Calnègia ****

If you want to refine and perfect your footwork and balance, and you are eager to get away from the crowds at Ponte Brolla, Val Calnegia is the place to do it. This wonderful high valley is a paradise for hikers and climbers alike. The little ancient dwellings tucked under the huge boulders are called “Splui”. These were even used until quite recently by the local farmers. If you want to get off the ground at Calnegia, precise balance and footwork is absolutely necessary. Local Ticino slab master Glauco Cugini has some smooth slab routes where footholds are mostly imagined and occasionally you’ll find better hand holds. Quartz veins, cracks, and dihedrals offer enough variety to give your aching calves a bit of reprieve.