Go with suitable shoes and socks

Italiano

Hiking is the activity of walking from point A to point B, the feet rest on the ground, and then to practice it you need shoes, with which you have already walked comfortably, suitable for your route. Shoes are matched with specific socks for long walks. Shoes and socks are the primary items of what you need to go to the mountains, in a list that goes from clothing to equipment.

The shoe is a footwear that covers and protects the foot, to give comfort and facilitate the walk. It is made of fabric, leather or synthetic materials. The type of shoe is chosen based on its use, the terrain and climate in which you will walk, and on the style, because it is a fashion object. Some characteristics are length, i.e. the number, weight, height, breathability, impermeability, the ability of the sole to absorb the weight of the person and the roughness of the ground, how flexible or rigid they are.

Sports shoes

If you walk mainly on asphalt, and alas today many mountain paths are cemented, it is preferable to choose a sports shoe for running. The running shoes are flexible and have a foam rubber sole to reduce weight and cushion the impact on hard and flat surfaces and carbon rubber only at the heel level.
When the excursion includes trails with natural obstacles, such as rocks, roots, mud, you need a sports shoe for the mountains. A trail-running shoe has high traction for stability and support, and underfoot protection. Both the running shoe and the trail-running shoe have a low upper that reaches below the malleolus, the upper of a shoe is the part that covers the back of the foot. If the climate is dry, choose a non-waterproof shoe, which is more breathable, if it's wet, a gore-tex shoe to keep your feet dry.

Mountain boots

Mountain boots are special footwear designed specifically for walking on steep, wet or snowy terrain, while maintaining a high level of foot comfort.[^] The old boots were in leather or hides, the modern ones, more technical and light, are in Cordura or Nabuk. The sole must be rubber and of good brand, to give stability and adherence to the ground. The boots have a high upper to have a resistance to lateral stresses, protecting the ankles from sprains, and to absorb shocks, such as blows from rolling stones. The inside of the upper is protected with waterproof membranes capable of letting the foot breathe, in Gore-Tex or OutDry.
In a classification, the boots can be divided into three bands: classic hiking boots, slightly higher and more resistant than a sports shoe, medium-high mountain boot, high altitude or winter boot, with fully protected ankle and Vibram sole in non-slip rubber and shock absorbing polyurethane midsole.Boots can be cramponable, semi-cramponable, or non-cramponable.

A common sense rule is to try on a new footwear, sports shoe or boot, on a short path to see the reaction on the foot. The used shoes must be in good condition to avoid them breaking during the excursion, both above, everything that is above the sole, and below.

Purchase of shoes

The first step is to buy shoes of foot size. A practical check is to press with the fingers of the hand between the end of the big toe and the beginning of the toe of the shoe, for the length to be right there must be a small empty space. The test should be done with the type of socks with which you will go to the mountains. During the afternoon the feet are more swollen than in the morning.[^] Boots usually take half or one European size longer than a traditional shoe. Take a few steps, simulating a descent because the foot does not hit the toe or is too wide, do you feel at ease?
If you want to buy a shoe online, stick to the old model.

Regarding how much to spend, for a good running shoe about 70 euros are enough when they are discounted, for a sports shoe for the mountains it takes at least 100 euros, a good boot reaches 200 euros or more. When choosing, don't be swayed by excessively low figures or shoes that are too obvious, and in a color you don't like. In general, a pair of running shoes should last between 650 and 800 kilometers (3 to 4 months for those who run regularly).

Buying a shoe plays tricks on even the most expert sportsmen, because the verdict comes after traveling a few kilometers. In fact, although I seemed to have followed all the rules for choosing a sports shoe for the mountains that promised great performance, and among the most expensive on the market, it was really necessary to throw away the new purchase that fit well in the store, bought with the number of the right foot and without stitches that caused pain.

