Albigna (Grisons, Switzerland)

The Albigna is a paradise for mountaineering and climbing. The most photographed and treasured peak of the valley is undoubtedly the Fiamma, but also the surrounding peaks of Spazzacaldeira like the Piz Frachiccio or the Punta dell Albigna offer many attractive routes of different levels and lenght. For those who like to boulder, they find around the hut 4 areas with more than 50 boulders with a hundred routes waiting to be climbed. For beginners a nice climbing park with easy routes (3-4 grade, 25 meters or less) is situated just a few steps from the hut. Albigna is not only a valley for mountaineers, the short hike (1 hour) from the cableway or the round tour around the hut are also accessible to the relaxed hikers and families. For the more experienced mountain goers, a blue-white path (T5) leads from the hut to mountain lakes, crossing at the right a marked rocky rib, until it reaches the Casnil Pass at an altitude of 2940 m and then descends to the Forno hut or into the Forno valley direction Maloja. Also in winter the Albigna area and its peaks are explored by ski mountaineers, often in combination with the Forno valley.

During the summer months the cable car, which was completely renovated in 2016, makes the valley accessible even to less experienced hikers. The height difference between the mountain station and the valley station is about 900 m. As the small cabin climbs for 15 minutes, the view over the entire valley is spectaculous. Another breathtaking moment awaits the visitors during their journey up while crossing a deep gorge just before the arrival.

The clean electricity produced at the Albigna dam, in operation since 1959, is sent to Zurich where the ewz has its headquarter. Since September 2020, 1280 solar panels on the south side of the dam have been producing clean solar energy. «It is the first high-alpine large-scale plant, which reliably delivers electricity, also during winter time». The 115 m high and 759 m long dam wall is not only used to create electricity, but also offers protection to the valley below.