PASSO DEL FORNO e PASSO DEL MURETTO (SO)

photo:bit.ly/3OKt5MP –-videotrack:www.relive.cc/view/v1Ow9kZ4ZEq – Route (EE - T3) of almost 22 kilometers – positive elevation gain 1640 meters. - At the end the effort is amply rewarded. After taking the ticket in San Giuseppe, you park in the beautiful town of Chiareggio (1640 m / asl) in Valmalenco and walk on the path next to the Mallero stream. After Pian del Lupo, take the SI-AV path that climbs towards the Del Grande-Camerini Refuge in the direction of Vazzeda Inferiore. After reaching Vazzeda Superiore (2025 m/asl), continue to the right in a north-west direction. At the end of the woods, you pass alongside Alpe Monterosso Superiore where you enter Val Bona; skirting the stream of the same name on the path excellently marked even by the Swiss, you intercept at 2420 m / asl the one that comes from the Rifugio Del Grande-Camerini. Continue between stony ground and large stones thus arriving at the narrow saddle of the Passo del Forno (2775 m / asl). From here you could climb Monte del Forno and then make a traverse to reach the Passo del Muretto. From this pass, descend towards the north-west on the steep escarpment and take the path that leads to the Capanna del Forno refuge (2560 m / asl) guardian of what remains of the Forno Glacier. Going up the path you have just taken for a short stretch, take the track northwards which continues on a large and easy granite hump. Continuing on the path you arrive at Lago dei Rossi (2740 m / asl) which is located under Monte del Forno Sud. Proceed in the same direction on a large multicolored stony ground and descend to an altitude of 2600 m / asl at the foot of Pizzo dei Rossi. Walking along a narrow path, you turn the halfway point for the return to Chiareggio. From here you have a glimpse of Lake Cavloc and Maloja. Rapidly losing altitude up to 2 small bodies of water, you intercept (2300 m / asl) the R79 path that runs through the Val del Muretto. Skirting the right of the Orlegna stream, climb to the foot of the Muretto Pass (2582 m/asl) which can be reached by a steep zigzag path. This was an important crossing point for trade that dates back to Roman times, but it was also a sad route for invasions and the arrival of strong epidemics, but also an escape route for those fleeing the dictatorship, and ultimately also a smugglers' route. From this pass you descend to Chiareggio initially on a stony path in excellent condition then, from about 2200 m / asl, you continue on the track of the ancient road. – "bergheil" buonC@mmino – no fountains -gpx(seteTRAK): bit.ly/3A7f3Rl – interactive route:www.relive.cc/view/v1Ow9kZ4ZEq/explore