Rima – Carcoforo

Rima 1441 m – Colle del Termo 2351 m – Carcoforo 1304 m

The passage between the two branches of the Val Sermenza requires an itinerary that is a bit difficult, along rather steep paths.

However, the surroundings are remarkable, woods and pastures on the edge of the Alta Valsesia natural park or inside it, abounding in wild fauna (chamois, marmots, black grouse, rock partridges).

From the square of the church of Rima, the sign with timetables and signs of itinerary 93 facilitates the start of the route. After a few tens of metres, you leave the comfortable mule track followed thus far, to climb up the path on the left (93) which immediately crosses a stream. The route zigzags to attenuate the steep slope and develops in a northerly direction among scattered tall trees and small grassy clearings in the valley of the Chiaffera stream which you cross before reaching the Alpe of the same name at 1706 m; 0.50 hours

Always remaining in the aforementioned small valley, passing and repassing with numerous turns, the path leads to a ridge which it then leaves, to bend to the east and almost immediately resume, in meadow terrain, the north direction and arrive with a steep climb to Colle del Termo 2351 m; 2.00 hours.

This panoramic depression is located between Cima Lampone 2584 m and Cima del Tiglio 2546 m and connects the basins of the heads of Val Sermenza and Egua. The coastal watershed that connects the two aforementioned peaks acts as the border of the Alta Valsesia Natural Park which will be crossed on the Carcoforo side.

With trail sign 112 the path descends into the basin of the Trasinera stream, where it is possible to see groups of chamois and other wild animals, passes some snowfields and reaches Alpe del Termo 2081 m; 0.35 hours. From this abandoned mountain pasture you can admire the entire Carcoforo basin and the distant Colle d’Egua which you will cross in the next stage. Some cupels (graffiti) are engraved on a large stone near the hut.

The path descends briefly into the pasture, enters scattered wild alder bushes and exits the park near the abandoned Alpe Trasinera Bella 1935 m; 0.25 hours.

Leaving this mountain pasture rich in water, the path enters the larch forest and, always remaining to the left of the stream, passes by Alpe Selva Bruna 1464 m; 1.20 hours.

Almost immediately the route approaches the Trasinera, crosses it to develop on meadow land and blueberries, and then crosses the stream again on a bridge of concrete pipes. Here the road becomes a dirt road, leaving itinerary 113 and the houses of the Coste on the left, the village of Selva Bruna and the sports facilities on the right, in front of which there are the houses of the hamlet of Carcoforo, Municipality of Alto Sermenza and at Stopover place Alpenrose refuge 1304 m: 0.20 hours.

 

Val Sermenza

There are two heads that this valley presents and this is due to its Y shape. Both villages at the bottom of the valley are touched by the route of the GTA: Rima located in the main valley and Carcoforo in the lateral Valle d’Egua. Typically Alpine valley that alternates different landscape aspects; the meadow mountains contrast with the sides covered by dense woods and the bare rocky walls. No glacier exists in the valley, only small snowfields are found near the passes of the two heads of Rima and Carcoforo. The head of the two valleys is included in the Alta Valsesia regional natural park, and is very rich in wildlife.

The presence of the Walser population can also be seen in this valley: in the Rima valley the houses, although different from those of Alagna, denote the German architectural style; the dialect, the place names and the customs are Walser. Carcoforo also seems to have been inhabited by this population in ancient times, but there is no confirmation.

The two countries have different characteristics: closed, severe and collected Rima, open and flirtatious Carcoforo. Worth visiting is the Dellavedova museum in Rima and the recently restored arch in Carcoforo.