Gridone / Monte Limidario (CH) - 2 188 meters

First and highest peak of the day. 

Winter is slowly coming back again and we decided to use this perfect Sunday for a hike that I've had in mind for a long time.

The Gridone, which is listed at page 224 of the first book of the CAS Guides about the Ticino-Region (Dal Gridone al Passo del San Gottardo), is a pretty famous mountain around here and therefore one of those, where you have to touch the top of it at least once in your life :-)

Having said that, what made the trip even more worthy, was the "Capanna al Legn" hut (last picture below) which in my eyes has probably the best view of all huts I've been on until this very moment... I mean... seriously, look at that view of the Lago maggiore and the Pre-alps.

To reach the top of today's hike we started right below the mountain hut "village" of Cortaccio (we found a parking spot in Pienizzo) and took a way that is not explained in the official guides. I personally think that the reason for this, is that at the time that these guides were written, the capanna al legn did not yet exist and therefore there was no reason to take this panoramic path which now appears evident. Only the last hour was on a path which is explained (nr. 105 from Bocchetta di Valle).

About the peak itself I can say that the view is amazing. The path up to it is quite craggy in some spots and also pretty steep sometimes. Nothing special though when talking about risk due to exposed sections, there is only one (smaller) climbing section which is secured with a chain. I'd say that it's a peak which is reachable for everybody which is quite in shape and although this is true for many mountains, this might be one of the most worthy ones.

For the rest, please just check pictures below.

Katrin unfortunately couldn't come with us today and therefore it was only me and my colleague Pierpaolo.

All in all a great day and surely not the last time I'll be up there..I left a small salute on top of the cross, just to be sure :-)

Level: T3

With Pierpaolo

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