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Trekking in Ticino
Are you looking for an “easy” physical activity, tailored to your physical preparation, low in cost, and in contact with nature? Then trekking is the right choice for you. The Ticino area beautifully lends itself to making excursions, not only for its landscapes and for the presence of an attractive network of trails, but also for the possibility of staying overnight in characteristic mountain huts. The huts alone deserve a more detailed look: some of them have been restored and "modernized" and now present themselves as comfortable mountain hotels, others have been able to (or had to - for financial reasons) maintain their state of mountain hut with dormitories, wood-burning kitchen and toilets outside of the main building. Those staying in the these rustic huts often complain of noisy nights because of "snorers," their clothes and hair smell of smoke (the stove or fireplaces often do not "draw" as they should) and they look forward to taking a nice shower, as soon as they get home. Aside from these minor glitches at the end of the trip, precious memories remain of living in a simple but charming environment, that has perhaps facilitated the possibility of making new friends with other users of the hut. Life in the shelter has unique qualities: the feeling of washing one’s face and teeth with the cold water of the fountain, of chopping wood to light the stove, which warms up the dining area perhaps only a few degrees, and of ending the evening with fun and group games in the dim candlelight. These experiences are nowadays rare, and even unique.
Our region offers the opportunity to go trekking "Four Seasons." In Summer and Autumn the Alpine regions (Leventina, Locarno Valleys and Blenio) offer the best conditions for hiking. In Winter and Spring, one can move further south (Locarno, Lugano and Mendrisio), closer to the lakes, where the presence of snow is less abundant and temperatures are less rigid.
About snow: Not everyone has had the experience of a winter excursion on snowy terrain but we strongly recommend it. The particular emotions that one can experience walking with snowshoes are not easily forgotten. Nature presents itself in its winter dress with fascinating and unique characteristics. Of course, there are a few safety rules that must be respected: it is essential to carefully plan the route of the trip taking into account weather factors and snow coverage, as well as properly functioning material and appropriate clothing.
Finally, we have to mention excursions under the full moon. Lugano’s best balcony is Monte Bar. From the top, weather permitting, you can see the lights of the city and the surrounding mountains in a picturesque setting. Easily accessible from the Val Colla, the trip still requires a thorough understanding of the network of trails. The new Bar mountain hut is located in less than 1 hour from the summit and offers the opportunity for a short rest stop.
For those wishing to organize a trip to the mountains on their own, we recommend the following web-sites (there are also translations in German and English)
In case of doubt, or if you would like more advice, we encourage you to write to the Sport Service: we can give you information from the experiences we have had in recent years.
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