Annual Smuggler’s Route Hike: Italy to Switzerland

Every year one of the highlights in the Italy trip is a long hike along a smuggler’s route from Italy to Switzerland. After a legendary bad weather excursion two years ago, we have had pristine weather for the trek, which affords unbelievable views in several directions. We depart from the valley where we live, looking back at the 3000 meter peaks and the dominant Ortler, then cruise over alpine highlands headed northwest. At the end of this high plain the mountains crowd in and the river drops down into a slot canyon, walled with rock cliffs that tower hundreds of meters above the river below. Etched into the side of these cliffs is a narrow path that offers just enough space for us to walk while looking down into the depths. The whole thing is difficult to describe and almost as hard to photograph, but hopefully the pictures will give you a good sense of the setting.

Starting out: it was cold at first but later warmed up. Here’s our guest from Bend, Ryan St. Clair, walking with Maddy and Justin

We set out from the valley above Schlinig, where we often rollerski, and hiked up through the breathtaking stench of cattle stalls being cleaned and manure being sprayed on farm fields. Fortunately we soon left behind the odors and started to scramble up the steepest pitch in the hike, hiking beside a long waterfall cascading over a cliff.