On Cardada (1332 m) you get out of Mr. Botta's giant glass gondola and first join the excursionists who purposefully head for the first stop or the valley station of the Cimetta chairlift. The restaurant and lift are ignored, but not the large hiking trail display board. Right next to it, the well-used path leads uphill, first shady in a zigzag, then sunny direction, to the Alpe Cardada summer restaurant (1496 m). On a wide, fairly washed-out path you cross the southern slope of the Cimetta and continue climbing to the Pian della Cimetta; Finally past the lift station to the summit with a beautiful panorama (1:30 hours).
Back down to the chair lift, then turn right into the gap (1610 m) below the Cima della Trosa (1869 m) and on a good hiking trail through the western flank to under the forepeak (1862 m). Here you go left, following the path, and you reach the highest point (2:30 hours).
The rather long descent initially leads along the east side of the Cima della Trosa over a few hairpin bends into an unnamed gap (1657 m) in the back of the mountain, then zigzags down to Alpe di Bietri (1499 m). Now we continue on the sunny side of the Valle di Mergoscia over the old mountain pastures and pastures of Faedo, Motta and Bresciadiga (1042 m) down to Busada and on asphalt into Mergoscia (731 m; 4:30 hours). The village, which consists of several hamlets, only received a road connection in 1900; it lies on the southern slope of a mountain spur that drops steeply to the Vogorno reservoir (470 m). The many old houses are striking; Chestnut trees and vineyards provide a picturesque setting.