Monte Moro Pass, from Macugnaga

Access

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Introduction

Sometimes certain routes can seem frustrating, after so much climbing you discover that you could have arrived comfortably by cable car. But the comforts sometimes conceal instead very fascinating routes that are really worth the effort. Such is the case with the ascent to the Monte Moro Pass. Along the four-hour walk and the 1500m ascent, one is never bored by the epic views, such as those one can continually appreciate on the east side of Monte Rosa. The final stretch to reach the Madonnina at the pass completes the fun even if, no doubt, shared with many people less accustomed to fatigue!

Description

From the car park, proceed for a few metres, crossing a small bridge and coming to a marker: turn left, briefly climbing up the riverbed before entering the fir forest. Turn right and begin to climb up the splendid paved mule track that stretches along the southern flank of Monte Moro. The forest reveals some important views of Macugnaga below and the imposing east face of Monte Rosa (from Punta Gnifetti to the Nordend). A series of twists and turns take you uphill, passing by some rocky walls before reaching the Scarteboden farmstead (1437m, 0h15'). Continue along the mule track, which steadily gains altitude until reaching a short esplanade near a viewpoint. A little further on, the trail veers to the right and ascends a short cleared corridor before reentering the forest to the left and crossing a small stream on an easy stone ford. The mule track winds its way through the spruce forest before reaching a second ford (mostly dry) and finally Alpe Bill (1700m, 1h00') where the start of the second cable car section is located.
Follow the signs for the pass and head north, or rather towards a second signpost located shortly after the fork for Alpe Meccia. Follow a faint track along a ski slope, moving to the left of it. Once past the first section, the trail makes a few turns before reaching another ford (mostly dry) that allows you to turn right onto the wide ski slope. Return briefly to the forest before returning to the track a little higher up. Turn right and ascend the steep slope following it with a left turn and then leave it by taking a little path to the right. After leaving the track, follow the path, which takes a few turns and leads to a panoramic ridge just in front of the rocky slopes of the Rothorn. When you reach a cable car pylon, proceed on an ascending diagonal to the left before taking a few turns that soon lead to the start of a chair lift. Continue the walk, turning right and passing a short depression before taking a slightly steeper slope with short passages on sloping rocky slabs.
The environment begins to change considerably, the alpine grassland giving way to a scree environment on which the path runs smoothly thanks to the arrangement of a series of steps to reduce the impact of the ascent. Slowly one approaches a wooden hut before entering the last, decidedly stony section, which leads without too much delay to the Oberto hut above. Following the path, you enter a small maze of steps and small mountain valleys before reaching a plateau in front of the structure: a short turn to the left and you reach the Rifugio Oberto (2796m, 3h40').
From the refuge, walk along a short section equipped (no difficulty) with a few handrails before reaching a post located near the arrival point of the cable car. Follow the signs for the pass and the red and white markings, turning right and climbing up a rocky stretch without any particular difficulty. When you reach the pleasant little lake, you have to climb a short section equipped with wooden steps fixed to the rock to reach the large golden statue of the Madonna near the pass (2868m, 4h00').
The descent is along the same path as on the outward journey (2h45'), or by taking the cable car after 0h15' of descent.