The village of Montespluga, 9 km north of Madesimo occupies the northern end of a basin much noted for the historic Ca’ della Montagna, today the Vittoria Hotel which for years provided food and shelter for generations of travellers often caught in extreme weather

conditions.

And it’s right here that the excursion we’re proposing takes off. There’s a choice of routes: one tackles Val Schisarolo and the alternative is Val Loga. Leave the car conveniently close-by – there’s parking near the Stuetta refuge - and head directly up to the dam wall at 1905m. There’s a signpost which will send us off eastwards taking on the southern slope of Mt. Cardine but along a pretty level path. Stone cairns and further signposting ensure we’re on the right track and we move northwesterly now towards the route that opens up the way to Ferrè and our goal – the bivouac at 2750m. Completely rebuilt by the Valle Spluga CAI team and opened anew on the 9th August 2009, the bivouac Ceccini is a sturdy wooden structure, immediately welcoming and warm. It’s cosy and attractively functional, is equipped with kitchen facilities and sleeps six.