Monteno

Italiano

The part of the mountain above Pasturo with meadows and woods at about 800 meters above sea level, is called Monteno. You can cross the area after about a 20-minute walk from the village climbing the Sentiero Pasturo - Pialeral 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, its name in dialect.[^]

Coming from Pasturo, on the right of the mule track stands a typical building dating back to the time when the houses were a refuge in the summer for local farmers and shepherds.[^] Entering the meadow on a path, 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. Instead, to the left of the mule track, there is a wooden gate and a period yellow hut of a certain value. 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. The most exposed one on the valley enjoys the view of Barzio, which is right in front, and its mountains.
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 is a gamekeeper and 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, which is not respected. Immediately, a crossroads for hikers, who turn right for Cornisella along a stretch that is still very steep in concrete, while the indication for bicycles Pedalling in the Park by Regional Park of the Northern Grigna, Monteno 850 meters, is to follow the road.

References

1. Mauro Vezzoli (7 September 2011- ). "Monteno". [Google Photos Album]. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
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 4 November 2021.
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 in montagna, Escursioni in Valsassina, Escursioni sul Grignone, Escursioni sulle Grigne, Estate, Monteno, Sentiero Pasturo - Pialeral, Sentiero Pasturo - Pialeral (da Pasturo a Cornisella). [Google Photos photo]. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
4. "Shangri Là onlus". shangrilaonlus.it. (in Italian). Retrieved 4 November 2021.