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DIFFICULTY:
Stamina required
Up to 9 hrs/day
Mid-size backpacks
Glaciated terrain
Peak Ascents on Crampons

2012 DATES:

8 Days, 6 days of touring

Mar 3 - 10
Mar 10 - 17
Mar 17- 24
Mar 24 - 31
Mar 31- Apr 7
Apr 14 -21
Apr 21- 28
Apr 28-May 5
May 5-12

PRICE:
€ 1200, US$ 1690

GROUP SIZE
3 - 7 clients/guide

SIMILAR TRIPS
Austria
Oetztaler Alps Traverse

France / Switzerland:
Haute Route


Canada / Banff:
Wapta Traverse


CUSTOMIZE TRIP

BOOK THIS TRIP

Ortler / Ortles Alps Ski Traverse
Southern Alps / Italy (Sud Tirol and Lombardia)

7 Day Backcountry Ski Traverse Hut to Hut on Large Glaciers with Peak Ascents and Italian Hospitality

Highlights:
- Italy's best Ski Traverse
- Luxurious Mountain Huts / Lodges
- Warm Showers in all Huts
- Excellent Italian Food
- Ascent of 6 glaciated peaks en route
- Breathtaking scenery / big glaciers
- Add a day of resort skiing in Sulden

The Ortler Ski Traverse is certainly one of the Alps greatest and one of our personal favorites! Start and ending point is the quaint town of Sulden / Solda right below the mighty Ortler Peak, which gave the range its name.

The Ortler Range boasts some of the largest glaciers in the Eastern Alps with peaks rising to 3900 meters (12800ft). The trip is also of interest from a cultural and historical view, as we travel both through the German speaking South Tirol and the Italian speaking Trentino and Lombardia Provinces. The front lines of WW1 ran straight across the highest ridgelines with remnants from the war still visible high on the glaciers today.

What puts this trip ahead of many ski traverses, especially those in the Western Alps, is the high standard of the huts. While located well above tree line next to the glaciers, the huts always offer excellent food, beer on tab and often double or 4 bed rooms with showers / toilets down the hall.

Of course the landscape is breathtaking and the descents are long. All skiing is above tree line and often on glaciers. Most runs are northerly aspects which preserves powder well into May.

Hut Ski touring in Austria


Hut Ski Touring in the Italian Alps on the Glaciers of the Ortler Range

Trip Details and Small Print

Can I do it?

Strenuous backcountry ski tour in alpine, often glaciated terrain on alpine touring (randonnée) or sturdy telemark equipment. You must be able to ski safely and controlled at all times while wearing a mid-weight backpack (7-10 kg /15 lb-22 lb). In other words, you don't have to be an excellent skier but rather a solid mountain skier with good "survival skiing skills" to where you are able to negotiate even adverse snow conditions without falling while still raveling at a decent pace.
You need to be in very good physical and mental condition, ready to be on your feet for about
8 hrs daily including, steep, continuous uphill climbs of up to 1200 meters (4100 ft) on some of the days. Some of the peak ascents require scrambling along exposed ridges on crampons, however the more challenging peak ascents can also be "waited out" at the ski depot" and the guide will carry a rope for those clients who prefer a belay.
There is the option for a midweek rest day as we will be staying two nights in the same hut.

We do not recommend this trip for backcountry ski touring beginners!

Meeting Point:
Evening at our Hotel in Sulden / Solda (BZ) reachable by car or public transport from Innsbruck (2.5 hrs), Munich (3.5 hrs), Bozen / Bolzano (1.15 hrs), Verona (2.5 hrs) or Venice (3.5 hrs).

On a custom basis, we gladly arrange airport / train station pick ups / drop offs and we gladly assist our participants to coordinate their local transport. Often our guides can also provide a ride or pick you up at a train station / airport.

Season, Climate, Weather, Temperature:
February - Mid May, with March and April being the most popular time.
Temperatures can vary hugely: If wintery weather patterns prevail, you can expect temps between -5 C and -22 C. In spring the temperature spread increases from -10 C overnight to +15 C, especially on sunny days and when descending to the valleys.

Services Included in the Total Price:
Guiding by an internationally (UIAGM/IFMGA) certified, multilingual, mountain guide or guide aspirant under supervision, 6 nights in huts / mountain lodges in multi-bed rooms with half board, 2 nights hotel lodging with breakfast, use of technical equipment: Harnesses, crampons, rope, carabiners, all trip organization and assistance with your pre-and post trip arrangements.

Not Included (but can be quoted separately):
Air line tickets, lunches, beverages (except for breakfast), transport from and to the trailhead in Vent / Austria, any hotel lodging in the valley (village of Vent), use of avalanche safety equipment (shovel, probe and avalanche transceiver).

 

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USA: 119 S. Sherwood, Fort Collins, CO 80155, USA

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