Socks

Socks are responsible for keeping your feet comfortable and dry while helping to prevent blisters and overheating of the feet. They must be breathable so as not to make the foot sweat and keep it sufficiently warm in the cold season.
Blisters are painful and spoil the trip to the mountains, while not a major health problem. They are caused when an area of the skin is rubbed repeatedly causing the surface of the skin to stretch away and form a liquid-filled bubble.[^]

There are several types of mountain hiking socks, made from merino wool, a composition of cotton, elastene, polyamide, in nylon, or patented synthetic fabrics. In addition to the fabric, there are three other main characteristics of a sock.[^] Height is a personal choice, no-show or quarter socks are recommended for sport walking. Cushioning affects durability, comfort and warmth. The ultralight socks and linings are ideal for running or hiking with flat shoes. The right compression helps venous circulation. The cost of a quality sock is between 20 and 30 euros.

Insole

In addition to the shoe-socks system, we must not forget to think about the insole, a real interface between the foot and the shoe. The insole has a shock-absorbing and hygienic function, reducing odor. When you notice discomfort in the sole of the foot (heat, sweat, redness, stiffness) or in one part of it, the sole could be the cause. For the choice of a comfortable one to your own characteristics you go by trial, on the market there are different types, in anatomic polyurethane, active carbon fiber, latex foam, gel.

My experience

The quality of mountain shoes has improved a lot in recent years and continues to do so and is one of the reasons why people walk more. Every little detail of the shoe is now scientifically studied and tested, ankle collar, heel counter, saddle, toebox, outsole, flex grooves and toe spring, midsole, heel cushioning, forefoot cushioning, heel-toe drop, stabilizing features, sockliner. I remember the pain in my feet when years ago I started with mountain boots, Scarpa or Asolo brand, less performing and perhaps tight. Also, I hate boots that come loose easily, how many times have I had to bend over to re-tie the laces, to avoid making a double knot!

Over the course of more than ten years of hiking in the mountains, depending on the shoe, I suffered crushing of the nail of the big toe and the second toe, even with a small subunguinal hematoma. The pain lasts for a few days, the nail changes color, becoming yellow or dark, and thickens. In the healing process, the nail first lifts and then gets lost. A callus comes on my fifth toe of my left foot.
When the upper is of medium height, a problem can arise that makes me regret buying the new shoe. Rubbing in the ankle area can produce inflammation, i.e. redness of the skin, and even cut it, with blood loss. For the callus and to reduce the damage caused by rubbing, I resort to the use of patches, which in any case decrease the damage. Thank goodness, the failures are less than the success numbers, I usually don't complain and I am happy with the response of the footwear during my day in the mountains.

On Grignone

On the Northern Grigna I walk or run with a sports shoe. Up Pialeral there are no obstacles on the ground, the paths are wide or are real roads, and 'the walk' is still a good training in nature that is good for the spirit and health. Long stretches are made of concrete because the Mountain Community and the Municipality of Pasturo pay little attention to the hiker, favoring the means on wheels and access to huts.

If the ground on the Grignone is dry and the weather forecast does not foresee water, I use a breathable, very light running shoe, Saucony Neutral. If the conditions are not dry, I wear my La Sportiva Bushido II, an excellent trail-running shoe that fits pretty much everywhere. When the ground is wet I wear a Salomon XA Pro 3D because it has a slightly higher upper and is made of Gore-tex.
When the Grigna is covered in snow and I intend to go up to high altitude enjoying the desert and the blue sky, I change my shoes at the Pialeral. I wear a La Sportiva Nepal boot, very light and stiff, which I put in my backpack. If necessary, I wear gaiters, to prevent the snow from getting my feet wet as I enter from the top of the boots. One of the secrets of a good hike is to always stay dry, and I also choose insoles that dry quickly.

References

1. "What makes comfortable hiking boots". Salomon. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
2. Beverly, Jonhatan (30 December 2021). "Gear Up With the Right Running Shoes". Runner's World. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
3. "How to prevent blisters when hiking". Salomon. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
4. Eldridge, Heather. "Clever Hiker". Runner's World. Retrieved 16 March 2022.

Training

Italiano

Training to go hiking in the mountains does not require special phisycal exercises. Generally it is enough to walk regularly, initially for short and easy routes, according to your pace.

