Voragine del Gerontocomio

After parking the car in the clearing below the Agaro dam (before entering the second stretch of the gallery, check that it is not occupied by vehicles coming in the opposite direction; only near the single bend is it possible to manoeuvre!), you reach the caretaker's house, then walk along the lake on its western shore. Having reached the huts at the head of the lake (1h), follow the steep path on the left (rather rough in its initial stretch) that leads to the alpe Bionca (45’ if you are fit enough). Those who do not like steep routes can take an alternative path that first continues along the lake, then climbs gently through the bosco until reaching the Alpe Topera, and then leads to the alpe Bionca; in this case allow 1h and 15’. Continue always climbing the Bionca valley towards the passo del Muretto, along a path that is not always well marked but nonetheless discernible; after about 45 minutes, you will meet a good path coming from the left (Valle di Pojala), near a sign indicating “Passo del Muretto”; take it, and after about ten minutes of gentle ascent you will cross over into the Pojala valley, near some trail signs. Here you must trust to luck: continue in an ENE direction for about 300 m, climbing about 40 until you meet a long covered fracture: it is the Voragine del Gerontocomio! If all goes well, allow 3 h and 15’ of walking. Alternatively, from the Alpe Bionca you can follow the easy path to the Alpe Pojala, from where gentle slopes lead to our cave; you will save 15-20 minutes of walking, but orienting yourself in the last stretch is more difficult. By contrast, absolutely avoid the path, indicated by some hiking maps, that leads directly from the Agaro lake to the Alpe Pojala, passing along the waterfall: it does not exist! Or rather, there is a track rated EE/A (bring 30 m of rope, if you really want to do it). (from: Labirinti n. 27; text: V. Botta, G.D. Cella)