Overview
Weißkugel seen from Lajet da Lischana, Piz 2902 to the very left |
S-charl is an old miners settlement in the midst of the
Sesvenna Group a.k.a. Engadin Dolomites. Thanks to the narrow road which leads there from
Scuol it is the best trailhead for many routes in the group. However, since much of the surrounding area is covered by the
Swiss National Park and thus can only be explored on the assigned hiking trails most visitors turn either north or west into unrestricted terrain. In particular,
Val Sesvenna in the east of the hamlet, which separates the
Madlein and
Sesvenna Subgroups is of interest as it heads towards
Piz Sesvenna the highest mountain of the group.
Near
Alp Sesvenna a path turns off northwards heading towards the gap between
Piz d'Immez and
Piz Cotschen. The route is very popular even though the ground is very brittle and the route rather serious in consequence. It uses the rib between two dried out creek beds which heads for the gap in a direct very steep line. The popularity of the route is due to the many glacier lakes which await you beyond the gap:
Lajet da Lischana,
Lais d'Immez and
Lais da Rims. A more or less trailless path leads to
Piz Lischana and even more pathless ascents lead to
Piz d'Immez and Piz Cotschen. Among all those summits there is a long stretched unnamed back of 2902m elevation - a wonderful lookout across the mountain groups of the area.
Piz Cortschen and Piz de l'Aua above Lajet da Lischana |
Muttler | Weißkugel | Bernina Group |
Hintereisspitzen | Weißseespitze | Piz d'Immez |
Piz 2902, as I want to call it, rises directly above the
Lais d'Immez, which separate it from the mountain of the same name. It is an easy summit if you want to go beyond the lakes but shy away from the pathless ascents of the slightly (100m) higher mountains around. From
Lajet da Lischana yon need to steeply climb some 50m until you reach the top of the whaleback. A few ups and downs lead you to the marked summit at the eastern end. Drops to
Lais d'Immez and the valleys in the east and north amount to some 150m.
Nearby views include the mountains of the
Sesvenna Group while the mid-range views go out to the
Ötztal Alps, the
Samnaun Group, the Livigno Alps as well as the
Ortler and
Bernina Groups. And in the distance you are able to see as far as the
Pale di San Martino in the southern
Dolomites (130km).
360° Summit Panorama
360° summit panorama from Piz 2902 |
Getting There
Ötztal Alps panorama from Piz 2902 |
S-Charl
Take B27 through Inn Valley from the Austrian / Italian / Swiss border near Martina or from Switzerland across Flüelapass. East of Scuol a road turns off south, passing the town and crossing the Inn River. It follows the Clemgia River to the summer village of S-Charl. There are big parking lots around the village, which, however, have to be paid (5 CHF).
Sur En
Also take
B27 until you reach
Ramosch. Drive to the hamlet
Sur En on the Inn River where the hike through Uina Gorge starts.
Schlinig
Take the Reschenpass road SS 40 until you reach the village Burgeis / Burgusio. Drive through the valley and follow the signs for Watles and Schlinig. The road passes Marienberg Monastery a winds up the slopes of Watles until it reaches an intersection. Straight on is the road to Schlinig, where you need to park your car outside the village on a toll free parking lot.
Routes
North-western Sesvenna Group during the ascent from Val Sesvenna |
There are three routes to
Piz 2902 but honestly only the first one is reasonable for this destination.
Val Sesvenna
From S-charl follow
Val Sesvenna until you reach
Alp Sesvenna. Pass the farm building and some 300m afterwards turn left (north, sign: Lais da Rims). An extremely steep and brittle ridge leads you to a saddle beside
Lajet da Lischana. Pass the lake on its eastern shore and head up towards
Piz 2902, which towers above
Lai d'Immez. 1200m elevation gain.
Uina Gorge and Lais da Rims
Trailhead is
Sur En, a hamlet on the
Inn River, below
Ramosch. Follow Val Uina until you get to the spectacular Uina Gorge. Hike through until you reach
Alp Sursass. Turn right (west, sign: Lais da Rims) and head steeply up to the lakes. Pass them until you get to
Lajet da Lischana. Turn east onto the long back of
Piz 2902. 1800m elevation gain
Schlinigsattel
From
Schlinig in Italy (South Tyrol) hike out the valley until you get to its end and head steeply upward to
Schlinigsattel. Pass
Sesvenna Hut and head across a fenn towards
Alp Sursass. Turn left (west, sign: Lais da Rims) and head steeply up to the lakes. Pass them until you get to
Lajet da Lischana. Turn east onto the long back of
Piz 2902. 1400m elevation gain.
Red Tape
Lajet da Lischana
There is no red tape in this section of the Sesvenna Group. However, you get close to the international border between Italy and Switzerland (Uina Gorge Route) so you might want to bring your ID.
The parking lot at S-charl requires a fee of 5 CHF.
Accommodation
Accommodation in the greater area:
Italy
Switzerland
Weather Conditions
Maps & Books
Maps
- Digital Maps
- Regular Maps
- Vinschgau / Val Venosta
Kompass Map WK 52
1:50.000
ISBN: 3-85491-058-4
- Unterengadin-Nationalpark
Kompass Map WK 98
1:50.000
ISBN: 3-85491-331-1
> - Obervinschgau / Alta Val Venosta
Kompass Map WK 041
1:25.000
ISBN: 3-85491-580-2
- Schweizer Landeskarten, available at German Alpine Club
- SLK 259 S Ofenpass, 1:50000, Art.Nr.: 147259
- SLK 1219 S-charl, 1:25000, Art.Nr.: 141219
Books
- Vinschgau-Ortlergruppe
Kompass Guidebook WF950
Kompass Verlag
ISBN: 3-85491-404-0
- Unterengadin
Rudolf Weiss / Siegrun Weiss
Rother Verlag
ISBN: 3-7633-4043-2
- Vinschgau
Henriette Klier
Rother Verlag
ISBN: 3-7633-4205-2