CH - VALLE DEL MORTERATSCH

spring -photo:photos.app.goo.gl/jee6pR6rvj9RPiFq7 - video:www.relive.cc/view/vPv4V7QK5R6 - Route (E–T2) of about 16 kilometers – positive elevation gain 260 meters. - It is wedged between the Val Roseg and the valley that descends from the Bernina Pass, under the eastern slope of Piz Bernina and the Biancograt ridge; At the bottom of the valley there are the now "miserable" remains of what was once an imposing glacier. In 1880 it lapped the railway station of the same name of the "Red Train", then in the last century and a half the glacier has moved back by more than 4 kilometers. This is an easy hike for all seasons but, in my opinion, it lends itself more to the beginning of spring when the cold winter is gone, the days are warmed by a beautiful sun and the amount of snow has reduced. You could start from the train station of the same name but it is nice to leave the car a few hundred meters before Pontresina at the paid parking lot of Resgia (1840 m / asl). After passing the icy waters of the stream that descends from the Bernina lakes and its tributaries, cross the tracks of the Rhaetian Railway and take the wide cycle-pedestrian dirt road that climbs into the wide valley in a southerly direction. On some occasions you intercept the cross-country ski track and cross the railway again and then reach and pass through the Plauns campsite (1870 m / asl). After alongside, and keeping a small lake on your left, take the snowy pedestrian path that arrives near the small station of the Red Train. In practice, here there is the real access to the Morteratsch valley which goes in the S-S-W direction; from this point you proceed on the only snowy track that is intended for mixed use: for cross-country skiing, for walkers and for MTBs. Information boards have been placed along the route indicating where the glacier was located in that particular year. At an altitude of 2070 m above sea level, you are at the foot of the rocks that have emerged following the melting of the ice and a little further up is the front of the final part of the glacier which is at the foot of Monte Bellavista, Pizzo Zupò, Cresta Guzza and Piz Bernina. The toponym of this valley is linked to a legend that tells of a hunter named Aratsch, he was tailing with other friends a beautiful girl who was climbing between crevasses. When he lost track of him, he took the way back, getting lost among the rocks and crevasses where he died. Since then, some have heard voices carried by the wind saying: Aratsch is dead (Mort ais Aratsch), hence the name Morteratsch. For the return you follow the route taken on the outward journey (if you want with some small detours).  - "bergheil" buonC@mmino -gpx:urly.it/3_8xc -interactive route:www.relive.cc/view/vPv4V7QK5R6/explore