Halloween on the summit, then dinner at the Vikingo

We spend 31 October in the mountains. We climb with the Guidders to Monte Berlinghera, above the upper end of Lake Como, and reach the summit with the sun still high, Lake Como and Lake Mezzola below us. Then we walk half an hour down to the giant panoramic swing at the Bocchetta di Chiaro, just in time for sunset.

The experience

When the light fades we switch on our headlamps and walk down through the woods, which feel just right on Halloween night. At the bottom of the trail the Baita dal Vikingo in Fordeccia is waiting for us, dressed up for its Halloween evening: pumpkins, lanterns, cobwebs and a mountain dinner all at one table. Anyone who wants can stay on for the music and the party.

Pumpkin tartlets, sciatt, bresaola and taroz; for the first course, pappardelle with wild boar and mushroom ragù and lasagne with pumpkin cream and radicchio; to finish, a “dark” tiramisù. Water and wine on the table. Dinner costs €30 per person and is paid at the hut: we book the table for the group.

This is an intermediate hike: about 850 metres of ascent on mule tracks and mountain paths, with no technical sections. The last part of the descent is in the dark, so a headlamp is required (with charged batteries), along with boots and warm clothes: at the end of October the temperature on the summit drops fast after sunset. Costumes are not required, but they are welcome.

Come with the Guidders: book your place, we climb the Berlinghera together and then sit down to dinner.

How hard is it, really

What's included in the price

Itinerary

One day, approximate times. The final details come in the group chat.

Saturday

31 Oct

10 km · D+ 850 m · 6h30

Meeting point 13:00approximate

Meeting point at the Baita dal Vikingo, Baita dal Vikingo, Via Fordeccia 30, Fordeccia, Sorico, provincia di Como, Italia. The exact time is confirmed in the group chat. We meet a little earlier: a coffee, water bottles to fill and a toilet before setting off.

HOW TO GET THERE

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A

13:00MEETING

Meeting point at the Baita dal Vikingo

We meet the Guidders in Fordeccia, above Sorico (CO), in front of the Baita dal Vikingo, at 1,100 metres. We leave the cars here: this is where we come back for dinner. The exact time is shared in the Telegram group.

B

16:00SUMMIT

On the summit of Monte Berlinghera (1,930 m)

We climb from San Bartolomeo through woods and old mountain pastures and reach the summit with the sun still high: from here Lake Como, Lake Mezzola and Valchiavenna are all in view. A group photo, then we set off again before the light fades.

C

16:45PASS

The Bocchetta di Chiaro swing at sunset

Half an hour below the summit, at the Bocchetta di Chiaro (1,666 m), stands the giant panoramic swing. We get there in time for sunset: the sun goes down at around 5 pm and we take turns on the swing while the lake below us changes colour.

D

18:30CHURCH

Down by headlamp to San Bartolomeo

With the last of the light we switch on our headlamps and walk down through the woods, which feel just right on Halloween night, to the little church of San Bartolomeo. From here the hut is about twenty minutes away.

E

19:00FOOD STOP

Halloween dinner at the Baita dal Vikingo

The hut is dressed up for Halloween, with pumpkins, lanterns and cobwebs. We all sit down together for a mountain dinner (€30, water and wine included, paid at the hut). After dinner anyone who wants can stay for the music and the party; for everyone else the cars are right there.

What to bring

A list made for this hike. No technical gear: just good shoes and a well-packed backpack.

Questions?