Fletschhorn Tour, The

The Fletschhorn Tour was conceived in the mid-1990s by the Swiss Walking Association, supported by the Domodossola and Villadossola sections of the Italian Alpine Club who developed the Tour in the Antrona and Bognanco valleys. It was inaugurated in 1997 as "Simplon-Fletschhorn-Trekking" but despite the passing of over twenty years it has yet to see a detailed description in English although a German guide has been available since 2004. The lack of a guidebook in English is surprising, because the Tour passes through some of the most attractive scenery in the eastern Pennine Alps. Virtually untouched by the development of winter sports, the skylines are magnificent and the terrain unscarred by pistes; the walker can enjoy superb mountain scenery on good, way-marked, paths and tracks. The Tour passes through areas of natural and cultural interest around the great mountains of the region: the Fletschhorn, Lagginhorn, Weissmies and the Pizzo Andolla. At an average altitude of some 2000m between the lowest point at Antronapiana (908m) and the highest point of the Antronapass (2838m) its total length is just under 130km, the Tour can be completed in seven days. But many walkers will take a little longer than this stopping to enjoy delightful villages and hamlets on the way. Some of the stages are long and demanding and it is important to have a clear plan for tackling the Tour. This guidebook describes each stage in detail as well as offering alternatives to some of them. This pocket-sized guide contains 18 sketch maps, 16 photographs, descriptions of the 7 main stages and 5 variations with comprehensive information about huts, mountain inns and hotels.