Walking is an aerobic exercise

Walking is an aerobic or long-lasting exercise, and it means that it involves or requires free oxygen. Cells use oxygen to convert carbohydrates into energy through the mitochondrial production of ATP. The metabolism is fully activated after a few minutes from the start of the activity and continues uninterruptedly without producing waste molecules that limit performance, the only limiting factor is the availability of glucose.[^] By exercising regularly, fatigue resistance improves and muscle tone increases. In fact, the more aerobically trained one is, the greater the amount of oxygen that can be used per unit of time by an individual.

Ready to leave

To leave for the prepared excursion you need to feel good and having the ability to walk on the ground for the hours and the difference in height foreseen by the route, and something more, because there can be unexpected events, such as taking the wrong trail. An aspect that should not be overlooked in a workout or after an intense hike in the mountains is rest, which is used to recharge energy and dispose of the lactic acid that forms after any prolonged effort.

My training to keep fit is running for 50 minutes in the park twice a week. I go to Monte Stella in Milan, which is about a quarter of an hour away on foot from where I live, the ground is clay, ideal for not overstressing my musculoskeletal system.

The Grignone on the Pasturo side, due to the length of the paths, the hours of walking and the difference in height, from valley to top about 1600-1700 meters, puts a trained physique to the test, and the coronaries. The most challenging route is to go up to the Brioschi Refuge in winter, where you go along the so-called Muro del Pianto, a slope of over 30% on the snow between Comolli's 1800 meters and the ridge.

References

1. "Aerobic exercise". Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Retrieved 6 December 2021.

Health

Italiano

Walking is the most natural way of travel for humans and many mammals. This activity stimulates and trains the musculoskeletal system (bones, muscles, joints) and the cardiovascular system gradually, with positive consequences on the whole organism. Walking is therefore a recommended physical exercise for well-being, by doctors, sports trainers and in the common everyday talk, even just thirty minutes a day is enough.[^]
Because it is of real health benefits,[^] pathologies and traumas must be considered, as well as a physical or psychological discomfort, pain, which could instead advise against walking or walking in the mountains, where the length of the path is greater, there is the ascent and the descent, and one is far from inhabited centers, as in Grigna.

The psychological or mental condition must be taken into account. Walking not only positively affects the body but also our mind, freeing it and giving vent to accumulated energy and imagination. This activity, the most natural way to move drives away bad thoughts, improves mood, sometimes generating ideas and solutions. In addition, it helps sleep, because it tires the body and therefore the mind.
Walking from point A to point B in a natural environment means facing small and bigger difficulties and making decisions, such as evaluating one's body in relation to expectations and the goal still to be achieved, which test the mental condition, whose lucidity may also depend on physical fatigue.

The term mountain therapy has recently been coined. In fact, being in the midst of nature and walking in the mountains is good for the body because it controls blood pressure and body weight, counteracts the metabolic syndrome, and for the spirit, reducing the risk of insomnia, anxiety, regressive or depressive phenomena, which can be of help in the most fragile subjects

How to prepare an excursion

Italiano

Preparing an excursion consists in planning a route by evaluating all the elements necessary to travel it in relative safety, thus reducing the mountain risk. The many questions concerning it must be answered concern health and training, of oneself and any companions, what will the weather be like, choose shoes and clothing, what to pack, nutrition and hydration, up to why you are going [^] The season influences many factors of the preparation, some tracks can become more difficult or inaccessible for the snow in winter. The main itinerary of the Northern Grigna, the ascent to the Brioschi Refuge, is proof of this, because the summer route is impassable due to the risk of avalanches and you have to choose to tackle the steep winter route.

