14 Sept. 2012 We decided to drive up into the valley above Argegno and kick around the small towns there. We picked up a few kitchen items so we could do a better job of cooking in the next 4 weeks. The owner of our apartment had described some wonderful hiking opportunities in the mountains around Lake Como. This one was a classic “turn left at the fruit stand with the canvas awning and drive up the narrow road, as if there is another type around here, as far as it goes until it ends. Go through the small gate and head to the top.” The hike was fantastic and we only wished we had started earlier in the day. We ended up at better than 6000 feet and above the tree line with views of over 70 miles to the snow covered alps of Switzerland off to the north and Milan in the haze to the south.
I think there are only three or four color chips at the paint stores in all of Italy. This is Mustard Yellow. But it does make for some great warm light.
This is the basic Italian “Beware of Dog” sign with the exception that 99% of them have an image of a German Shepherd on them. But it is much more realistic of true Italian dog ownership where most dogs are real real real small. We will be looking for a few of these to take back to Hosuton though.
Finally made it to the trail head after the requisite pre-hike lunch of panini and birra.
There are some very interesting and basic structures with private property signs along the trail which must belong to the caretakers of the livestock in the area.
.
When you stand near a structure like this I can not help but think of all of the labor which went into collecting, carrying, moving, and setting all of rock we have seen. Until you have moved a few tons of stones you can never appreciate it.
This is first dug into the ground then lined with stone and was perfectly circular.
Hello Switzerland!
I really like riding my road bike. I think some trail riding could be pretty cool. But the stuff these guys (4 of them) were riding was nuts!! It is so steep off of his right side you would easily slide 100 feet down the slope. And this was, by far, the best part of the trail. Much of it was 18 inches wide and rock covered. No thanks. I think I like my skin waaaaay to much just like it is. Attached to the rest of my body.
This is an iPhone panorama stitched photo. The trail does actully make a bit of a “U” shape but not as much as the distortion makes it.
Cow bells are a BIG thing up in this part of the world. We saw and heard them in Switzerland and they clinked, clanked, and chimed around us for most of the hike.
The last half hour of the hike, as we neared the summit, was indescribably steep and narrow. My heart was pounding and my stomach flipped every time I took my eyes off the path. I couldn’t stop myself from leaning hard into the uphill side. The fact that these mountain bikers actually rode this on bikes was beyond crazy. I wish we had taken a picture to depict this extreme setting, but we were too busy trying to stay alive to think about it!
Gosh- this is hard! I love seeing your wonderful posts, but it is making miss you something awful. I am so happy you are having a wonderful time. Keep hiking. I am getting a tiny hiking buzz just from reading about it.
The sights along your hike look wonderful. I can appreciate the excitement/fear blend to make it even more memorable. Sounds like you are having a tremendous visit!