Lake Monastero

Introduction

The route does not present any difficulties and is not excessively tiring.

Description

Follow the road and in about 15 minutes you reach the scenic Colle San Giacomo (1450m) with its white chapel. Climb to the right until you skirt a grove of birch trees and an alpine pastureland; go past them to the Passo della Forchetta (1660m, 1h00'), where the grassy ridge that divides the Valle Tesso from the Val Grande begins: from this crest you have a remarkable view of all the Valli di Lanzo. On the pass forecourt stands a monument dedicated to two young partisans who died in a clash with the Nazi-Fascists. From here continue along the off-road track that, having passed a recently renovated alpine pastureland, enters the Val Grande side of the valley: from the crest, the Vallone di Vrù with its famous talc quarries can be glimpsed to the left.
The road now becomes almost flat and then climbs up some tiring hairpin bends that can be easily avoided by following the obvious path. Passing Alpe di Monastero (1970m), you soon reach the grassy basin where Lago di Monastero is situated, dominated by Punta Giasvej: note how the waters of the lake change from deep green to leaden grey, from transparent to turbid, depending on the colour of the sky and the grass on the surrounding slopes, until they become almost one with the grassy mantle on foggy days.

Descent

Following the ascent route.