First approach

The paths of the first excursions arise spontaneously, usually they are the easy trails of the territory that you live in or those close to you in a natural environment, with a short travel time. Or you can walk on vacation, when you have more free time. The pleasure and benefit that has been experienced increases the desire to follow others, such as continuing beyond the end of the last walk, out of curiosity and discovering. Continuing the activity, more distant territories are also chosen, which have particular characteristics of attraction, due to their conformation, biodiversity, landscape, and to get in touch with another culture, a peasant and alpine world. One is prompted to visit a place by information, such as reading articles in magazines or the internet, television, videos, maps, advertising, photography, or by a famous person or friend who has talked about it, a trip, a idea, or you follow the group leader. The goal can become to reach a summit or simply share time with others in nature.

Planning

The choice of route planning depends on your physical condition and training. The elements of a route are length, profile and height difference, travel time, nature of the soil, signage, the presence of shelters, refreshment points and water sources, difficulties, such as exposed sections, equipped routes, Most of these features are found on a topographical map of the route area, sufficiently detailed, with a scale not greater than 1: 35000. The level lines of a map, lines drawn along a constant altitude, allow you to understand how steep the path is. The map should not be left at home because it is useful for having an overall view of the place and orienting oneself, one of the skills required to move in an isolated environment. The presence of snow or ice increases the difficulty, sometimes by a lot, as well as the weather conditions.

The next phase is about how to dress, what to pack, prepared with due calm, and which shoes to choose. Finally, the departure time must be chosen in order to return before dark.

During the excursion it is good to stay on the predetermined path, rejecting the temptation of variations that could complicate it, which is best reserved for another schedule. Furthermore, it is good to evaluate if you are respecting the set travel time. An essential thing is to leave said or even better written where you go to family, friends or acquaintances, even briefly describing the itinerary and how long it takes, especially when you go out alone. Instead, today I forgot to say where I was going, so Enrica believed that I was in Grigna, while I was in Piani di Bobbio.

References

1. How to prepare for a trek". Salomon. Retrieved 6 December 2021.

Hiking

Italiano

Six years after the birth of my Grignone in the slope of Pasturo, thanks to a longer time spent in Barzio because my mother doesn't want to know about going down to the city after she has been locked in the house for a whole year to avoid contracting Covid-19, reworking some pages, I realize that an article is missing on the activity I practice, walking or running in the mountains, which is the origin of my blog. Whenever a motivation pushes me to go to the mountains on foot, I mentally go through a series of instructions so that my excursion can be possible, pleasant and less risky. Norms come from common sense and accumulated experience. The last question I ask myself is whether it is right to go there.

As I am about to write them, I document on the Internet by browsing with Google, which is also a good way to compare my knowledge with the experience of others who have in common a passion for the mountains. I find many interesting pages. Two references were more important and frequent. One is the salomon.com Hiking stories & guides.[^] The other is the Qui Montagna blog by Andrea Dianin (in Italian only),[^] who since 2020 has explored the vast field of hiking and mountaineering with passion and competence. It can also be taken as a reference for those who write blogs for economic sustainability. His income comes from Google Ads advertising (minimally invasive) and the Amazon EU Affiliate Program, an affiliate program that allows sites to earn an advertising commission by advertising and providing links to the Amazon.it site.

Definition

Hiking is a long and intense walk on a predetermined path,[^] along trails and roads closed to traffic, in a natural environment, such as the mountains, practiced for various reasons: leisure, health benefit, discover and get to know the territory and nature, getting away from the city or inhabited center and from the noise; it includes admiring the view, stopping in the most beautiful places, observations, photographing. An excursion can be a day long, or just a few hours, or last for several days, practiced in a group or alone. Walking is perhaps the most common of the activities that are practiced in the mountains, among others I list running, mountaineering, climbing, ski mountaineering, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, mountain biking and many others, booming is cycling on trails; of these activities sports competitions are organized.

Walking, hiking or trekking?

