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Lost at the boarder between Emilia Romagna and Toscana

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🗺️ Overview Starting point: Molino del Pallone train station Highest point: Posola / Canal di Sasso di Sopra (approx. 1,000 m) Total elevation gain: Approx. 500 m Total distance: 6.5 km Total time: Under 2 hours Technical difficulty: Easy (E) Download GPS file This is an easy, pleasant hike in a valley on the border between Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany. It feels quite remote, even though the train passes through it. In fact, the hike starts at Molino del Pallone train station, where there is also a car park. You go left, towards Bologna, where a downhill road allows you to pass underneath the railway. On the other side, there is a bridge to cross the River Reno and enter Tuscany. Just after that, the path becomes a mountain trail branching off to the right into the woods. Most of the uphill section is quite steep and goes through chestnut woods. We went in early October, during chestnut season, when you can collect the nuts that have fallen from the trees. Bring good shoes, though...
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Solalex to Derborence

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🗺️ Overview Starting point: Solalex, 1470 m Highest point: Pas de Cheville, 2040 m End point: Derborence, 1480 m Total elevation gain: 560 m Total distance: ~14 km round trip Total time: ~5h one way with a 5-year-old; ~3h30–4h for a well-trained adult Technical difficulty: T2 – Mountain hike Download GPS file The hike from Solalex to Derborence is a classic in the region. It is also part of the Muverans Tour, a 50 km hike around the Grand Muveran. It starts in Solalex, a hamlet at the end of a valley in Gryon. There are two restaurants that are well frequented. The one on the right has amazing desserts; I recommend the Coupe des Alpes. In front of you there is a circle of mountains, and that is where you are heading. There is also ample parking where you can leave your car. The first hour of the hike climbs most of the elevation gain on a wide path that goes first through the forest and then up a grassy pasture towards Refuge Giacometti. Just 100 m before the refuge, there is a...
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Location: Solalex, 1882 Gryon, Switzerland
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Breithorn (4168), the 4000er for tourists

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🗺️ Overview Starting point: Klein Matterhorn, 3880m Highest point: Breithorn, 4168m Total elevation gain: 380m Total distance: ~8km Total time: 3h40 Technical difficulty: Easy 4000er, but glacier travel with crampons and crevasses Download GPS file The Breithorn (4168m) is known to be one of the easiest 4000ers in the Alps. The reason is that you can go all the way up to 3880m at Klein Matterhorn and start from there. You can go up from Italy or Switzerland. I chose to do it from Italy because it is my country of origin and because it is cheaper. So, at Cervinia, I met my guide and we got the ticket to Klein Matterhorn. If you want, it is even cheaper to stop at Plateau Rosà, at 3480m. However, the first part is not the most interesting, as you go across the summer ski slopes. Overall, I recommend starting at Klein Matterhorn, even though it is €50 more expensive (for a total of €117 to go up to 3800m and come back from 3400m). The last part is also the super-new and fancy cabin...
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Location: Breuil-Cervinia, Aosta Valley, Italy
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Iffighorn

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🗺️ Overview Starting point: Parking area near the road to Iffigenalp Highest point: Iffighore, 2378 m Total elevation gain: 1100 m Total distance: 12 km Total time: 5h30 Technical difficulty: Moderate Download GPS file As I was preparing for the Breithorn, I did this hike in an extended version. Otherwise, in its normal form, it is also ideal for families. Above Lenk, on the left side of the valley, there is a little road that leads you to a panel indicating that the continuation to Iffigenalp is a timed road that you can take uphill between 30 and 45 minutes past every hour, and downhill between 00 and 15. So you have to time your arrival. But we did not have to, as for the extended version we just left the car in the small parking area next to the panel and continued on foot. You start along the road and, after a few minutes, reach the Iffigfall, which is worth a detour. Then a path acts as a shortcut across the switchbacks the road makes. After crossing the road 2 or 3 times,...
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Location: Iffighore, 3775 Lenk im Simmental, Switzerland
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