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Ortler Grand Circuit |
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The impetus for this trip began when several of our
former Haute route participants wanted to set up another
ski mountaineering trip in the Alps. They desired similar
technical difficulties, a less frequented part of the
Alps and if possible, slightly nicer huts. With that
to go on we did some research and came up with the Ortler
tour.
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This tour is different from most in that it is actually
a loop, which begins and ends in the same village of
Bormio, Italy. The tour takes place in Stelvio National
park in the South Tirol region of Northern Italy, close
to the borders of Switzerland and Austria. The park
itself is one of the largest in all of Europe. It lays
between the Bernina group of St Moritz to the West and
the Dolomites to the East. The terrain is slightly lower
than that of the Western alps, but still heavily glaciated
and very alpine. Much of the tour takes places between
10,000-13,000'. There are a number of big peaks in the
area (many of which can be skied off of), though they
are all shy of the magic number of 4000 meters. This
is the equivalent of a 14er in Colorado, and makes the
area much less traveled by peak baggers.
The tour is very adaptable allowing for harder and
easier variations most days. In general the tour is
comparable in difficulty to the classic Haute route.
There are very few places that you are forced to carry
skis, unless you opt for some of the peak ascents. The
huts are well known for great food, incredible coffee
and many even have hot showers. The town of Bormio has
a major ski resort and is accessible by bus or train
from Milan, Venice or Innsbruck.
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Ski Mountaineering in the Italian
Alps is one of the most unforgettable ski ( and
Coffee) experiences you will ever have.
(Click photos for larger view.) |
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Due to the large number of options available on this
tour, we will keep our itnerary flexible to adapt to
conditions and the groups desires. The route we are
currently planning looks like this:
Day 1 ~ Leave Bormio, Take a taxi to the Forni hut. From there we will skin up to the
Pizzini hut.
Day 2 ~ Leave Pizzini hut and climb past the Cassati hut (cappuccino!) on our way to skiing a pean en route to the Marteller hut.
Day 3 ~ From the Marteller hut, climb and ski one of the
many awesome ski mountaineering peaks.
Day 4 ~ Leave Marteller hut and climb one of two ways
over Mt Cevedale. Ski down to Branca hut.
Day 5 ~ From the Branca hut, climb and ski
one of the many awesome ski mountaineering peaks.
Day 6 ~ From the Branca hut, climb and ski
another one of the many awesome ski mountaineering peaks.
Day 7 ~ Leave Branca hut (sadly), and ski another peak on our way back to the Forni hut for our ride back to town. Finish with an afternoon at the famous ancient Roman baths in Bormio.
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If climbing and skiing off of peaks,
sounds appealing, this is the trip for you!
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In our research we have found that there are many possible
variations to this tour and generally the loop will
take most parties about 6 days. We have added an extra
day to accommodate bad weather and if unused will add
a peak climb or another day tour to complete the trip.
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Skills Required
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While largely a ski tour, the route does offer some
great mountaineering opportunities. Most of the
peaks in the region can be climbed and skied from
without requiring the removal of skis!. |
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To maximize your enjoyment on a tour of this nature, the
most important skills to have are skiing skills. While most
of the terrain is fairly moderate by resort standards,
we typically encounter a wide range of snow conditions.
It is important for skiers to be able to comfortably
ski black runs at a ski area in any conditions. Further
you must be able to perform survival turns (hop turns,
stem christie etc.) down steeper terrain and in very
difficult snow conditions. Skiers should have some touring
experience and be adept at using skins, performing kick
turns and skiing with a small pack.
Previous Mountaineering experience is not required
though will prove beneficial. We will cover skills such
as the use of ski crampons, avalanche transceivers,
boot crampons, and ice axes as well as traveling as
a rope team. We have factored time into the tour to
cover these skills thus insuring a high degree of safety
and comfort for all members of the team. |
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This tour will also demand a high degree of fitness.
Obviously you don't need to be an Olympic athlete, as
hundreds of people complete the tour every year, though
the more fit you arrive, the more you will enjoy the
tour. Not to mention having energy to ski an extra run
after arriving at the destination hut for the day.
If you have any doubts or concerns about your abilities
or skiing skills, please don't hesitate to call and
address them. We will gladly offer training advice or
we can arrange for some pre-trip training to insure your
skills are up to speed before embarking on this trip
of a lifetime.
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Ortler Tour Guiding Fees |
There is plenty of room for fresh
tracks on the wide open glaciers of the Alps.
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- 4 - 8 Skiers with 2 Guides - $2500
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| 2011 Dates |
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| Program Cost Inclusions
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- 2 Nights lodging in Bormio
- Hut lodging fees
- Breakfasts and Dinners in huts
- All lifts during trip
- All ground transport during trip
- Use of avalanche transceiver
- Luggage storage while on route
- 7 days of guided skiing with IFMGA certified guides
Jeff Ward and Larry Goldie.
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| Program Cost Exclusions
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- Travel to and from Bormio
- Drinks in huts
- Meals in Town
- Skier rescue insurance
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