The activity of walking outdoors is called in different ways, walking, hiking, trekking; are they the same activities, are there small differences or are they truly distinct?[^]

Walking is a way to stay outdoors, generally in quiet and pleasant places. The concept of walking is associated with a gait. Walking (also known as ambulation) is one of the main gaits of terrestrial locomotion among legged animals, by an 'inverted pendulum' gait in which the body vaults over the stiff limb or limbs with each step.[^] The movements of the lower limbs, which consist of alternating flexions and extensions of their segments, are accompanied by movements of other body sectors. Walking is typically slower than running because at least one limb is resting on the ground while in running there is a suspension phase, in humans neither foot is in contact with the ground. Walking is indicated for improving or maintaining general health, at sea level or at high altitudes. Just 30 minutes every day can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce excess body fat, and boost muscle power and endurance.[^]

Hiking refers to the program and the itinerary, to move on foot from one point to another according to an established route. An excursion requires some preparation, even if the outing is only for a few hours. A short loop near your home can be defined as a hike, just like crossing a mountain range over several days. When an excursion takes place in the high mountains and lasts several days it is a trekking; Wikipedia redirects trekking to backpacking,[^] and disambigues the term into hiking and walking. On the Grigne, the excursions last a day, or two, with an overnight stay in one of its refuges, generally Refuge Rosalba, Refuge Brioschi, Refuge Bogani, Refuge Bietti. Personally, I say of my predetermined route that I went in the name of the place or the refuge, or generally I took a walk in the mountains, or a trip to the mountains, thus devaluing the length and difficulty of the route and the pace of my journey.

Education

Walking in the mountains means having an impact on the environment, the greater the number of people who frequent it, the greater the pressure exerted. The economic exploitation of the mountain takes place mainly with the construction of houses, which almost always remain empty, and roads, even by concreting the existing ones, with parking lots at higher altitudes. Uncontaminated nature with its beauty invites us to respect the environment and behave correctly, to love it, we keep this teaching for when we return to the city. We keep the mountain clean, taking waste downstream, we do not gather flowers, plants and herbs, minerals, we do not move or soil stones and signs, we do not disturb animals, we do not shout, we do not light fires. And what could be nicer than greeting those you meet on the trails?

Benefits

The article What are the benefits of hiking? 5 great reasons to get started![^] of the Salomon website in Home > Stories & Guides > Hiking > Skills & Advice offers interesting insights into the physical and mental benefits of walking. The five excellent reasons are: accessibility, because you can practice close to home, discover and enjoy nature, to disconnect and take time off, be in the company of yourself or spend time with others, do good for your health. Walking constantly at your own pace, without forcing it, gently puts you back in shape, without impact or trauma, generating numerous positive effects on the musculoskeletal (bones, muscles) and cardiovascular system. In addition, regularly practicing the physical activity of walking outdoors strengthens our immune system, decreases the risk of diabetes and hypertension, lowers the cholesterol level.

How much does it cost?

Walking for hours in a natural environment on a scheduled basis is not an expensive activity, even if you pay for quality shoes, clothing and equipment. It is advisable to register with Club Alpino Italiano, the historic organization that protects the mountains in Italy and helps by offering accident insurance; every year the card must be renewed, the cost is between 50 and 60 euros, I am a member of CAI Milan. Finally, there is the cost of the trip, which often is little or nothing because the excursion is close to home.

Where I have practiced hiking

If it is true that as a child I liked to walk along paths in Valsassina with the organized tours of the Barzio parish, later on I only went to the mountains during the holidays, in the company of friends. Then, from 2003 to 2015, I practiced hiking at least once a week for all four seasons of the year on midweek days, choosing a day with good weather, alone, even staying overnight in shelters. I planned the itinerary with a Multigraphic Firenze map Map of trails and shelters, scale 1: 25000, a Global Map or Kompass 1: 35000, to continue exploring from the previous arrival in that area. I left by public transport from Milan to the north with my backpack on my shoulders, inside a one and a half liter bottle of water, some sweets, the clean sports clothes taken from the drawer, a pocket camera. I have traveled almost all the paths of the CAI or the main marked paths for a radius of 70 km from Milan, clockwise:

