, after a few meters there is a bridge that crosses the river Sesia. Crossing the bridge you arrive at Z’am Tachji. Here the snowy path begins and you take the path that climbs to the left. Through the meadows you reach the hamlet Ponte and then continue towards Pedemonte, home of the Walser Museum.
Take off the snowshoes, continuing along the oratory of San Nicolao after about 30 meters cross a bridge that leads to the villages Uterio and San Nicolao. From here you put the snowshoes again and passing behind the structures of two ancient mills, follow the path that runs along the waalweg leads to Wold.
Return along the same route.
ALAGNA – OTRO
Departure: m 1191 asl
Arrival: m 1664 asl
Difference in altitude: m 473
Difficulty level: medium
Walking time: approximately 1.15 hours, always depends on the quantity and quality of the snow.
Departure from the village of Alagna, from Piazza Grober. The first section is in the village on a paved and clean path. After the hamlet of Riale begins the path n. 203 to the valley of the Otro. Here you wear snowshoes. The route develops on a beautiful mule track on average uphill through the forest. After a little more than an hour you arrive in the plain of Otro on which overlook some Walser hamlets.
Return along the same route.