Description

MORTERONE AND COLLE DEL PALIO RIDGES

Morterone is the second smallest municipality in Italy in the heart of Valsassina. According to the last census it has 38 inhabitants, mostly old people, but also some young people such as Viviana who is managing Trattoria Cacciatori and who is going to give us energy to start the day and to refresh and warm us after a day on the snow.
A easy snow hiking to conquer the ridges on the border with Bergamo area. Suitable for beginners who would like to familiarize with snowshoes and get to know how to use the avalanche beacon which has to be wore anytime you go on a hike on snowy terrain, outside ski areas in case of avalanche risk/danger .
The itinerary follows the summer gravel road, easy and comfortable, and the path along the ridges, to the farmhouse Costa del Palio which is closed in winter. According to snow cover we can reach Zuc di Valmana. The view goes from Mount Resegone to Grigne chain, from Alpe Giumello to Val Taleggio, from Bergamo to Milano and Valle Imagna.

When participating to Trek&Taste snowshoes hiking excursions you do not need to drive around in search of snowshoes and self-rescue equipment, because we can rent all the required kit.

Technical details

Difference in altitude: 350m
Distance: 8 km
Maximum altitude: 1867 m a.s.l.

The decree Law

The Decree Law 28th February 2021, n. 40, concerning both off-track and snow-covered environment activities, enforce the use of an avalanche beacon, probe and shovel when snowshoe hiking when off-track regardless of the level of skilfulness.

Although the excursions I propose DO NOT require special skills and technical expertise, and the difference in altitude is not over 400 – 500 m (thus respecting the idea of enjoying nature and walking in it), the Law forces us into the use of self-rescue equipments.

The avalanche beacon is a transmitting device allowing people swept by an avalanche to be found; thus, anyone must be equipped with. It must be put under all clothes close to underwear, while shovel and probe can be carried in the backpack.
It is very importanto to know how to use it and be able to search for victims while waiting for rescue units.

Difficulty level MEDIUM WT2

Excursion with snowshoes on snow-covered path with Wide plateau and light to moderate gradient.
No points of attention

Suitable for adults in good health conditions who are used to walk on mountain paths considering difference in level and distance to be walked; winter Hiking shoes are required with gripping soles.

Dogs on a leash to respect wild animals and participants who could be afraid or annoyed. Please, prevent the Guide.

Responsible tourism

The excursions I offer also aim at supporting local economic activities and at living unique experiences closely in touch with and with respect to people and places.

That’s why they often include tasting experiences and/or chance to buy local products directly from producers, mainly small local activities working hard and with passion to keep traditions alive;
That’s why groups I accompany are usually small … in order to meet and live local people and enter their lives and the calmness of the place on tiptoes.

The Cape Town Declaration in 2002 recognises that Responsible Tourism takes a variety of forms, it is characterised by travel and tourism which:

minimises negative economic, environmental and social impacts;
generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well-being of host communities, improves working conditions and access to the industry;
involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life changes;
makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, to the maintenance of the world’s diversity;
provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues;
provide access for people with disabilities and the disadvantaged;
is culturally sensitive, engenders respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence.

Programme

- - - Meeting point 9.30am at the Cacciatori restaurant in Morterone; earlier meeting in Lecco Bione car parking at 8.15am;
    - Breakfast and excursion on snowshoes to Costa del Palio; short briefing on the use of avalanche transceiver and test;.
    - Return to the restaurant for a warm snack and aperitif and end of the excursion.
  ATTENTION: Programme could vary according to snow conditions and cable car opening period.
  
  CANCELLATION/POSTPONEMENT
  The excursion can be cancelled or postponed anytime by the Guide at her absolute discretion, in case safe and proper conditions cannot be guaranteed following bad weather conditions on the day of the excursion or on the previous days.
  
  Any fee paid will be considered valid as a voucher on the next excursion or refunded (foreign people); max validity 1 year from first excursion.
  
  In case of cancellaltion by the participants no refund is due and the amount for snow kit has to be paid anyway.
  - - - In case of lack of snow, destination and/or programme could vary so to guarantee both excursion in nature, even if with no snowshoes, and the briefing on avalanche transceiver.

Participation fee

Adult: € 20.00;

Inclusions: Nature Guide fee accompanying the group – AIGAE LO639; liability insurance.
Exclusions: any lunch and break; any transport to the meeting point; renting of snowshoes and self rescue kit; injury insurance for participants; any service not included in the item “inclusions”.

EXTRA COSTS
20 euros per person for breakfast and aperitif at the end of the day.
22 € renting of snowshoes and self-rescue kit, shovel and probe TO BE PAID SEPARATELY within Wednesday 18th January 23 according to Guide instructions.