• Varese and Varese Valleys. Campo dei Fiori, Monte Rho, Monte Minisfreddo, Poncione di Ganna, Monte Piambello.
• Canton Ticino. Lake Lugano, Monte Generoso, Monte San Giorgio, Monte Brè, Monte Sal Salvatore, Monte Garzirola.
• Como, shore of Lake Como, Triangolo Lariano, Valle d'Intelvi, Val Cavargna, Alpi Lepontine. Monte Cornizzolo, Monte Bolletto e Monte Bollettone, Monte Palanzone, Monte San Primo, Monte Nuvolone, Sasso Gordona, Monte Generoso, Monte di Tremezzo, Monte Bregagno, Monte Garzirola, Monte Cucco, Pizzo di Gino.
• Lecco, Brianza, Valle San Martino, Valsassina, Valvarrone, shore of Lake Como. Monte Linzone, Monte Tesoro, Resegone, Monte Due Mani, Monte Sodadura, Zuccone Campelli, Gruppo delle Grigne, Pizzo dei Tre Signori, Monte Colombina, Monte Rotondo, Monte Legnone.
• Bergamo, Valle Imagna, Val Taleggio, Valle Brembana (Lower, Middle and Upper Valley), Valle Seriana (Lower, Middle and a part of Upper Valley), Val Cavallina, Lago d'Iseo. Castel Regina, Monte Zucco, Monte Sornadello, Monte Cancervo, Corno Zuccone, Monte Torcola, Cima Cadelle, Monte Alben, Monte Poieto, Monte Cornagera, Monte Farno, Cima Blum, Monte Madonnino, Monte di Grone.

My experience is therefore all in the Lombard Prealps, mountains that reach a maximum altitude of about 2600 meters.

Since 2016, I have greatly reduced my activity, walking only from Barzio towards the Grignone and the Piani di Bobbio. The economic cost is zero because I am a guest in my brother's vacation home. My CO₂ emission remains zero as when I moved with public transport because the round trip starts and ends at home. Thanks to hiking, which gradually trains muscles, cartilages, bones and the mountain air, I was able to practice physical activity that I would no longer be able to do with sport after a fall on my butt.

References

1. "Hiking stories & guides". Salomon. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
2. "Qui Montagna [Here Mountain]". (in Italian). qui-montagna.com. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
3. "Hiking". Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
4. How to prepare for a trek". Salomon. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
5. "Hiking vs trekking vs walking". Salomon. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
6. "Walking". Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
7. "Walking for good health". Better Health Channel. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
8. "Trekking". Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
9. "What are the benefits of hiking? 5 great reasons to get started! ". Salomon. Retrieved 6 December 2021.

My summer on Grignone

Italiano

My summer on Grignone lasted until the end of the season, September was a hot month. I kept my promise to stay on the paths and locations of the blog. I reached Pialeral, my summit this year, just a few days ago, on the 13th of the month. Crazy summer of reading, writing, reading, writing, late into the evening! Phrases and words that wake me up at dawn the following morning. Of those who have actually walked the mountains during the day in search of freedom and well-being. The photos were the source for describing the route of the trails. A second part was missing, where they are located, who manages them, possibly anything else significant, which I undertook to fill. I felt like I was an honest worker of the Sentiero Pasturo - Pialeral. It was possible thanks to the new Lenovo Intel Core i7 computer equipped with Windows 10 which worked perfectly and to the Vodafone mobile network, fighting for every gigabyte consumed, with some small interruptions and requests for clarification from the company. I give thanks to God for the gifts and protection, may his holy Name always be praised and blessed.

As expected my pace has been slow, my back is not right and there is pain in my face and teeth which needs to be investigated. Much has changed in the blog, starting from the name in the two languages, in English Grignone in slope of Pasturo and in Italian Il Grignone nel versante di Pasturo, which now has an introduction. Grignone is also Grigna Settentrionale, Northern Grigna, Grigna, Pasturo mountains. I defined what a trail is and removed the numbering from the routes because they are the work of the Club Alpino Italiano, which is no longer involved in their management. The number 33 of the Sentiero 33 Pasturo - Pialeral remains imprinted on me, of which numerous horizontal trail signs remain on the mountain, as well as that of the tram line 33 that I took near home in Milan. The only route added is the short Sentiero Brunino - Cornisella, which closes the Brunino ring.

