Читать книгу Canyoning in the Alps. Graded routes in Northern Italy and Ticino, Austria, Slovenia and the Valais Alps онлайн

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PROTECTED AREAS

Parco Regionale Alpe Véglia e Alpe Dévero (www.parcovegliadevero.it)

Parco Nazionale Val Grande (www.parcovalgrande.it)

For those looking for more action, try the Schmugglerweg near Gondo or the pricey Via Ferrata Gabi-Simplon a little further west (see ssss1). Alternatively, head for the local crags. The main climbing guidebook to the area is Ossola e Valesia – Sportive e Moderne (available from the publishers direct at www.versantesud.it or through local gear shops). Some route information is also available online – try www.ossolaclimbing.org, www.planetmountain.com or the ‘logbooks’ page of www.UKclimbing.com.

Finally, it’s worth wandering down to the tourist information office to find out about the frequent festivals that spring up all over the valley throughout the summer months.

ROUTE 1: MASSASCHLUCT

RockGneissDimensionsDepth 480m (1290m–810m); length 3500mIdeal seasonEarly summer to autumnLocationSwitzerlandTimeApproach 20mins (Parking B); descent 4–6hrs; return 25mins (Parking A) Intermediate access 40mins approach and 3–4hrs descentShuttle(Parking A to Parking B) 6.2km (1hr 40mins walk; regular bus service available)Gear2x35m ropes; head-torch useful (essential for intermediate access)Technical notesCurrent is splashy and pleasant in summer. Rigging is sturdy but often hard to find among boulders (2011). Two pitches awkward to rig.EscapesOne, via the intermediate approach path

Massaschluct is the most spectacular and celebrated canyon of the Swiss Valais region. Being a 1 1/2hr drive from Domodossola, it is also the most convenient for those canyoning in Val d’Ossola. However, it sits beneath a dam holding back the melt-waters of Europe’s largest glacier. On warm days the reservoir fills, causing the dam to purge. If you can overcome this psychological barrier and the inevitable hassle of travel and dam checking, the sculpted, beautifully banded rock and the spectacular finale shouldn’t disappoint. The remainder is rather bouldery and discontinuous, which may taint your overall experience.