Reservation required within THURSDAY 19th January 2023 on the chart of the event on my website www.trekandtste.com or by contacting me directly: e-mail sabrina@trekandtaste.it and mobile +39 347 04 05 703.

MINIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 4
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 12

Participation to the excursions implies unconditioned acceptance of the rules available on my website www.trekandtaste.com.

INJURY INSURANCE FOR TREKKERS

Participation fee only includes liability insurance; no injury insurance coverage is provided to Participants to the excursion. It is advisable to take out a suitable injury insurance.
EIC Organization offer an annual injury insurance which can be activated by the Trip&Trek app and amounting to 10 euros per year, per person. The insurance is valid 1 year whenever you participate to an excursion with and AIGAE Guide. For more details, please contact info@escursioni-italia.it.

How to reach the meeting point

Morterone can be reached driving along a mountain road sometimes with non protection gardrail but offering a wonderful panorama, deviating from Ballabio in Valsassina.

In case you want to share car, car parking in Lecco Bione is at the SS36 exit. Travel costs to be shared among passangers.

Clothes and equipment

- - Winter hiking shoes, waterproof, are required, preferably high laced-up and having soles in Vibram material to walk safely; .
  - Trekking poles with larger snow basket to improve performance in deep snow;
  - Hiking gaiter
  - Backpack to carry personal belongings, spare clothing, and water supplies (at least 1 litre per person) and some snacks.

ATTENTION: backpack should also fit shovel and probe.

- - Dress in layers (technical underwear, t-shirt, long-sleeved shirt, duvet, softshell, gloves and wool cap)
  - Headlamp;
  - Sunglasses.

Trekkers not adequately equipped and dressed will not be allowed to participate to the excursion.

Containment measures

According to rules in force at the time of excursion.

Additional information

Partecipante	Adults
Data	Sat 21/01

Rules

Download RULES.PDF

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

How to behave

Participant to the excursions are required to:

comply with the scheduled programme and with anychange decided by the Guide due to force majeure.

be in good physical conditions and wear suitable outfit as recommended by the Guide in the relevant excursion programme, according to season and type of event; if it is not the case, the Guide is unquestionably entitled to exclude the Participant from the excursion in order to guarantee safety for both the person concerned and other Participants. When the exclusion is justified, no refund at all is

behave properly towards other Participants to the excursion and comply with the rules given by the Guide as to group management, namely in case of emergency and danger.

prevent the Guide before abandoning the group for any reason. The Guide is not responsible for people walking further ahead of the Guide.

respect the environment; collecting or intentionally damaging flowers, trees fossils and the like is strictly forbidden; waste has to be taken at home.

prevent the Guide in case you would like your dog to participate to the excursion , so that we can evaluate whether it is possible and how. We have to consider that the group is formed by people who do not know each other; dogs must compulsory be on a leash all along the excursion; the Owner Participant is solely responsible for the dog and its behaviour and for any problem or damage directly or indirectly caused by the dog. In case the Participant doesn’t prevent the Guide concerning the presence of the dog or the rules cannot be complied with, the Participant and his dog can be excluded from the excursion in any moment. When the exclusion is justified, no refund at all is provided.

co-operate for the success of the excursion by complying with the decisions taken by the Guide, namely in case of danger such as worsening weather conditions, sickness of a Participant…to name a few.

Participants are personally liable for any behaviour which could cause damage to themselves and to third persons, mainly in case they take decisions against the advice of the Guide.

Insurance

Participation fee only includes liability insurance; no injury insurance coverage is provided to Participants to the excursion. It is advisable to take out a suitable injury insurance.

EIC Organization offer an annual injury insurance which can be activated by the Trip&Trek app and amounting to 10 euros per year, per person. The insurance is valid 1 year whenever you participate to an excursion with and AIGAE Guide. For more details, please contact info@escursioni-italia.it.

Further rules

Excursions and experiences are confirmed upon achievement of a minimum number of participants shown on the programme (and up to a maximum number of participants). Minimum and maximum number of Participants are decided by the Guide according to the type of activity and the required effort. Registration is confirmed upon receiving the full amount/deposit (if it is the case) of the participation fee.

In case the minimum number of participants is not achieved, the Guide can decide to cancel the excursion/experience or alternatively offer it at a higher fee to cover all expenses.

Minors must be mandatorily accompanied by an adult taking their responsibility.

