Testa (CH) - 1 357 meters
Nr 101
It's mid november.. not enough snow to ski properly yet but enough of it to make you avoid higher peaks if your choice is to not walk on slippery cold ground (and that was our choice today).
To start my (hopefully) next 100 summits, we choose one of those secondary peaks which are listed in the guides; They don't have their own chapter but are highlighted in the description of specific paths like the one we took today and therefore I've decided to count them as well (only when they are clearly shown on the official maps).
The Testa is listed in the explanation of Path 309 up to Salmone at page 310 of the 1st Book of the CAS Guides about the Ticino-Region (Dal Gridone al Passo del San Gottardo) and was the first of today's 3 peaks hike (Testa - Testin - Salmone).
Even if it wasn't by far the highest mountain I've ever been on, it's probably the one where we've climbed most in the shortest time. We started in Verscio at 280 meters above sea level and started with an 1100 meter high wall which consisted of only steep paths and stairs. I have to admit that It was a sweaty day for my Shirt, as we've set a really strong pace and basically never really stopped.
It was the first time for me and Katrin to be on a Mountain in the Valle Maggia region and therefore the views we got were completely new to us. It's really nice to see Locarno from this angle! I'm looking forward to next year to explore this region a bit more and go up higher.. I've already gathered some ideas.
Regarding this secondary peek, as can be seen in the pictures below, it's nothing spectacular and the top is still in the woods. The normal path would have passed by without crossing the summit of it but we went off for the little glory of adding it to the list.
Picture 5 below shows the Testa as you see it from the Summit of Salmone. As said in the introduction, it was just on our way to this infamous peak called Salmone.. I think nobody would go to the Testa as a "goal for the day"-peak
Level: T2
With Katrin
ROUTE:
