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Ascent of Corni di Canzo on 2008-08-23

Climber: Rob Woodall

Others in Party:

Andrew Tibbetts

Date:

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Ascent Type:

Successful Summit Attained

Motorized Transport to Trailhead:

Dirtbike

Peak:

Corni di Canzo

Location:

Italy

Elevation:

1373 m / 4505 ft

Ascent Trip Report

Corni di Canzo (Corno di Occidentale), 1373m, P875m

Map: IGC sheet 22, 1:50k, 50m contours

Stats: 680mH, c.7km

Time: 23 Aug 2008, c. 3h in total.

Start: From the village/commune of Osigo/Valbrona, a narrow winding road leads E then NE towards the summit, finishing at a refugio. However there is a padlocked gate at approx 700m elevation, with only residents' access beyond. There is roadside parking.

Route: From the barrier, the tarmac road is hiked upward, past houses. It eventually levels off, heading straight for the summit, passing a timber building, then bending left and climbing to end at a refugio. Just before the refugio, the cliffs of the summit are seen above, seeming impregnable. Follow a signposted trail which cuts back right (NW) then passes a farm-type building. Beyond, we soon cut directly uphill through beechwood, heading for what seemed to be an easing of the cliffs. Above the woods we headed for a steep gully, joining a path which was maybe the continuation of the one we'd left. Easy scrambling leads to the W foresummit. Turning E, a ridge narrows to a short arete with a short exposed scrambly descent (maybe just about YDS 3 for one move), then easy scrambling leads to the summit cross. If taking the shortcut back down through the beechwood, it can be awkward to locate the initial descent: plenty of steep ground.

Difficulties: mostly easy scrambling, with a short exposed harder move just before the summit. If taking the shortcut back through the beechwood, it can be awkward to locate the initial descent.

Triangulation point: None mapped nor found.

Summit: limestone grassland with cross, a fine view of surrounding summits.

Notes: Although looking easy from the map, this is a fine summit circled by crags. A sign at the summit cross calls the highpoint Corno di Occidentale. We climbed this immediately after Monte Barro http://www.peakbagger.com/climber/ascent.aspx?aid=41804, and from Barro, Canzo appears impregnable. We arrived at the start about 5pm, uncertain whether we could get to the summit or not. On reaching the locked barrier it immediately became apparent we barely had time, but nothing much else to do for 3 hours .... On climbing out of the beechwood we reckoned that the peak was ours, although the narrow arete beyond the W summit kept up the tension to the very end. We descended in twilight, only just finding our way back through the beechwood. Reached the tarmac road before dark; the final descent was simple.

We then had a bit of a race to get to Dervio before the campsite locked its gates, having time only for a snatched MacDonalds at Lecco en route - admittedly an odd kind of introduction to Italian Cuisine! At Dervio we met up with Lee Newton, with whom we climbed Grigna Settentrionale the next day

For details and logistics for our 2-week trip, see the Säntis report

Summary Total Data

Elevation Gain:

1168 m / 3837 ft

Elevation Loss:

1168 m / 3837 ft

Distance:

7 km / 4.3 mi

Grade/Class:

YDS 2+/3

Route Conditions:

Road Hike, Unmaintained Trail, Exposed Scramble

Weather:

Cool, Calm, Clear

Ascent Statistics

Elevation Gain:

1164 m / 3821 ft

Extra Loss:

4 m / 16 ft

Distance:

3.5 km / 2.2 mi

Route:

C Pian road; NW face

Trailhead:

C Pian road 213 m / 700 ft

Time Up:

2 Hours

Descent Statistics

Elevation Loss:

1164 m / 3821 ft

Extra Gain:

4 m / 16 ft

Distance:

3.5 km / 2.2 mi

Route:

C Pian road

Trailhead:

C Pian road 213 m / 700 ft

Time Down:

1 Hours

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