Alpe Lèndine, from Olmo

Access

From Milan to Chiavenna and beyond, as far as San Giacomo Filippo, along State Road 36; at the entrance to the village, just below the church, turn left onto the bridge over the Liro river. After a few kilometres all winding along a rather narrow road, you reach the hamlet of Olmo. Parking is limited.

Introduction

Beautiful and rather demanding hike, if covered in full; relaxing if limited A/R to Alpe Lendine. The first part, up to the alp, runs comfortably through a beautiful forest of sparse larch trees, before coming out into the bright basin with the cluster of delicately restored huts. Completion of the loop requires perfect knowledge of the area in the absence of snow, or at least the presence of a track already travelled - a probable event - to avoid losing the direction to the lake plateau (which is difficult to see). Prohibitive in case of poor visibility.

Description

From Olmo, 1056m, climb the steps beside the church and continue along the narrow streets of the village: at a crossroads indicated by a signpost, continue to the right towards the meadows. With a slightly uphill traverse, you come in sight of Zecca 1162m, which you reach with a couple of hairpin bends; from the mountain huts, head right towards the entrance to Valle del Drogo through a larch grove that covers the entire slope. False ground, still among the sparse trees, leads to a first crossing of the torrent: on the other bank the ascent becomes more accentuated, taking you to the foot of a modest rocky barrier; a couple of traverses and a second bridge lead to the clearing that announces Alpe Lèndine. The last part of the ascent, towards the basin of the 1710m alpine pasture, widens the panorama to the terminal double amphitheatre. The area is very tempting for ski mountaineers, but well known for its excessive risk of avalanches.
We cross the group of huts heading south and, on the descent, wade across a small stream on snow bridges; on the other side we begin a steep ascent - for short, apparently unstable stretches - that with narrow hairpin bends alternating with traverses heading eastwards leads to a series of small valleys at the edge of the last larch trees. The slope drops and, with a long flat shift, we cross the plateau where the invisible Lago Grande 1889m is located. Suddenly the slope changes and we take a very steep gully of powdery snow that, having re-entered the sparse woodland, leads behind the Laguzzola hump 1768m; past the huts, we flank a small modern chapel and begin a long descending traverse to the east that leads - past a spruce reforestation - to the end of the trees: from here we must descend as best we can across the meadows towards Olmo. The accentuated slope and the often crusty snow make the last few steps tiring; you return to the village at the post met at the start.

General Information

Route: from Olmo
Signposts:red/white. Almost always covered with snow.
Type of route: circular
Recommended period: December, January, February, March
Objective hazard:An unstable slope
Sun exposure: southeast
Exposed sections:no
Water: Elm