Bondasca

In 2012 and in 2017, a total of 5 mio. cubic metres of rock thundered down Pizzo Cengalo through the Bondasca valley. Rising temperatures make permafrost thaw – the permanently frozen water kept loose rocks together. As a result of the melting ice, our mountains are crumbling.

The first photograph was taken in 2011, the second in 2023. Since 2017, the whole valley has been closed for humans. I was curious how nature developed in the past six years without human intervention. Albeit, it must be said that the rockfalls are the result of human actions – climate change is human made.

Even six years after the last rockfall, the damage is still visible everywhere. Felled trees remain in awkward positions, living tree trunks have wounds where the rocks hit. Due to the continuing danger of rockfall, the Bondasca has been officially closed since 2017 – hiking trails are barred, a mountain hut popular with climbers has been closed since.

Due to the closure of the valley, it has seen no human intervention for six years. Bushes are growing among the rocks, chamois (mountain goats) are roaming about, birds are chirping.

Also humans, however, are reclaiming the valley. A new access trail to the mountain hut is under construction, higher along the valleyside and above the danger zone. An electricity plant that used the water of the Bondasca river is being rebuilt, and therefore the access road and bridge have been replaced.

Climate change is affecting nature, our landscapes. In the end, however, we as humans are the most vulnerable – our bodies, our houses, our infrastructure, our agriculture. The village of Bondo lies in the valley where the Bondasca river appears from a gorge. In 2012 and 2017, massive mudflows resulted from the rockfall, burying part of the village. Even after six years, the damage in the village is visible.

Massive counter measures are taken to redirect future mudflows from the village and new bridges are being built that are higher above the water.