Description

This is a day of gentle terrain, not too taxing in altitude, all below 2500m, but at more than 1500m total height gain it still feels like a full day.

You are unlikely to see many, possibly no other ski tourers on you journey- we didn’t see anyone.

In addition, with a low S facing starting point you will almost certainly be doing some carrying for the first hour or so and possibly at the end too.

From Airolo gain the Canaria valley and follow it up to the hamlet of Föisc.

From here the track becomes a little indistinct but leads you up through the woods, past the pretty frozen lake of Laghetto del Alpi at 2010m, to a col at 2241m, to the S of Pizzo Tom.

Gentle descending takes you past the Lago di Tom and Lago di Cadagno.

An alternative start from Airolo might be to go further S, aiming to go through the Bocchetta de Föisc, then down and along the N side of the Lago de Ritom.

From the Lago di Cadagno you are following the wild and remote Murinascia and Calcestri valleys.

They lead you very gently to the Passo de Sole at 2375m.

It is equally gentle the far side, eventually taking you to the hamlet of Piane in the Lucomagne valley.

From here it is a short distance down the road to the Nordic Centre of Campra, which is an ideal and inexpensive base for the night.

If you really wanted to bust one out you could continue walking down the road, to stay in the charming village of Olivone.