Declaration of physical fitness

By accepting this rules, the Participant declare under his own responsibility to be healthy and in good physical and psychological conditions to participate to the excursion. The Participant also declares having provided the Guide all the information needed to properly evaluate his physical conditions and level of fitness being appropriate.

Photos, video, smartphone, and GPS equipments

Photo and Video shooting

Participation to the excursion/experience implies the authorization to release on the internet (facebook, instagram, websites, to name a few) photos and video shootings taken during the excursion/experience by Participants and/or by the Guide for private and advertising purposes. In case you do not want to be shooted, please prevent the Guide immediately before the beginning of the excursion/experience.

Mobiles
Participants are kindly asked to switch off their mobiles, disable the ringtone, or, in case of need, to use them discreetly, in order not to disturb the atmosphere of the group.

GPS tracks recording

It is forbidden to release GPS tracks recorded during the excursion, in respect of the professionalism of the Guide.

Cancellations

Cancellation by the Participant

In case of cancellation by the Participant within 3 days before the event, the amount paid will be considered valid as a voucher for a following event. Any cancellation after that term will not be refunded. Deposits are not refundable.
Vouchers are valid for 1 year from date of the excursion booked.

In case the Participant decides to interrupt the excursion, the amounts paid (including balance) will not be refunded and the Guide will not be held liable for any claims or damage.

Cancellation by the Guide

The excursion could be cancelled or postponed due to force majeure and the amounts paid will be refunded except for bank charges and other costs which do not depend on the Guide’s will.

The excursion can be cancelled and/or interrupted anytime at the Guide’s absolute discretion, in case safe and proper conditions cannot be guaranteed (eg in case of sickness and/or injury of one of the Participant, worsening weather conditions…and so on).

INSTRUCTIONS

How to participate

To participate to an excursion, please buy and pay the relevant event directly on the website or contact me.

Participation to the excursions implies unconditioned acceptance of this regulation.

Participation fee only includes accompanying fee. Any extra cost will be paid separately on site unless otherwise stated (eg tour operator quote).

Before subscribing, please read “difficulty level” and “equipment required” sections so that you can verify the excursion meets your expectations. In case of doubts, please do not hesitate to contact me.

As to car-sharing to the meeting-point, please contact me directly and I will get in touch with participants willing to share transportation. It will be up to you to agree on costs to be shared.

CORONAVIRUS Emergency

Owing to the present pandemic, some rules have to be complied with during excursions in order to reduce risks of infection. Participants are requested to behave properly and honestly and to be adaptable in case of decisions to be taken according to rules concerning containment measures in force, which can suddenly be changed.

Maximum number of participants: 15.

Participation is subject to the following conditions:

The Participant have got NO flu symptoms (on the day of the excursion and on the previous days)

The Participant is NOT subject to quarantine restrictions

The Participant have NOT come into contact with people resulting positive to covid test or people who have got flu in the previous 14 days.

Participants are requested to fill in the self-certification provided and concerning personal good-health conditions, to be given to the Guide on the day of the excursion.

Private and public transportation must comply with containment measures in force. If it is the case, please aerate the car, wear face masks and sanitize hands.

During the excursion, participants are requested to keep interpersonal distance (2 m min.) in order to safely walk without face mask. Please wear your face mask when stopping or when interpersonal distance is not possible.

When meeting trekkers on the opposite direction, stop and let people go by safely, wear your masks and keep distance.

In case of flu symptoms or positive test results after the excursion, the Guide has to be immediately prevented in order to inform participants to the same excursion, in respect of the privacy policy.

For more information, please visit the Italian Health Ministry website http://www.salute.gov.it/portale/home.html

Clothes and equipment

In winter as well as in summer, the advice is to dress in layers and to have a clean t-shirt to wear when reaching the summit or stopping for a long rest. Please carefully read the relevant section in the programme of the excursion you have chosen.

Clothe and equipment generally recommended:

Hiking shoes, preferably high laced-up and having soles in Vibram material; mainly when paths are rough and slippery

Rain and windproof cap/jacket such as a softshell (wind significantly reduces the temperature our body feels)

Water and e snacks (at least 1.5 litres of water per person are recommended); thermos bottle with hot beverages in winter is recommended.

Sun cap/beanie and gloves in winter

Fleece jacket or sweatshirt according to the season.

Sun-protection cream and sunglasses in summer and in winter on snow ground.

Hiking poles are recommended (telescopic poles are very handy); hiking poles helps to reduce considerably stress on joints and knees.

Backpack whose size can carry personal belongings (mainly spare clothes and food supplies) and having comfortable shoulder straps; as a general rule, to prevent injury, a full backpack should weigh no more than 15 to 20 percent of your body weight.

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