I have been planning Piz de l’Ardion (yes) for quite a while. It seemed the right time, but I discovered that the paved road ascending from Soazza to Alp the Bec can be undertaken only upon specific permit release, which makes a 20CHF expense. Wow, I drove twice up to Alp de Bec not knowing... will not do that again, not for me....

It has been a very, very long time since we last hiked on snowshoes. Finally the day has come! An easy, very straight forward thing, just to enjoy the day without too much sweat. San Bernardino is (to me) one of the loveliest places in the Alps, providing the most varied choice in any season and for any mountaineering skill. One...

Piz d’Arbeola again! Well, that was not what I had planned, the title should have been… but one has to be “flexible”. The day’s idea was to have a go at the neighbouring Piz Pian Grand. So I started from San Bernardino and went up exactly the same route I took when I went to Piz d’Arbeola back in July 2008 (hey, long...

Hi! After last year's failure, I came back for a further attempt to this much wanted summit, having learned (maybe) from my previous errors. The southern summit of Piz Uccello is what strikes when you reach San Bernardino and, although slightly lower than the northern summit, it is by far more visited. So, San Bernardino is...

This peak stands along the magnificent ridge between Mesolcina and Calanca valleys. Very easily accessible, it rewards with superb views all round plus an excellent close-up to the neighbouring Piz de Groven. The narrow mountain road from Soazza to Alp de Bec- sota is under maintenance and may not be accessible Monday to Friday....

Corno di Gesero is a peak dominating the likes of Valle d’Arbedo and Val d’Albionasca, not too far from the Italian border. The easiest way to reach it’s summit is probably via the north-west ridge. Because we wanted to see Alpe d’Albion first, our idea was to climb from the south-east flank. Things went...

San Bernardino, at thevery top of Misox (Mesolcina) valley,offers animpressingvariety of hikes, just have a look at the CNS 1254 and adjacent maps !! After havingleft the car in the large parking area at the entrance of San Bernardino, me and Toto followed the comfortabledirt trackthat goes around the Isola lake; after maybe 15...