Crossing the Casnile Pass

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Maloja

It is advisable to leave with the first ride of the Albigna cable car - the timetable starts at 7.00 h - or then spend the night at the Albigna hut. From the mountain station, climb up the right edge of the mighty dam wall, cross it and reach the meadows on the other side. Here begins a marked path that leads in a long, sloping climb to the Albigna hut (2336 m).  Beyond the hut, the path climbs over a grassy hump towards Piz dal Päl and Piz Balzet until you reach a beautiful plateau with water pools. You turn towards the summit of Piz Casnil and follow the path that stays on the right side of a pronounced rocky ridge. Of the two pass crossings - north and south - the southern one (2941 m) is more pleasant; you reach it passing on the right at the foot of a modest rise that separates the mentioned passes. On the other side, you first walk along the left edge of a firn field that precedes a flat valley depression, then over a steep slope that leads directly to the glacier below. On the last stretch, be careful because of steep moraine terrain with loose boulders. Do not turn towards the Forno hut, which is in sight on the opposite side of the valley, but walk lengthwise across the glacier, always nicely in the middle - there is no danger of crevasses. Shortly you will reach the markings of the access path to the hut. At the end of the glacier, follow the path on the left side of the valley to the small reservoir of Plan Canin. Slight ups and downs characterize the last stretch of path before the enchanting Cavloc lake (1907 m), from where you continue the way back along a wide forest road. After the bridge over the Orlegna, a flat road leads to the Maloja Pass and the end of the hike. To get back to Pranzaira, take the post bus, which runs every hour.