PUNTA CASSANA (SO) 9 settembre 2021 08-41

3D route: bit.ly/3nlrvGt – photo: bit.ly/3E8qfwo – summer – This is an excursion on another 3000 meters of Livigno: Punta Cassana. By car, head towards the entrance to Val Federia and park at the beginning of the VASP road before the Calcheira Bridge. Immediately after the bridge over the Federia stream there is a signpost indicating Piz di Rin (Pizzo Cassana) on the right. The path comes out in the locality of Camposctin where you must avoid continuing in the Val Saliente then leave the N.175 and take the N. 173; on no sign will you ever read the destination Punta Cassana. Just above the huts, take the path that reaches a crossroads where you do not turn left for Val Federia but turn onto N.174 which climbs in a north-westerly direction. At about 2280 m above sea level there is the first detour that climbs to Piz di Rin, you do not take it but continue northwards. Further on, another junction allows you to choose 2 itineraries that still go towards the set destination. It is better to avoid taking the high route because at an altitude of 2450 m / asl you have to overcome the crossing of a gully in the rocks on a gravelly surface, without chains or metal ropes, which presents great difficulties. Continuing on the low path, you follow a track that in some very short passages presents some difficulties due to the fact that the slender track is on unstable and steep soil. Arrived at 2650 m / asl, where the high route is intercepted, the climb becomes easier; there are some trail signs and many stone cairns. You enter a large morainic amphitheater, with an almost lunar appearance, which is dominated by Piz di Rin (or Pizzo Cassana), Punta Cassana (or Piz Saliente), Punta Tropione and Monte Saliente. Swiss cartography inverts the toponymy of Piz di Rin with Punta Cassana. Continue keeping to the right orographic side and at 2700 m / asl you will find the second detour to Piz di Rin on the left. Continuing westwards, however, you reach and pass a rock thus arriving on the side of the "Laghet da Saglient"; then in a short time you arrive at the Bocchetta Saliente (2900 m / asl). If you deviate to the left, you follow the ridge that climbs to the rocky and challenging Piz di Rin, while deviating to the right you take a not difficult ridge that climbs to an altitude of 3016 m / asl of Punta Cassana. There are beautiful views of the valleys that descend towards the Engadine with a very varied morphology, then the large and steep moraine slope below the Piz di Rin, in the distance to the south the Bocchetta di Leverone, and to the east the valley made during the ascent. It is advisable to return to the Calcheira Bridge by taking the same route as the ascent. Route (EE) of about 13 kilometers – positive elevation gain 1260 meters – no fountains – gpx (setetrak): bit.ly/3BR7zPY – "bergheil" buonC@mmino