Fully 55 years after its very first trip, the second section of the cable car continues to offer up striking views of the peaks overlooking the Rhine valley. Yes indeed, it was back in 1964 at Madesimo that the Groppera Cable Car was inaugurated. Those who were around would remember them to be times of great dynamism, with the valle Spluga attracting the cream of the entrepreneurial world in Milan. The extension of the first section - already operating from Madesimo to Cima Sole – permitted skiers to be transported from Cima Sole (2.150m) to Pizzo Groppera (2.880m): a height differential of 730m spread over a distance of 2 km and 133 metres.
The cable car was certainly state-of-the-art for its time, conceived and completed - as documented in chronicles of the period - on the initiative of Enrico Masserini. He was aiming to pave the way towards a tourist economy, based around sports enthusiasts interested in skiing in summertime, profiting from the snow-covered slopes orientated towards the Rhine valley.
It might be more than 55 years old now but the Groppera Cable Car has lost none of its romance or charm.
We can thank this vital link for the appearance of many a splendid written account of dare devilry dedicated to the legendary Canalone, amongst the most technical and demanding within the Alpine arc. Anyone who has discovered Groppera in wintertime will retain an unforgettable image of the panorama that can be enjoyed from up there, both towards Madesimo and also over the Rhine valley and the impressive dam within Valle di Lei.
Today, the slopes of Caurga and Val di Lei provide a poetic Alpine corner which continues to guarantee excitement and thrills for lovers of skiing at altitude, hosting immaculate snows that half a century ago would resist even until late June. Over the decades the distinctive red cabins of the Groppera Cable Car have served many a generation of skiers, though we suspect their techniques of getting back down might well have evolved considerably. Enjoy photographer Giovanni Levi’s memorable artistry.
