From Predarossa to Val Masino

Are you looking for a challenging hike in a pristine environment? Don’t miss Val Masino a rocky kingdom dominated by huge boulders and mountains with vertical wall! Something unbelievable that must be explored for a very strong experience that wills remain for a lifetime.

Val Masino is a small side valley of Valtellina, whose head part is on the border with Switzerland. It has two side awesome valleys – Val di Mello and Preda Rossa – which runs down from flanks of Monte Disgrazia (altitude 3678 meters).

Along the head part of Val Masino, there is a very long and hard path named Sentiero Roma and we of BBofItaly have done a stretch of it from Preda Rossa to Bivacco Kimma, going then back to Val di Mello.

Our adventure lasted two days and it is necessary to use two cars. One left at the Preda Rossa car park and the other left at the Val di Mello car park or the San Martino village car park in Val Masino.

The path starts from Preda Rossa a staggering valley carved by the glacier of Monte Disgrazia, now almost completely shrunk. This valley is completely covered by fantastic meadows encompassed by very harsh and beautiful mountains, including Monte Disgrazia.

At the end of Preda Rossa where huge moraines of former Monte Disgrazia glacier end, there is the path to Rifugio Ponti (altitude 2559 meters). This path is not difficult, and only its first part is a little bit tiring.

Rifugio Ponti can be considered one of the main “gates” to the rocky kingdom of Val Masino. Starting from this shelter, Bocchetta Roma (altitude 2898 meters) can be reached by a challenging path characterized by the presence of huge boulders. Here the environment is staggering, very harsh but at the same time also fascinating. Bocchetta Roma is located on the ridge of Monte Pioda (level 3431 meters).

From Bocchetta Roma the head part of Val Masino can be reached, descending vertical and high rocky walls. On this part of the path there are some chains that can help during the descent and of course it is mandatory to pay close attention. Falling from these walls can be fatal !

Along a hard path that runs at an altitude of about 2700 meters, you can reach Bivacco Kima. This bivouac has been built in an astonishing position, something that you cannot believe if you don’t see it ! Spend a night at Bivacco Kima is a great experience.

The bivouac is well organized and it has twelve beds a little wood stove and a gas cooker. You can also find some food in case of emergency. But the more amazing experience that can be done at Bivacco Kima is the chance to observe staggering sunset, encompassed by high rocky mountains. A beauty and greatness that cannot be told with words or even with pictures !

From Bivacco Kima you literally dive into a very steep slope of over 2000 meters of altitude, reaching the bottom of Val di Mello, where the incredible adventure ends. This very long stretch of the path is also characterized by savage nature and you must pay close attention, to avoid accidents.