Das Biwak Garzonedo

To the bivouac leads from Santa Croce di Piuro a path on the steep valley floor of the Valle Aurosina, which at the beginning runs in a furrow. From the bivouac you can make the traverse over the Bocchetta di Val Scilano, which is located at the southern end of the jagged ridge of Pizzo Grillo. On this crossing you can get to the lake Laghetto del Grillo and from there on the way via Uschione back down to Chiavenna.

The start is in Santa Croce di Piuro near the square in front of the Crotto Quartino, you follow a small road that soon leads to a spring at the beginning of the gorge at the entrance to the Valle Aurosina. You cross the stream on a footbridge and start the ascent on a steep but well-laid out path in the gorge. There are two more bridges over the torrent, sometimes on one side, sometimes on the other side and then reach the alp with the huts of Tabiadascio (1245 m), where from the right the path of Motta comes up. This first part can be done on a less direct, but simpler variant, starting also from Santa Croce but at the church of San Martino. On this variant you pass the mountains Pianginedo and La Sella and reach the terrace of Motta (1279 m), then you walk on a long horizontal route across the steep slope to Tabiadascio, where the two paths come together again. At this point you continue into the valley, on the right side of the stream. Continue around a rocky outcrop, then the path goes uphill on the slope to the right (west). When you reach the foot of the rock slabs, turn left across the slope and then continue towards the bivouac at Alp Garzonedo (1940 m). In the plain near the remains of the huts of this alp begins a beautiful path that cuts through the lean meadows to the north, past the foot of some rocky outcrops. You reach a first hill - where you can see the jagged ridge of Pizzo Grillo - and continue straight ahead to the incision of the Bocchetta di Val Scilano (2160 m). On the other hand, after a short cross-section, you go directly down to a plain in the middle of the valley, where a clearly visible path, first slightly ascending, runs diagonally between individual fir trees and you reach the edge in front of the lake Laghetto del Grillo (1950 m). The descent to Uschione takes place on the marked path that leads down from the lake through a gully. First you come to the terrace with the secluded hut of Scarlonzòo, where you can find shelter, then you go through a steep forest to the wide open area of Prato del Conte (1434 m). You descend further down and come below to the extensive flat meadow of Pesceda (1313 m), which you cross on the left to the end. The path now continues between the pastures past the huts of Quarantapan, then it leads into the forest in front of the houses of Uschione (832 m). The last part is on the very well preserved mule track with stairs, which leads down to Chiavenna, district Pratogiano. The return to Santa Croce can be made by bus from the nearby bus station.