Map of the Mattmark and Ofenta : there are names in German and Italian - sometimes both
Furthest South, the Monte Moro pass (lifts up from Macugnaga on the Italian side) is the route taken by the Circuit of Monte Rosa walk, while further left are the Mondelli Pass, and at the head of the Ofental, the Ofental pass, the Jazzilücke and the Antrona pass at the head of the Furggtal.
From the dam the parallel lateral moraines left by the retreating Allalin glacier are striking - it's difficult to comprehend that in the "middle ages" the snout of glacier regularly extended across the main valley (blocking it) and as recently as 1965 collapsed here killing eighty eight construction workers in their sleeping quarters
Going clockwise, a view taken a bit further round - the current front of the rapidly retreating glacier can be seen at the top
Two views looking back from near the head of the Stausee. In 2018 there was so much winter snow that the water appears turqoise and the level is quite high
. in other years the water has been much lower and a muddy grey in colour About halfway down the Eastern side a diagonal path leads up to the Ofental - a wide easy-angled hanging valley.
Looking across the Stausee from the path: The Rimpfischhorn and Strahlhorn
A wider view from a bit higher
Entering the valley : I've always want to climb these hills - The Galmenhorn and Spechhorn - but never managed it yet
Looking up the almost flat valley. At one point the path branches and you can head Right across the stream and contour South to join the Monte Moro path. However I tried it once and found the Stafelbach an uncrossable roaring torrent so I had to come all the way back
Eriophorum angustifolium - Common Cottongrass
Campanula excisa - Incised Bellflower is very common in the Saas valley but occurs almost nowhere else
The Stellihorn
Zoomed
The first time I came up the Ofental in 2003 (trying to get fit) I felt I needed something a bit steeper and seeing the 3436m Stellihorn to my Left headed straight up
- I must have been bonkers 
I climbed directly to the obvious red rock, contoured Right beneath it and then on up some pleasant overlapping slabs to the top. At one point I could see the horns of a sunbathing Ibex sticking out above me. I thought it might panic if I came upon it suddenly so I shouted and off it went 
Summit cairn
View West to the Strahlhorn, Rimpfischhorn, Allalinhorn, Alphubel and the Mischabel: Notice that the snout of the Allalin glacier (far L) is way lower than in 2018
I descended quite a bit further left, but about 50 m from the path in the valley I stepped awkwardly on a loose stone, turned my ankle over and was hors de combat for a few days
accidents happen when you least expect them 
Looking on up to the 2833m Ofental pass
Pedicularis kerneri - Kerners Lousewort
Further up the path divides and you can head L to the 3080m Jazzilücke, follow the frontier round to the 2837m Antrona pass and descend the Furggtal to Saas Almagel - a popular circuit.
You traverse on the Italian side by an easy but exposed ledge below the steep face of the Jazzihorn. There was a wire for protection - but almost all the bolts securing it to the mountain had fallen out
Only in Italy 
From the Jazzilücke - looking down to the Lago de Cingino
Continuing up towards the Ofental pass, the grass gradually thins out and leads to a wilderness of scree, rocks and snow patches
The last of "green" slopes
a wider view
Looking back
Veronica bellidoides - Daisy-leaved Speedwell
The 3050m Ofentalhorn - some grade II climbing is needed to get to the top
difficult to find a path here but there are occasional cairns
looking N to the Stellihorn and Jazzihorn: the Jazzilücke is the notch R of centre: the peak in front is the 3103m Pizzo Cingino sud
Another view S to the Ofentalhorn. On an earlier occasion I climbed up to the start of the difficulties and returned to the valley down these snow slopes
NW down the valley to the Alphubel. Taschhorn, Dom and Lenspitze
The ridge leading towards the Ofentalhorn - the top of the near "lump" was as far as I got in 2017
On the "lump" - Italy on the L
A wider view down the valley into Italy
On the way up, the stunning flowers on the diagonal path below the valley were all in shadow, but I got some photos on the descent - though the strong breeze didn't help
Chrisanthemium alpinum - Alpine Marguerite
Rhodeola rosa - Roseroot
Centaurea alpestris - Alpine Knapweed
Silene rupestris - Rock Campion
As you return across the dam there are a series of stone "plaques" telling the history of the Saas valley from early times (when the Monte Moro was a N/S trade route) right up until the present. They are set as a rough calendar (so that the first ones are hundreds of metres apart while the latest only several metres)
An evening view of the old moraines
A last look up the Stausee - a couple of the white plaques can be seen in the front
