Snowshoeing around Airolo - Val Canaria

We had planned this weekend with our in-Basel-residing-mexican friends Lorena & Rodrigo so I am writing this in english. The weather forecast promised sunshine and best conditions for two days of snowshoeing and after getting up early after a long "Museumsnacht" in Basel (where we visited the sports museum and decided we are glad we have today's sports equipment) we arrived in Airolo a bit after 10am. 

Quick drop off at the B&B Motta (right next to Coop) we made our way by foot to the border of the town where we could finally put on our snowshoes. 

There is some short circuits of tracks around the village and it took us a bit to find the right track. We went up towards the avalanche absorption basin and turned right, finally being on the way up to the valley of Canaria. 

After a stop for "merienda" = "Brotzeit" & sunshine at Cassina we hiked up past Monti, crossing the bridge at P. 1481. Further up and past the deserted houses of Cioss di Ce & Prato die Ce. As the way further to Ce di Fuiori and Rütan didn't seem to be prepared we followed some backcountry skiers' and other snowshoers' tracks down, on what in summer would be the hiking trail, clearly marked with the white & red flags. There is some steep and narrow parts, thus we estimate it to be a WT3. All the rest of the tour is easy also for beginners.

After a fun downhill walk, or should I better say slide, down a steep little slope just at the beginning of Madrano we crossed the Canaria again and back to the village for a final and well deserved Gotthard Beer.

Congrats Lorena to your first real snowshoe tour with quite some height gain!