The protagonist of my summer holiday was the vertical signage of the bikes, which I cross numerous times and mark routes in common with mine. The red trail sign has the name Pedalando nel Parco (Pedalling in the Park) of the Lombardy Region Parks System, on the directional sign there is the Valsassina, Valvarrone, Val d'Esino and Riviera Mountain Community logo. To go to Grigna from Barzio I pass in front of the head office at the bottom of the valley, near the Pioverna stream, in the Prato Buscante area. A world has opened up, I discover also that the Grigna Settentrionale has been a regional park since 2005! I find institutional and other information on the websites of the mountain community and Parco Grigna. More than a third of the over 5000 hectares of the Northern Grigna Regional Park is under special protection, including the Site of Community Importance IT2030001 Northern Grigna.

I didn't leave it out that the Grigna was the inspiration for Antonia Pozzi, the Milanese poet who stayed in Pasturo. The eighteenth-century villa was finally opened to the public, I visited the rooms, the study which remained as it was then, the garden, which can also be observed from the window where Antonia wrote. On the internal wall of the Church of the Alpini in Cornisella there is the emblematic verse of an internal conflict, Anima, sii come la montagna (Soul, be like the mountain), the first verse of the fourth stanza of the poem Examples. The nature, animals, birds, flowers, plants, rocks, remained outside of a specific topic.

At the the little church of Cornisella dedicated to Maria Regina Pacis I had the opportunity to participate in the mass and party held every year on the second Sunday of September organized by the local Pasturo local group of Alpini, on the anniversary of the inauguration of the Alpini chapel. I shot a wonderful video of over a minute of the flag raising. As a spectator who loves sport, I was present at the Alpe Cova finish line of the non-competitive running and cycling race Pasturo - Alpe Coa, on the fourth Sunday of July, and at the mass, among the people of Pasturo.

Like someone who committing all of himself to the goal he was focused on no longer has the strength or time for the rest, for the Grignone I neglected the mountains on the opposite side of the Pioverna valley, the mountains of Barzio, which I instead attended with continuity in the summer season seven years later. I will return to Valsassina on the feast of Sant'Ambrogio and sometimes in winter without writing any more posts, just as I will not do so next summer because are enough, and left over, the 16 articles from summer 2016.

Copyright © 2016 and 2023 Mauro Vezzoli

Site of Community Importance IT2030001 Northern Grigna

Northern Grigna (Grigna Settentrionale) is a Site of Community Importance (SCI), in Italian Sito di di Interesse Comunitario (SIC), of Natura 2000, encoded into IT2030001.
Natura 2000 is a network of Sites of Community Importance and Special Protection Areas, a European Union project that stretches for 28 union countries. The Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora aims to promote the maintenance of biodiversity, taking account of economic, social, cultural and regional requirements. It forms the cornerstone of Europe's nature conservation policy with the Birds Directive and establishes the EU wide Natura 2000 ecological network of protected areas, safeguarded against potentially damaging developments.

SIC IT2030001 "Grigna Settentrionale" was identified with D.G.R. n. VII/14106 of 12 September 2003; later, with D.G.R. n. VIII/1876 of 8 February 2006 borders with minor variations have been adjusted.
Its management was entrusted entirely first to Valsassina, Valvarrone, Val d'Esino and Riviera Mountain Community, with D.G.R. VII / 18453 of 30 July 2004, then by the Regional Law 2 March 2005, n. 11 institutive of the Regional Park of the Northern Grigna, to the administrator body of the protected area for the portion included within its borders, while for the remaining liability has been attributed to the Administration of Lecco Province. They have thus identified two areas, sufficiently distinct also geographically, one of 990 hectares located north of Cresta Piancaformia, the other of 630 hectares that lies to the south of the same.

1. Natura 2000, en.wikipedia.org
2. The Habitats Directive. EU Nature Law. Nature and biodiversity. Environment. ec.europa.eu