Our hike began on the road below Marone. We set off with anticipation and high spirits. We followed the marked hiking trail and enjoyed the varied landscape with its lush forests and wild villages.

Our first destination was Marone, an extinct village that we had to explore. Many a heart sank among the abandoned stone houses. The dark grey, almost gloomy color of these buildings was immediately noticeable, everything was dark, without streetlights. But what was the reason that made the inhabitants of this place leave?

Because there was no road to Marone, because life in the mountains was particularly hard, especially in winter, because there were dangerous minerals such as radon, or perhaps because it was simply haunted? At least that was our assumption.

The remains of frescoes bear witness to the importance this place once had. Through a hole in the large wooden doors of the parish church we could still see a few white tablecloths and artificial flowers lying on the altar. On one side of the bell tower stood an old clock whose hands had stopped at 6 o’clock, whatever day it was, just as the flow of time had stopped in this old village. Village people are still buried in the tiny cemetery not far from the church. He is the last living witness. In this surreal environment, Marone still has its own train station where trains stop “on request”. After our visit to this ghost town, incredulous at what we saw and amazed that the life of an entire village had vanished into thin air, we treated ourselves to a warm coffee, croissants and firewater.

The hiking trail continued parallel to the Ferrovia Vigezzina-Centovalli, a historic narrow-gauge railroad. On the way, we were able to refresh our memories together, reflect on God and the world and marvel at the wonderful view of the valley and the familiar Saas mountains from the back. We enjoyed a hearty aperitif at the historic water mills, the Mulini del Rio Graglia, which were once used to process grain. We explored the grounds and admired the well-preserved architecture. It was fascinating to gain an insight into traditional craftsmanship. On the way down into the valley, the singing skills were unpacked, which didn’t make the run any faster, but made it more carefree and fun.

At the end of our hike, we reached Masera. Our driver Ronny from Pauli Reisen was already waiting for us and drove us to the Ristorante Vikingo in Domodossola. Various pizza variations awaited us there. It was a wonderful opportunity to relax, chat and reflect on the day.

The opening hike was an unforgettable day with a good atmosphere, good entertainment and the opportunity to simply unwind – just being out and about with friends. We would like to thank all participants for their enthusiasm and interest in this event.

With best regards,

Astrid and Dominic