Piz Blas
3,019 m
Switzerland
- Elevation
- 3,019 m
- Prominence
- 312 m
- Difficulty
- 4/10
- Alpine hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: F (Cadlimohütte ('leichte Hochtour'))
The usual way up: Ritom funicular to Piora, a T2 hut walk via Alpe di Tom and the Bassa del Lago Scuro to the Capanna Cadlimo (2,570 m), then cairned terraces along the Senda del Blas, a steep climb into the notch between Piz Denter and Piz Blas and easy blocky rock to the summit cross. About 2½ hours from the hut.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 11.1 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,438 m
- −216 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 3,019 m
- Time Up
- 6h 37m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 4h 59m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From Piotta in the Leventina, the Ritom funicular climbs almost 800 m to Piora. From the top station a T2 path leads via the Alpe di Tom and the Bassa del Lago Scuro into the Val Cadlimo and the Capanna Cadlimo (2,570 m) in 3–3½ hours. From the hut, a path well marked with cairns runs almost level across prominent terraces via the Senda del Tanelin to the Senda del Blas. At about 2,630 m, below the Bocchetta del Blas, three prominent cairns mark the turn-off: go left and climb steeply into the notch between Piz Denter and Piz Blas. From there continue to the right of the ridge over easy blocky rock to the summit and its cross, about 2½ hours from the hut. The final blocks are large but not difficult (T4). Return the same way, or traverse over Piz Denter and Piz Tanelin back towards the hut. Parties heading home can descend from the three cairns east over the Pass Nalps to Sedrun, or past the Foppa della Rondadura lakes and Alpe Scaione to the Lukmanier Pass.
Start
Piora1,792 m
- Ritom funicular Piotta–Piora
- Train to Airolo, Postauto to Piotta, 10 minutes on foot to the Ritom funicular valley station, funicular to Piora.
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Piora → Capanna Cadlimo | 8.1 | 825 | 56 | 3h 52m |
| 2 | Capanna Cadlimo → Piz Blas | 3.0 | 614 | 161 | 2h 45m |
Waypoints
- Station: Piora1,792 m
- Col: Bassa del Lago Scuro2,477 m
- Hut: Capanna Cadlimo2,569 m
- Col: Bocchetta del Blas2,882 m
Notch between Piz Denter and Piz Blas
- Summit: Piz Blas3,019 m
Key Passages
- Cairned terraces of the Senda del Tanelin and Senda del Blas
- Steep climb into the notch between Piz Denter and Piz Blas
- Blocky rock to the right of the ridge below the summit
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 65%Overview
A 3,019 m summit on the Ticino–Graubünden border, the highest peak of the Val Cadlimo, known for crystal finds. A quiet T4 ascent over cairned terraces and big blocks from the Capanna Cadlimo, reached from Piora by Europe's steepest funicular.
Piz Blas stands on the main ridge between the Val Cadlimo in Ticino, whose waters drain to the Rhine via the Reno da Medel, and the Val Curnera and Val Nalps on the Graubünden side, both with reservoir lakes. It is the highest point of the Val Cadlimo, and the hut notes it is known for frequent crystal finds.
The usual ascent is from the Capanna Cadlimo, an SAC hut at 2,570 m: cairned terraces, a steep climb into the notch next to Piz Denter, and easy blocky rock to the summit cross (about 2½ hours, T4, classed by the hut as an easy alpine tour). Longer, rougher approaches come from the Lukmanier Pass via the Foppa della Rondadura lakes and from the Val Nalps above Sedrun; the ridge over the Pass Nalps to Piz Rondadura (3,017 m) is a popular traverse.
With T2 hut approaches and a short summit day, it suits hikers who are ready for pathless boulder terrain.
Climbing Notes
Requirements: sure-footedness on boulder fields and easy blocky rock, a head for some steep ground, and navigation by cairns; no technical equipment is normally needed in summer. Early in the season, old snow in the steep notch may call for crampons and an ice axe.
Typical itinerary: train to Airolo, Postauto to Piotta and the Ritom funicular to Piora, then 3–3½ hours to the Capanna Cadlimo. Next morning, about 2½ hours to the summit and back to the hut, or descend to the Lukmanier Pass or Sedrun for a traverse. Book the hut by phone in summer.
Best from July to September, when the hut is open and the terraces are free of snow.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Not advisable
- April: Not advisable
- May: Not advisable
- June: Possible
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter; hut winter room only
- Feb
- Winter
- Mar
- Winter
- Apr
- Winter
- May
- Snow-covered
- Jun
- Hut opens late June; snow on the terraces and in the notch
- Jul
- Main season
- Aug
- Main season; thunderstorms
- Sep
- Stable autumn weather
- Oct
- Hut closes mid-October; early snow
- Nov
- Winter
- Dec
- Winter
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- Capanna Cadlimo (SAC Uto): in summer by phone only, +41 91 869 18 33 (when unstaffed +41 41 810 10 85); online via alpsonline.org (hut_id 34). Emails are not considered in summer.
- Fees
- Ritom funicular ticket, or paid parking at the Ritom dam
- Getting There
Airolo
Lugano (LUG) or Zurich (ZRH) by train
- Train to Airolo, Postauto to Piotta, then the Ritom funicular to Piora (about 800 m of climb)
- By car to the Ritom dam (paid parking), 3 hours to the hut
- From the Lukmanier Pass (bus) via the Val Cadlimo, 3½–4 hours to the hut
- From the Oberalp Pass via the Val Maighels and Passo Bornengo, 5–5½ hours to the hut
Hazards
- Exposure
- Weather
- Rockfall
Huts & Shelters
1- 2,570 m
Capanna CadlimoHutStaffedBooking required
80 beds · Staffed late June to mid-October; winter room with 15 places, freely accessible