Monteno

Italiano

The part of the mountain above Pasturo with meadows and woods at about 800 meters above sea level has the name Monteno, you cross it by climbing the Sentiero Pasturo - Pialeral after about 20 minutes walk from the village or along the agro-silvo-pastoral road Pasturo - Alpe Cova in the vicinity of a sharp hairpin to the left. Since my most recent excursions on the Grignone involve walking between Pasturo and Cornisella, I do not fail to cross Montèn, the dialect name of this locality.[^]

To the right of the mule track for those coming from Pasturo, inside a meadow and accessible by a path, stands a typical building that dates back to the time when the houses were a refuge in summer for local farmers and shepherds.[^] Next to the hut, there is a frescoed chapel, the Madonna is standing and a peasant woman on her knees prays. An epigraph says Invernizzi Antonio rebuilt in 1939. Along the mule track, on the left, a wooden gate and a yellow old hut. Here, from the main road, a dirt road just a few meters long branches off, where there are a handful of huts probably built in the 70s, the period of expansion of tourism in Valsassina, one more exposed has a beautiful view facing Barzio.
Back on the trail, not before having admired a luxuriant specimen of weeping willow and fruit trees, on the corner of the intersection, there is a house that is exhibited on an events bulletin board. This is the headquarters of Shangri Là Onlus,[^] in Località Monteno, a non-profit association of Cristina Rovelli, a woman of Milanese origins, graduated in natural sciences, who moved to Valsassina in the 90s out of passion and love of nature. Cristina organizes guided walks for adults and children to discover nature, educational workshops, promotes the care and defense of animals.

Here the mountain becomes steep, the mule track is cemented to allow the transit of cars that descend from the carriage road that continues to Alpe Cova. Reached the road after one hundred meters, there is a hairpin bend with a worn road sign of the Comunità Montana n. 16, prohibition of transit for unauthorized vehicles, and one of prohibition of parking. Immediately, at a crossroads for hikers, who turn right towards Cornisella along a stretch that is still very steep in concrete, there is a table of locations Pedalling in the Park by Regional Park of the Northern Grigna, Monteno 850 meters, and other signs.

References

1. Mauro Vezzoli (7 September 2011- ). "Monteno". [Google Photos Album]. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
2. Mauro Vezzoli (28 June 2012). "I am intrigued by the vintage yellow hut that I meet going up from Pasturo towards Cornisella, which is always inhabit. I walk along a small path.". In Sentiero Pasturo - Pialeral, Sentiero Pasturo - Pialeral (da Pasturo a Cornisella). [Flickr photo]. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
3. Mauro Vezzoli (29 June 2015). "The Shangri Là shed and notice board along the trail. The association offers guided nature tours, cultural meetings, nature camps for children, educational workshops and more. The name comes from a mythical Himalayan village, existing between legend and reality, where time has stopped ...". In Escursioni sul Grignone, Escursioni sulle Grigne, Escursionismo in montagna, Escursionismo in Valsassina, Estate, Monteno, Sentiero Pasturo - Pialeral, Sentiero Pasturo - Pialeral (da Pasturo a Cornisella). [Google Photos photo]. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
4. "Shangri Là onlus". shangrilaonlus.it. (in Italian). Retrieved 29 June 2015.