Guide Ratio: 4:1 Price from: $2,900 Duration: 7 Days Trip Dates: Mar
  • Overview
  • Itinerary
  • Trip Includes
  • Pricing + Dates
  • Booking

The Ortler traverse between Austria and Italy

The Ortler traverse is in an area between Austria and Italy that still holds artifacts of the territorial struggle there in the first world war. Ancient cannons and strings of barbed wire poke out of the snow and ice on top of windswept ridges and make one wonder at the hard work that went on here and how it contrasts so much with the new and impermanent tracks of fun that we are currently making in this terrain.

A range of fantastic peaks with awesome relief that one can access from fully furnished huts with hot showers and fine, fine Italian cuisine. Less of a day to day tour and more of a moving base camp that we can return to our favorite areas and pick our next day objective while skiing right next door to it without the stress of ‘having to get the next hut’ as many point A to point B tours can be.

There are excursions up many peaks and loop tours that can take in many of the same aspects depending on the desire of the group and where the good snow can be found. Long glaciated runs, steep couloirs and a whole myriad of skiing adventures can be found in the magical Ortler range.

 

7-DAY HAUTE ROUTE TRAVERSE

We plan on a 7-day traverse through the range staying each night in huts. We will begin and end in Bormio an easy ski town to get and an excellent place to end at with Roman baths and excellent restaurants. Small ratios (maximum of 4:1, guests to guide) give us the flexibility to arrange itineraries and goals to suit all abilities.

Itineraries

Day 1

Haute Trip Itinerary

A classic descent in Chamonix from the Aiguille du Midi to the valley bottom down the famous Vallee Blanche. A perfect day to get into the swing of things, review our avalanche system, check our gear and get into the swing of things. We will ski big glaciers and outstanding terrain that can not fail to thrill. We return to Chamonix and spend a second night there.

Day 2

Haute Trip Itinerary

From town, we ride lifts to the Col de Grande Montet and ski into the valley of the Argentiere glacier. Now we are on the route and we will spend our first night in an excellent recently refurbished mountain hut. A shortish day to allow for snafus and logistical delays; there is plenty of slopes near this hut to occupy our time.

Day 3

Haute Trip Itinerary

An early rise gives us excellent conditions to skin up and over the Col de Chardonee and to one of a few locations when we actually use a rope; depending on conditions anything from a steep ski to 60m lower will be required, fantastic. Down and up and into Switzerland where we can stay at the Trient hut or if time and conditions allow we can tour longer and spend the night in the village of Champex.

Day 4

Haute Trip Itinerary

We will travel through the ski area of Verbier today and take advantage of it’s lift to get us to the top of Mt. Fort where we will be able to see a lot of the terrain that over the next days we will be able to venture through. Down a long run of this legendary area to below the Rosa Blanche which we skin up (sometimes to the very summit!) and enjoy a long run down into yet another valley where we find that nights repose in the Prafleuri hut.

Day 5

Haute Route Trip

Another early start as we cross a lot of south-facing slopes above the Lac Dix and travel into the heart of the mountain in the Arolla district. We spend the night below the spectacular view of Pigne de Arolla in the Dix hut.

Day 6

Haute Trip Itinerary

Another early start as we cross a lot of south-facing slopes above the Lac Dix and travel into the heart of the mountain in the Arolla district. We spend the night below the spectacular view of Pigne de Arolla in the Dix hut.

Day 7

Haute Trip Itinerary

A long day that delivers. Upon ascending the final col near the peak of Tete Blanche we receive jaw-dropping views of the north face of the Matterhorn – and then we get to ski down, down below it and into our final valley leading to Zermatt. A truly rewarding day to finish upon.

Day 8

Haute Trip Itinerary

An extremely important day for the success of the trip as this is our cushion. A multitude of things beyond our control can be thrown at us but with flexibility being the key and having this cushion we can sidestep a little and carry on with the grins never wavering. If all goes according to plan however then we have an extra day of skiing in the Zermatt area where there is enough to fill another ski vacation all on its own or strudels and café to your heart’s content.

INCLUDED IN TRIP PRICING
  • A certified guide
  • All transportation during tour (train, bus, taxi, and lifts)
  • All group technical equipment
  • 2 nights hotel in Chamonix (double occupancy)
  • 6 nights in a mountain hut (dinner and breakfast included)
  • Luggage transfer from Chamonix to Zermatt
    NOT INCLUDED IN TRIP PRICING
  • Airfare
  • Transportation to Chamonix from Airport, or departing from Zermatt
  • Meals in town in town
  • Beverages including alcohol
  • Rescue Insurance
  • Incidentals
TRIP DATES*
TRIP PRICING
  • $2,900/person
Please wait...