Hiking on Stabbio, Ticino CH

December 2011

Spent a week in Ticino. Hadn't recovered from a long and persistent flu fully so longer hikes were out of the scope at this time, peccato as they say. However, valleys in there offered perfect routes for daily hikes, some easy, some less easy. After cloudy November days in Finland saw finally some clear blue sky with plenty of sun shine.

In Valle di Blenio, a northern valley in Italian spoken Ticino (aka Tessin) canton in Switzerland, there are many small villages on the slopes of its surrounding mountains. Cottages on these mountain villages are either ancient houses where people used to live a long time ago, some old/existing animal warehouses or cottages just built for leisure time. Some of the villages could only be reached by walk via small paths, although many by vehicles via tiny and narrow roads, still mostly for agriculture purposes. Ringing bells on cows' necks at summer time is often heard.

One of such a small village is Stabbio. It lies on about 1200m level, where as its closest village down in the valley, Motto, is on about 400m level.

In the old times, people used to live up there (children rushed to school every day, think about it). Now it's just for leisure usage (and for a summer time agriculture of course, too). It is very active summer times. Festa di Stabbio takes place in every July. Helicopter carries people in a couple of minutes from the valley, as only few still climbs in there via old hiking path (there's a high risk of getting sweat though).

There are two hiking paths from the valley to Stabbio, one from Motto village and another one from Dongio village (in between these two villages is one more village, Marogno, which hiking path attaches to Dongio one).

From Motto to Stabbio the path is about 3km long, ascending about 800m. I've always taken the one from Motto, and usually descended to Dongio. It is a steeper path to ascend, increasing your heartbeat. Views along the route are very nice. There are a couple of streams, which depending of rain or snow, have more or less water in them. Path crosses both of them.

Higher you climb better the view along the Blenio Valley. Very ofter you see some Capra (Goat). A couple of years ago they attacked against me, putting me to run faster on mountains than ever (survived).

Did a hike this time on early December. Ticino hadn't had any snow yet (except on some few mountains above 2500m). Fallen leaves of nut trees (Castagne) made the path almost invisible. However, trees without leaves make mountains look nude, bringing their real forms and shapes into view. That's great, at least to me, as in summer all are more or less hided behind green.

Here's the route (view Stabbio in a larger map):

... and this is what it looked like in there (some more pics here):

Motto (down) and Stabbio (up there)

Chiesa di San Pietro, Motto

Lots of fallen leaves

A small waterfall

Hiking routes in Switzerland are marked as white-red-white

Not for rock climbing

A view to Blenio valley

Stabbio

The church of Stabbio

A warehouse in Stabbio

Newly made water storage, for hikers!

Motto

Capre!

Una Capra piccola!

Dongio

Path to Dongio

Hiking paths

Back at Motto

Locals call the road in Blenio valley as 'Piccola Monza'

Exploring Viikki Nature Reserve, Helsinki Finland

November 2011

Weather forecast promised sunshine for the last Saturday of November. Southern Finland was still lack of snow. In practice there hadn't been real under zero degree days except only few one. Earth was not frozen yet. All of these quite unusual, but not exceptional though (last year at this time we had almost two feet of snow and minus degrees, which both stayed quite long).

Based on these facts decided to explore Viikki Nature Reserve (in Helsinki, Finland) and its neighborhoods to observe what's going on there under these conditions.

The sun had just rised when I parked my car near Viikinmäki's industrial area. Nearest tracks were in few meters. Headed first towards Pornaistenniemi. A few people tried their luck to catch fish at rapids near there. Across the walking bridge and soon started duckboards to Lammassaari island.

Duckboards were hidden in high willows which grew in these wetlands. Some species of birds lived in these neighborhoods. Duckboards were very slippery. Some birdwatchers headed to Lammassaari island, too.

Before exploring Lammassaari island, continued straight to Kuusiluoto island via another duckboards. At summer time you meet a group of curious sheep there, seldom any people. Some little birds continued singing like it was a peak of the summer. Maybe they thought it's arriving due to weather ...

Talking about weather, light rain started. That much about sun shine.

Back to Lammasaari island. It's full of very small, old summer cottages. What's more, it was in a good position to observe birds along wetlands on the bay. The watchtower was at the north end. Perhaps the best place to observe birds as the sun usually is behind you.  Saw some Swans,  a Hawk and some Canadian Geese. Not too bad of being a November.

Back from the same duckboards to main land. Crossing the wetland hit the idea to get some coffee. Gardenia wasn't too far. Crossed the field and enjoyed a full lunch at there, and coffee as well.

Back to track towards Arboretum. Large variety of trees, bushes etc. From there towards Mölylä rocks. There's another good spot to see over the whole bay and wetlands.

It had been cloudy since Lammassaari. Now strange things started to happen and clouds vanished bringing the sun in view. Well, the whole nature looked different at first sight.

From Mölylä towards Fastholma's bird tower. The tower was the most modern I've ever seen, steel stairs.

It was time to get back. Knowing also that the sunset was coming soon, the light it gave was so attractive to shoot photos. Actually, you needed to hurry up as light would disappear soon. It caused constant click in my camera.

 All in all, it was great to see how things were at Viikki at this time of the year, in these conditions.

This was the route I explored there:

With the following photos I try to explain what I saw and experienced there

Again starting with some Black and White Photos:

La Casa del Vento

A Willow

Reflections

A spruce tail

Tower of Koitto Building on Lammasaari island

Lammassaari island:

Duckboards towards Kuusiluoto island

A monument made by Nature

Il Vento

Something should be done to this pier

Unwanted inhabitants

A private concert by a Great Tit

A Great Tit showed me that I'm on Nature Reserve, on their territory

Wetland

Disorder

Knock, knock, who's there?

Around Arboretum:

Agriculture meets people

Noble Tree Forest

Fuzzy Logic

An Obstacle

Time for a break

Fresh Cones!

The sun hits new and old

Holy Mackerel, new strawberry leaves!

Wetlands:

Framed

Overview

Wetlands, occupied by cows during summer months

Waves

Paths, tracks:

An Alley

A track for mountain bikes

A Birch Tree

I'm 6ft tall and my shadow's 20ft

Sunset arriving:

... Lennä Nykäsen Matti, Lennä ...

Reflections:

Hidden sun:

Sunset:

A Silhouette of Helsinki. Do you recognize buildings? 

Last glimpses of the sun, today

The sun's gone, hope to see it again soon