The striking peaks of the three side valleys Val Forno, Val da l'Albigna and Val Bondasca are particularly popular with climbers. The peaks above Val Bondasca in particular have famous names such as Piz Badile and Piz Cengalo. The latter made headlines at the end of August 2017 when several million cubic meters of rock and debris slid into the valley during a major rockslide. Since then, large parts of the valley have been closed due to further potential collapses and no tours should be undertaken there until further notice.
Luckily, there are a number of equally worthwhile peaks to be climbed in the two eastern, non-endangered valleys - always on impressive and more or less challenging ski tours. Of the SAC huts, only the Forno hut is open in winter (the Albigna hut has a well-equipped winter room) and is a perfect base for several days. The stable conditions of late winter and its long spring days are particularly suitable for a stay and extensive tours.
The ascent with touring skis from the Maloja Pass takes four hours. The route first takes you along the groomed cross-country ski trail to Plan Canin and then through the wild and romantic Forno Valley. More ahead than up. You haven't seen the glacier here for a long time. Originally built on the edge of the glacier, the hut is now a good 250 meters above the valley floor at 2574 m above sea level. In 1889, the year it was built, the two builders, the Alpine explorer Theodor Curtius and the English mountain guide and first hut keeper Christian Klucker, only had to step outside the door to stand on the glacier. Christian Klucker remained the hut manager for the first 30 years. From there, the two climbed some of the Bergell peaks for the first time ever at the beginning of the 20th century and shaped the history of mountaineering in Bergell with their existence.
